Raymond B Hubbard

Military
media-39573.jpeg UPL 39573 The B-24D - Hail Columbia, after the Ploesti mission and crash Landing at Nicosia, Cyprus - Aug 1, 1943. From left : Lt. Harry Korger/ Bombardier - Lt. Norman Whalen Navigator/Nose Gunner - Kneeling, second from right, 1st Lt. Raymond Hubbard/ Radio Operator/ Gunner, SSgt. Harvey Treace/Gunner, TSgt Clarence Weckesser/ Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner, SSgt. Neville Benson/Waist Gunner, SSgt. Joseph LaBranch/ Gunner, SSgt. Frederick Leard/Waist Gunner . This photo taken the next morning after the Ploesti mission. Monday August 2nd, 1943.

Black Sunday - Ploesti - Michael Hill

Object Number - UPL 39573 - The B-24D - Hail Columbia, after the Ploesti mission and crash Landing at Nicosia, Cyprus - Aug 1, 1943. From left : Lt. Harry Korger/...

Lt. Raymond B. Hubbard was assigned to the 9th Air force, the 98th Bombardment Group, and the 344th Bombing Squadron in Libya, North Africa, 1943. He flew in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying as a Waist Gunner and Radio Operator, in the B-24D Liberator bomber, 41-11825, Hail Columbia, Col. John R. Kane's Lead Aircraft for three Bomb Groups, his own 98th Bomb Group, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 389th Bomb Group. Lt. Hubbard and all of his crewmen survived the Ploesti mission and received Distinguished Flying Crosses for valor and bravery in carrying out their mission. August 1, 1943.

Connections

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Units served with

344th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Neville Charles Benson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

John Riley Kane

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-29680
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer / Pilot

Harold Francis Korger

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16023226 / O-54160
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Joseph W LaBranche

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Frederick A Leard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

B-24D, 41-11819, 9th AF 98th BG 344th BS. Shot down over White IV. 1 Aug 43

41-11819

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Raunchy
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

41-11825

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Hail Columbia - Little Chief Big Dog - Grumpy
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

41-24198

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - The Vulgar Virgin - Hell From Heaven - Shoot Youre Faded
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Revisions

Date3 Sep 2021 20:26:35
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to biography
Sources

Capitals. - Kickapoo

Date28 Jul 2021 09:24:33
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to biography
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date2 Feb 2021 00:39:50
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to biography
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date18 Dec 2020 03:55:34
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to nickname, biography, awards, person associations and unit associations
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date1 Sep 2020 11:02:39
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
ChangesCreated entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nationality, highest rank, role, biography, unit associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

Ploesti Sortie Reports for the 98th Bomb Group;
http://www.ploesti.com/roster.pdf;
https://www.low-level-ploesti.org/Ploesti_B-24D_Aircraft.htm.

Raymond B Hubbard: Gallery (2 items)