Vernon Hughes was born in Devon, the son of a Metropolitan police officer. He worked as a draughtsman at Crompton Parkinson's in Chelmsford before joining the R.A.F. shortly before the outbreak of war. He went missing in May 1941. His home was in North Avenue, Chelmsford.

Vernon was born in Devon on 25th May 1920, the only son of the Metropolitan police officer Alfred Hughes and Florence Hughes (nee Groves, 1891-1965). The couple had married at St. Laurence's Church in Brondesbury, Middlesex on 26th January 1916.

Vernon's siblings included Gwynneth M. Hughes (1917-1919) and Vera Hughes (born in 1924).

Prior to joining the R.A.F. just before the start of the war, where he served as Sergeant 759019 in 18 Squadron, Vernon had been employed as a draughtsman at the Chelmsford electrical engineering firm Crompton Parkinson.

Vernon HUGHES, Sergeant, 18 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Aged 20

Aged 20, he was killed on 7th May 1941 having taken part in many Bomber Command raids as an air gunner/wireless operator.

Vernon has no known grave and is commemorated by the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede which names over 20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves.

At the time of his death Vernon's mother was living at 26 North Avenue in Chelmsford. He left an estate valued at £354 1s. 2d.

A nephew, born in 1947, was named after him.

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