John Obie Hubbard

Military

John Hubbard was Co-Pilot on B-24D #42-51112 on the 31 March 1945 mission to Brunswick, Germany. Hit by a German Me262 jet fighter, the Liberator had one engine out, its Navigator was badly wounded and Pilot Bussell tried to crash-land the ship, with all the crew on board, in a field between Tündern and Hamelin, 45km SW of Hannover, Germany. Navigator Murray D. Robinson and Top Turret Gunner Saul Katz were killed in the crash. The 8 other crew members were made Prisoners of War (POWs) including John Hubbard - Missing Air Crew Report – MACR 13735.

Connections

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Units served with

Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37574497
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18076336 at enlistment, then O-758532
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39277648
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38387437
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13146259
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

20 January 1922 Spray, Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States

Enlisted

26 September 1942 Roanoke, Virginia

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

31 March 1945 After the crash-landing of B-24D #42-51112 between Tündern and Hamelin, 45km SW of Hannover, Germany. NARA WWII POW records : no data about detention
Spray, Rockingham County, North Carolina

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Corrected Service Number
Associated Media

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 13735
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card
WWII POW records

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Associated with 42-51112 and other men on board B-24D #42-51112

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The Liberator Men of Old Buc