Edward Henry Hughes
First Lieutenant Edward H. “Ed” Hughes was a Marine pilot with VMF-212.
He was reported missing in action during a mission to Tobera Airfield, New Britain, on 31 January 1944.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-22526
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
May 11, 1921
at Dallas, TX
Parents
Henry Dehart Hughes
Louise (Lewis) Hughes
Education
Richardson High School (1937)
Southern Methodist University (ex-1943)
Occupation & Employer
College student
Service Life
Entered Service
August 13, 1942 (enlisted)
April 28, 1943 (officer)
Home Of Record
Dallas, TX
Next Of Kin
Parents, Henry & Louise Hughes
Military Specialty
Pilot
Primary Unit
VMF-212
Campaigns Served
Northern Solomons
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Took off from Piva on 31 January 1944 to provide fighter cover for an SBD Dauntless strike against targets at Tobera Airfield near Rabaul. Lieutenant Hughes and his Corsair (F4U-1 #17875) stuck close to the bombers until breaking off to intercept defending fighters over the airfield. In the fracas that followed, VMF-212 claimed three Japanese planes shot down, plus a fourth probable.
Lieutenant Hughes “was last seen at 1034 at 17,000 feet over Tobera when the attack was initiated.” He did not return to Piva, and no eyewitnesses could be found to give clues to his whereabouts. He was posted missing after the mission, and ultimately declared dead on 16 January 1946.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
The Hughes family listed their mailing address (Route 7, Box 444) instead of a street address. Location of their home is not known.
Location Of Loss
Lieutenant Hughes was last seen in combat near Tobera Airfield, Rabaul.
