Lt. Col. Mark Hubbard

LT.COL. MARK E. HUBBARD

Mark Everett Hubbard was born in Wisconsin on 17 August 1913. He attended the University of Minnesota before joining the Army Air Forces and was commissioned and rated a pilot 11 May 1940. Already an experienced military pilot by the time America entered World War II, he was sent to North Africa in November 1942 as commander of the 59th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Group. On 10 November their P-40s were launched from the deck of the U.S.S. Chatango off Casablanca to participate in the Allied invasion of North Africa.
Hubbard scored his first victories on 15 January 1943 with the destruction of two Ju-88s. He splashed a Ju-87 on 1 Feruary and downed a Me-109 on 24 March. He was subsequently sent to the 20th Fighter Group, flying P-38s out of King's Cliffe, England. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel he took over command of the group on 3 March 1944. Two weeks later, on 18 March, He shot down two Me-109s and was credited with a shared victory on another and one probable. Unfortunately, he was shot down by flak on the same mission and was captured by the Germans. Hubbard spent the remainder of the war in Stalag-Luft I in Barth, Germany.
Remaining in the Air Force, Hubbard retired as a Colonel in October 1963 and moved to Ottawa, Ontario, where he owned and operated Markaylin Consulting, Ltd., providing consulting service to Northrop Aircraft Corporation. He died in August 1984.
Tally Record: 6.5 confirmed and one probable.
Decorations: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and Air Medal with 13 OLCs.
This information courtesy of Maj. Jack Ilfrey via Capt. Art Heiden.
(This is not actually a tribute but more a defense of a much maligned Commanding Officer that was posted in an aviation news group by Capt.Art Heiden.Until the tribute is completed I am posting this as a way of helping to defeat the bad press given by many to Col. Hubbard.)
"...Hubbard came in to replace the popular and hard fighting Col. Barney Russell after the Feb 11th disaster. Old hands were very unhappy, and rightfully as this was one of those 8th AF things. Hubbard got every ones a** in an airplane and we practiced daily till the stand-down was over and we were back on Ops on Feb 20th. Disliked and open snarling about that."
"He was working up new tactics (aggressive) and airplane problems at the same time. Older guys hated that. I was very impressed with the guy, straight forward and told it like he saw it. No BS, very much a realist. He got in 15-missions before flak got him. He had just shot down two 109s and shared another. With his canopy all iced over, couldn't see, he blundered over a city and got clobbered." (Hubbard was shot down while flying P-38J Serial # 42-67708.)
"I have a letter from him telling all about that day and what happened. It is a very honest letter telling about his mistakes and all. Especially for a Col. that is unusual. I have the greatest respect for him. Royal Frey was in POW camp with him and they became fast friends. He was a loud critic of the P-38 but I feel it was impatience with getting the modifications that were needed for to long a period. He was being critical of using the combat theater to test the airplane and wasn't afraid to sound off. He had flown P-40s in N. Africa so he had a right. Speaking your mind in the military is bad form and it scares people. I have always thought he was a h**l of a guy and would have been just what we needed. I absolutely do not feel he made anyone feel less confident. All BS." -- Capt. Arthur W. Heiden
Capt. Heiden also asked that I add this:
Feb. 22 and 24, 1944, on Hubbard's first missions with 20thFG, and the 8thAF, he led the 20thFG as the 8thAF returned to Schweinfort for the first time since the Aug & Oct, 1943 disasters.
On Mar. 3rd, 1944, he led the 20thFG, on the 8thAF's first Berlin Mission (Bomber Recall). Fighter contact east of Berlin. P-38s of the 20thFG and 55thFG (led by Col. Jenkins) were the only 8thAF units to go all the way as Bombers were recalled.
Mar. 18, 1944, shot down by flak after destroying two Me-109s and sharing another. Had initiated new and effective tactics this day by sweeping ahead of the bombers after being relieved from escort. This allowed the 20th. to catch the Luftwaffe on assembly for attack. The 8thAF were able to dispatch 900 fighters this day, the largest number to date.

RETURN TO THE 20TH.FG

"Nothing is true in tactics" --Commander Randy "Duke" Cunningham, USN