Charles "Chuck" Hubbard
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Marines
Charles "Chuck" Hubbard served during World War II in the Pacific Theater.
He served in the U.S. Marine Air Corps from early December 1943 until early December 1945 as a flight mechanic.
Mr. Hubbard went to boot camp in San Diego, California. He attended Radio School at Texas A&M, College Station, Texas. and was then assigned to Hd. Squadron Marine Fleet Air West Coast.
He participated in the X-Ray Project (Bat Bomb) at Marine Air Station, El Centro, California. The idea for this project was submitted to the White House in January, 1942, and later approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It involved the use of bomb-shaped casings that contained Mexican free-tailed bats, each carrying an incendiary device containing napalm with a timer. The casings were to be dropped by a bomber at dawn over Japanese cities known for having industrial capacity; the casings would open, releasing the bats, which would then disperse, seeking places to roost in Japanese eaves and attics. Built-in timers would ignite the incendiaries and would start fires, burning the extremely flammable wooden Japanese buildings. But in February of 1944, the project was cancelled.
In the Pacific Theater, Mr. Hubbard was assigned to the 1st Marine Air Wing, Marine Air Group 25 VMR-152. They flew wounded out of Palau, transported personnel, and bombed Japanese airstrips. He was a Staff Sergeant and was decorated with the Air Medal.
Mr. Hubbard was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Charles and Fern Hubbard. He graduated from high school in 1942.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; veteran’s account (see below);
"Bat Bombs Away!" (http://defensetech.org/2005/06/01/bat-bombs-away); "The Bat Bombers," Air Force Magazine, October 1990, Vol. 73, No. 10; Bat Bomb: World War II's Other Secret Weapon, by Jack Couffer, University of Texas Press, 1992.
Wanted to be Marine flyer, but too short. Regular Marines recorded me taller than I was, so enlisted me December 1942. Boot camp San Diego. Radio School, Texas A&M. Hd. Marine Fleet Air West Coast, X-Ray Project (Bat Bomb).
Overseas 1st Marine Air Wing, Marine Air Group 25 VMR-152 (DC3 transports). Flew as flight mechanic over 400 hours. Flew wounded out of Palau. 1st Wing flew ground support for U.S. army in Philippines. We flew ground personnel from [illegible] to new air bases. Flew night fighters to [illegible]. Stayed three nights, bombed strip by Nips 1st night, flew to Australia, flew back to Hawaii to pick up new plane, spent September 45 at Admiralty Islands, played baseball.
