Allege That R.A.F. Pilot Aided Enemy

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1945, Page 8

Allege That R.A.F. Pilot Aided Enemy

(Rec. 2.0 p.m.) LONDCN, Aug. 23. An R.A.F. court-martial at Uxbridge began the hearing of 11 charges against a repatriated war prisoner, Air Gunner Warrant-Officer Raymond Hughes, volunteer reservist, alleging that after capture by the Germans he gave more information than was compulsory. Two other R.A.F. repatriated war prisoners will face similar charges soon.

The principal charges against Hughes, to which he pleaded not guilty, are disclosing to the Germans the method adopted by the R.A.F. for carrying out the raid in which he was shot down; asking war prisoners, on behalf of the German authorities, to fill in answers on forms containing questions relating to R.A.F. formations; making German propaganda records; broadcasting German propaganda; lending money to persons engaged in forming a “British Free Corps” intended for use against the Red Army; advising the German authorities on methods of combating Allied air raids-against Berlin; accepting employment from the German Foreign Office and Berlin radio. The prosecutor, Flight-Lieutenant R. W. Goff, stated that Hughes was shot down on August 17, 1943, and was taken to Dulagluft interrogation centre, where he remained for two months. He later was removed to Frankfurt, then to Berlin, where he stayed until August 8, 1944, wearing civilian clothes and under no kind of detention or restriction.

Flight-Lieutenant Goff said ha was calling as witnesses a German officer, who interrogated Hughes at Dulagluft. a German official in charge of the English section of the German Foreign Office broadcasting department, also R.A.F. prisoners. Flight-Lieutenant Goff alleged that, whereas prisoners ordinarily stayed at. an interrogation centre only two or three days before removal to a permanent camp, Hughes stayed on working for the Germans and enjoying special privileges. Wrote For Broadcasts

Flight-Lieutenant Goff added that Hughes, ‘in Berlin, expressed willingness to write anti-Jewish talks for a broadcast to England after which he was provided with a special room in the Foreign Office. He also broadcast propaganda talks in Welsh for Welsh troops in Italy. Hughes’ appointment terminated when his employers refused him. seven days’ leave, which he, nevertheless, took, upon which they "arrested him and sent him to a war prisoners’ camp. The Germans offered Hughes a commission in the British Free Corps, after which he attended various meetings and lent money to other prisoners.

Hughes, in December, 1943, went to the German Air Ministry, pointed out what he observed during Berlin raids, and offered advice about improving the city’s defences. An R.A.F. investigating officer, giving' evidence, said he interviewed Hughes on May 25, after which Hughes made a statement. Hughes’ alleged statement said he was a war prisoner from August 18, 1943, to April 2. 1945, when he was liberated by the Russians. When interrogated at Dulagluft after being shot down, he at first refused any information beyond his name, number and next-of-kin. The Germans told him that if he did not answer a further question he would be handed over to the Gestapo. The interrogator later told him they had all the information required concerning his squadron, group, etc., and requested him to sign a paper bearing these particulars, which he did. Got More Freedom Returning to Dulagluft after being flown to a castle near Bonn, where a German officer asked him about the food situation in Britain, he was given civilian clothes and found his cell door left unlocked. He volunteered to take a Red Cross letter-form round the cells. He got more freedom until he was able to visit any part of the building, including the offices and registries, where he saw many photographic copies of English documents. A girl clerk told him these were received from German spies in Britain by radio photography.

The statement continued that Baillie Stewart, in December, 1943, told Hughes “he was no good at broadcasting and particularly dumb at writing.” but he was prepared to offer him a commission in the British Free Corps, which Joyce and Amery were raising on the lines of the Viking Waffen S.S. The hearing has not finished.