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Franz van Werra, "The One that Got Away".
Encounter Over the Thames Estuary
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“What do I do if I miss?” asked the young Englishman. His name was Bob Doe, a fresh faced, 20 year old replacement pilot for No 234 Squadron, RAF. It was mid August, 1940, and the Battle of Britain was beginning to heat up. The man to whom he had addressed the question was the replacement’s senior by a mere three years, an Australian who wore the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Leaning back in his chair, he eyed the young Englishman with a frown. “What do you do if you miss?” he repeated back deliberately. “Listen mate … you get as close as you can and you can’t miss!”
The Flight Lieutenant was Paterson (Pat) Clarence Hughes, one of at least 35 Australian airmen who flew with Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. He was born in Cooma, NSW in September, 1917 and in 1935, at the age of 17, he had joined the RAAF as a cadet at Point Cook. Two years later he applied for a commission in the RAF. It was accepted and he was soon on board a ship for England. There, he served in Nos 64 and 247 Squadrons prior to the outbreak of war and in November, 1939 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant was transferred to 234 Squadron stationed at Leconshire in East Yorkshire.
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