|
- Home
- Hubbard, Thomas
 |
 |
COL (Ret) Thomas H. Hubbard
Colonel Thomas H. Hubbard started a distinguished career in military and civilian aviation in 1933. He attended North Texas Agricultural College from 1931-1933, and was a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) where he attained the rank of Cadet Captain and Company Commander.
While working in the field of banking, real estate and mortgages, he pursued an interest in flying in his spare time. He first soloed in 1934, and in 1937, obtained licenses in aircraft mechanics and private piloting. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at San Diego, California, in June of 1938, as a flying cadet and went to Randolph Field, Texas. Hubbard graduated as a Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, at Kelly Field, Texas on 26 May 1939.
Colonel Hubbard flew both fighters and bombers in various commands prior to the outbreak of World War II. On the 7th of December 1941, he was stationed at Clark Field, the Philippine Islands with the 28th Bomber Squadron. After spending two months on Bataan, he joined a task force that went to New Caledonia. He flew 35 missions in P-39 aircraft in the Pacific Theater. Colonel (then Major) Hubbard was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action while serving in support of the U.S. Marine Corps near Guadalcanal, Solomon Island, during the period October 6-14, 1942. Colonel Hubbard then returned to the United States and was assigned to the 355th Fighter Group as Deputy commander. In June 1943, he again departed for combat, now in the European Theater of operations. After flying 22 missions in Europe he was forced to bail out over Northern Holland on 13 November 1943. He was evacuated and moved by the “underground” through Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, and Gibraltar, returning to England on 28 June 1944. Colonel Hubbard then served in various military assignments in Europe until 28 June 1951, when he resigned from the U.S. Air Force in order to work with the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
Colonel Hubbard served with the Civil Aeronautics Administration in the capacities of Air Traffic Controller, Supervisor, and Liaison with U.S. Military Aviation from 28 June 1951 until his subsequent retirement from the Federal Civil Service sector on 31 December 1973. His military decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Unit Citation, the Presidential Unit Badge (Navy), the Guadalcanal, and many other medals and awards.
Colonel Hubbard’s great aviation career as an aerial warrior in WWII and as a civilian guardian of U.S. airways began as a cadet on the campus of Arlington and has brought great distinction to himself, The University of Texas at Arlington, the United States Air Force, and the Civil Aeronautic Administration.