Captain William Henry Hubbard
DFC (19 May 1886—19 June 1960) was a Canadian World War I
flying ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...
credited with twelve aerial victories against enemy fighter planes despite spending a year and a half out of action. He was noted for his zeal in ground support missions, as well as his success against enemy fighters.
Military service
Hubbard had moved to Toronto in 1915 when he volunteered for military service. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Special Reserve on 1 January 1916. On 9 May 1916, he received
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club (RAeC) is the national co-ordinating body for air sport in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1901 as the Aero Club of Great Britain, being granted the title of the "Royal Aero Club" in 1910.
History
The Aero Club was foun ...
pilot's certificate no. 2871. On 8 September, while flying a
Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2
The Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 was a British single-engine tractor two-seat biplane designed and developed at the Royal Aircraft Factory. Most of the roughly 3,500 built were constructed under contract by private companies, including establish ...
c for
No. 5 Squadron RFC, he destroyed a
Fokker Eindekker
The Fokker ''Eindecker'' fighters were a series of German World War I monoplane single-seat fighter aircraft designed by Netherlands, Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker.Boyne 1988 Developed in April 1915, the first ''Eindecker'' ("Monoplane") was the f ...
over Saint-Julien. On the day after Christmas, he was severely wounded by
Erwin Boehme. Upon recovery, he was posted to
Home Establishment as an instructor. He remained there until he was promoted Captain and appointed
Flight Commander in
No. 73 Squadron RAF
No. 73 Squadron, Royal Air Force was formed on 2 July 1917 during the First World War. It was disbanded in 1969.
World War I
It was initially a unit of the Royal Flying Corps and was formed out of the Central Flying School, based at Upavon, Wilts ...
, flying a
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the b ...
. Beginning 11 April 1918, he began to score a steady trickle of wins that took to a total of a dozen on 8 October. It was during this time that he earned both the DFC and a Bar in lieu of a second award; they were awarded more for his ground support missions than aerial success. At any rate, he ended the war with a tally of four German fighter planes destroyed, one set afire in midair, one captured, and six driven down out of control.
Military honors
Distinguished Flying Cross
Capt. William Henry Hubbard,
During recent operations he has repeatedly
descended to low altitudes to release his
bombs and to open machine-gun fire on
troops and transport. He has shown the
greatest gallantry, judgment and presence
of mind. On several occasions he has
attacked and driven down out of control
enemy aeroplanes.
Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross
Capt. William Henry Hubbard, D.F.C.
(FRANCE.)
This officer has shown great bravery and
devotion to duty both in destroying enemy
aircraft—ten of which he has accounted for
—and in silencing anti-Tank guns. On
27 September, flying at altitudes between
200 and 1,500 feet, he engaged and silenced
many anti-Tank guns, thereby rendering
valuable service. He at the same time completed
a detailed and accurate reconnaissance
of the area, locating the position of
our troops.
[Supplement to the London Gazette http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31046/supplements/14316 Retrieved on 2 September 2010.]
Aerial victories
Endnotes
References
* Franks, Norman and Hal Giblin (2003). ''Under the Guns of the Kaiser's Aces: Bohme, Muller, Von Tutschek and Wolff: The Complete Record of Their Victories and Victims''. Grub Street. , .
*
1886 births
1960 deaths
Canadian World War I flying aces
{{wwi-air