HUGHES, L.A.C. W.E. Reg # R. 257991
62 R.C.A.F. Base
Overseas
William Eric Hughes was born in 1918 to William J. and Clara Hughes in Magnetawan. He was the second youngest of 3 children in 1921.
At the time of the 1921 census, there was a Winfield Hughs living in Chapman Twp. with his sister Sarah Mills and her children. Winfield was 32.
Eric married Emma Elliott. They had a daughter Joyce born March 2, 1941 in Magnetawan.
In the 1945 Voters list Eric and his wife were identified as living in Magnetawan. His occupation was listed as a soldier
Hugh identified that he was at 62 RCAF Base, Overseas.
Eric responded to Mr. Grunig’s students on March 23, 1945.
Wikipedia reports:
“On 30 April 1942, the 62nd RCAF Squadron reformed when No. 139 Squadron, equipped with Hudsons and based at Calcutta was renumbered. The squadron was a General Reconnaissance unit, flying coastal reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols off the coast of Burma. On 18 August, one of the squadron's Hudsons drove off a Japanese flying boat attacking the merchant ship SS Itinda.
From January 1943, the squadron concentrated on bombing missions rather than the maritime mission which it had previously. In May that year, it withdrew from front line operations as its Hudsons were modified for the transport role, while in November, before becoming operational, it re-equipped with Douglas Dakotas The squadron flew in support of British and Commonwealth forces during the Battle of the Admin Box in February 1944 and of Operation Thursday, the second Chindit operation in March. It was heavily deployed in dropping supplies during the Battle of Imphal, continuing to fly through the heavy rains of the Monsoon season.[24] The squadron was withdrawn for operations for rest in August 1944, returning to supply dropping in November, continuing these duties and more general transport flying until the end of the war in August 1945 The squadron disbanded on 15 March 1946 at Mingaladon, near Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma”
