R.A.F. METHODS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23288, 25 August 1945, Page 5

R.A.F. METHODS

Disclosure To Nazis Repatriated Airman Accused Trial By Court-martial By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright (8.45 p.m.) - LONDON, Aug. 23. A Royal Air Force court-martial at Uxbridge to-day began the hearing of 11 charges against a repatriated prisoner of war. Air-Gunner Warrant Officer Raymond Hughes, a volunteer reservist, alleging that after capture by the Germans, he gave more information than was compulsory. Two other Royal Air Fcrce repatriated prisoners of war 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 Royal Air Force for carrying out the raid in which he was shot down, asking prisoners of war on behalf of the German authorities to fill in the 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 the methods of combating Allied air raids against Berlin, accepting employment from the German Foreign Office and the Berlin Radio. Case for Prosecution The prosecutor. Flight Lieutenant R. W. Goff, said that Hughes was shot dow’n on August 17. 1943. and taken to the Dulagluft interrogation centre, w'here he remained two months. He was later removed to Frankfurt, then Berlin, where he stayed until August 8. 1944, wearing civilian clothes and under no kind of detention or restriction. Flight Lieutenant Goff said he W'as calling as witnesses the German officer who interrogated Hughes at Dulagluft, the German official in charge of the English section of the German foreign office broadcasting department, also R.A.F. prisoners.

The prosecutor alleged that whereas prisoners ordinarily stayed at the interrogation centre only two or three days before removal to a permanent camp. Hughes stayed on working for the Germans enjoying special privileges. He added that Hughes, in Berlin, expressed his willingness to write antiJew'ish talks for broadcasting 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 was terminated when his employers refused him seven days’ leave, which he nevertheless took upon which they arrested him and sent him to a prison 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 had observed during the Berlin raids and offered advice about improving the city’s defences. Statement by Accused A Royal Air Force investigating officer, giving evidence, said he interviewed Hughes on May 28, after which

Hughes made a statement, Hughes in his statement, said he was a prisoner of war 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 and number- and next-of-kin. The Germans told him that if he did not answer further questions he would be handed over to the Gestapo. The interrogator later told him they had all the information they required concerning his squadron, group, etcetera, and requested him to sign a paper bearing these particulars, which he did. Returning to the Dulagluft after being flown to a castle near Bonn, where a German officer asked him about the food situation in Britain, Hughes said he was given civilian clothes and found that his cell door was left unlocked. He volunteered to take a Red Cross letter form round the cells and 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 that these had been received from German spies in Britain by radio photography. 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 William Joyce and John Amery were raising on the lines of the Waffen SS. The hearing is not finished.