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Thomas H. Hubbard
THOMAS H. HUBBARD, (SPEED)
born in Dallas, Texas, December 4, 1911.
Moved to Fort Worth in January 1912.
Graduated from Central High School in
1930. Attended North Texas Agricultural
College for 2 1/2 years. From 1933 to 1937,
he entered real estate working for a company
in Los Angeles, Calif. He pursued a flying
course during his spare time and first soloed
in June, 1934.
He entered Ryan School of Aeronautics in
1937, in San Diego, California. Graduated
and awarded a pilot's license plus an airplane
and engine mechanics license in May, 1938.
He enlisted in the Air Corps at San Diego,
June 25, 1938 as a flying cadet and was
appointed to enter Randolph Field, Texas, in
the class commencing July 1, 1938. Graduated at Kelly Field on May 26, 1939 and
joined the 20th Pursuit Group, Barksdale
Field, La., flying P-36's.
In November, 1939, moved with the
group to Moffett Field, California. Early in
1940, the group was split and formed two
groups. He went with the newly formed 35th
Pursuit Group, 20th Squadron, which
moved to Hamilton Field, California.
October, 1940, he departed with the 20th
Squadron, and arrived in the Philippine
Islands. He was transferred to the 28th Bomb
Squadron, stationed at Clark Field, flying
B-10 and B-18's until the outbreak of hostilities.
After spending two months on Bataan and
the southern island of Mindaneo, he went to
Australia and flew P-40's until he joined a
task force enroute to New Caledonia. He
became Operations Officer of the 67th
Fighter Squadron of P-400's. Commanded
the 67th for a short time and in September,
1942, took a detachment of the squadron to
Guadalcanal for a two week period.
Participated in 33 missions with P-400's
and P-40's in New Caledonia, Gaudalcanal,
and the Pacific area.
Returned to the States in November 1942.
He served for six months with the 326th
Operational Training Group equipped with
P-47's at Westover Field, Mass., as Group
Operations Officer. He was then assigned to
the 355th Fighter Group as Deputy Commander in May of 1943, he departed with the
Advance Echelon to the European Theatre of
Operations.
While on his 21st mission, November 13,
1943, he was forced to "bailout" over
northern Holland, then under enemy control. He evaded capture and was able to
return to his home base in England after
many "underground" experiences through
Holland, Belgium, France, Spain and Gibralter. Returned to his group in England on June 28, 1944.
He joined the Air Disarmament Command,
stationed in England and France until he
returned to the United States in May 1945.
July 1949, after various assignments, he
became the Group Executive and Operations
Officer of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group
at Langley Field, Virginia flying F86's.
In April 1951 separated from the Air
Force.
Colonel Hubbard has been awarded the
Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air
Medal with cluster, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation with one cluster, the Presidential Unit Badge, (Navy), at Guadalcanal,
the Defense ribbon, 1 star; Philippine
Defense, 1 star; Pacific Theatre, 4 stars; ETO
ribbon, 4 stars; American Theatre and WW2
Victory ribbon.
Colonel Hubbard and his wife married
April 14, 1944, and have one daughter,
Myrian and one grandson, Tom,Palmer. Mrs.
Hubbard is the former Miss Nelly Rosiers of
Brussels, Belgium. She and her family
worked with the underground force since its
beginning and were very instrumental in
helping Tom evade capture.
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Pilot Name
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Biography Summary
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John Abbotts
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P-47 transition followed at Pocatello, Idaho and Greenville, Texas after which he was assigned to the 56th Fighter Group in England. When the news of his arrival reached Berlin, Hitler retired to his bunker with his cyanide capsule and revolver. Eva found the news equally depressing.
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Asa A. Adair
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He returned to the States in August of 1944 after participating in the invasion "D" Day. He flew P-63's, P-51's, F-80's, T-33's, F-84's, T-38's, P-47's in numerous assignments during the following twenty years in in, Japan, U.S.A. and Europe before retiring after twenty-six years of Active Duty.
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Edward B. Addison
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The 507th Fighter Group, equipped with P-47N's, won the Presidential Unit Citation for destroying 32 Japanese aircraft in the air on one mission to Seoul, Korea. The average flying time for raids to Korea and Japan would be 7 to 9 hours flying time. In a total of 31 months, the 507th not only provided top cover for B-29's, but also
dive-bombed, napalm-bombed and flew low-level on strafing missions.
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Levon B. Agha-Zarian
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It is rumored that he, took his primary training on a flying rug. He flew Spits, briefly, in England, but as the, war moved to the East, he was sent to India as a Sgt. Pilot and first saw action from Ceylon, flying the Curtiss P.36, the Brewster Buffalo, and the Hurricane. At this point he might have opted for the rug! This was at the time of the fall of Singapore and the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse.
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George N. Ahles
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Posted to A-20 light bomber squadron Barksdale Field, Louisiana. . Group moved to Hunter Air Base Savannah, Georgia. Qualified for Pilot training November 1940. Entered Aviation Cadets January 1942. Presented wings November 1942 class of 42-J. Married Mary Louise while in Advanced Pilot Training at Craig AFB, Selma, Alabama, September 1942.
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Roy J. Aldritt
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Shortly after the group moved to France he ran into some unseen flak and was forced to make a nylon descent behind the lines; some evasion and a lot of luck had him back with his unit
in 24 hours.
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Eugene J. Amaral
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After graduation from Stonington High School he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in December 1942 and was called to active duty in March, 1943. He received his wings and commission at Spence Field, Georgia as a member of the Class of 43-C.
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Talmadge L. Ambrose
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Flew 84 missions thru VE Day, was downed by 22mm ground fire over Siefried Line. He destroyed 11 enemy aircraft, 9 known confirmed in air and on
ground, including 4 FW 190-D's in one afternoon over Hanover, Germany, April 8, 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 17 man, Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, Pacific Theatre and European Theatre Meda1s with 5 Battle
Stars and Unit Citation Medal.
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John C. Anderson
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After P-47 transition he was assigned to the 406th Fighter Group, 512th Fighter Squadron. (E.T
.0.) He flew 56 missions through January, 1945 destroying supply routes, bridges, and railroads; he also flew close support missions with the ground forces, with attacks on tanks, artillery and enemy positions.
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William Anderson
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It was not always flak,two ME-109's beat the hell out of me one day. The central controller called me and said "Basher-Red Leader do you have contact Bandits," I replied, "I sure do, I'll bring them over the field in 3 minutes, they're chasing me home." Got all the usual medals including two Belgium and two French but one I'm most proud of is the Silver Star -it is the greatest.
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