Hughes, (Frederick) Desmond (1919–92), air vice-marshal, was born 6 June 1919 in Donaghadee, Co. Down, only son and second child of Frederick Cairns Hughes, director of a Belfast flour milling company, and Emily Hilda Kathleen Hughes (née Hunter). He was educated at Campbell College, Belfast, and Pembroke College, Cambridge. Hughes learned to fly with the Cambridge University air squadron. He was commissioned in the RAF in October 1939 following the outbreak of the second world war, and posted to Cranwell on 1 January 1940. In June 1940 he joined 264 Squadron at RAF Duxford. During the battle of Britain and the Blitz he flew two-seat Defiant fighters – much inferior to the opposing Messerschmitt 109s – which from August 1940 operated at night. Hughes's first two ‘kills’ were achieved on 26 August 1940, and this total had risen to six by the time he was awarded his first DFC on 18 April 1941.
In January 1942 he was posted as flight commander to No. 125, a Beaufighter squadron, achieving its first victory on 26 June. In January 1943 he was transferred to 600 (City of London) Squadron in Algeria. In April and September he was awarded two further bars to his DFC. Hughes proved one of the most outstanding allied fighter pilots of the second world war, credited with shooting down eighteen and a half enemy aircraft (the ‘half’ being a shared Ju 88), plus two more aircraft damaged. Thirteen of these successes were at night, and this remarkable achievement earned him the sobriquet ‘Hawkeye’.
At the close of 1943 he was given a staff post preparing night-fighter squadrons for the invasion of France, and in July 1944 took command of the Mosquito night-fighter 604 (County of Middlesex) Squadron, which became the first of its kind in France. It was responsible for shooting down ten enemy aircraft during its first two nights based near Arromanches. Hughes's final personal victory was on 14 January 1945, and in March 1945 he was awarded the DSO. The citation commented on ‘the highest standard of devotion to duty . . . his outstanding keenness, great skill and unsurpassed determination . . . [and] brilliant leadership’.
After the war, in addition to playing rugby for London Irish, Hughes carved out a notable career in the RAF. From 1954, when he was awarded the AFC, to 1956 he served on the directing staff of RAF College, Bracknell, followed by two years as personal staff officer for the chief of air staff, Sir Dermot Boyle. From 1959 to 1961 Hughes commanded RAF Geilenkirchen in Germany, after which he received a CBE. From 1962 he was, for two years, director of air staff plans at the Ministry of Defence and, in 1963, ADC to Queen Elizabeth. In 1964 he took charge of Flying Training Command, and in 1968 received command of No. 18 Group, Coastal Command, which incorporated the NATO post of maritime air commander for parts of the Atlantic and the Channel. He was appointed air vice-marshal in July 1967.
In 1970 he became commandant at RAF College, Cranwell, for two years, during which period – not without some opposition from traditionalists – he introduced a more relaxed regime, and also supervised the training of the prince of Wales. His final posting before retirement in June 1974 was as deputy commander of British forces in Cyprus. He was awarded the CB in 1972, and in retirement became a DL for Lincolnshire in 1983. He died on 11 January 1992.
Desmond Hughes, who always regarded himself as most fortunate to have survived 264 Squadron, was noted for his good humour, natural modesty, and integrity. In 1941 he married Pamela, daughter of the composer and conductor Julius Harrison. They had three sons.