1. Kenneth Gilbert Hubbard was born in Norwich in Norfolk on 26 February 1920, the son of Gilbert Claud Hubbard, a mechanical engineer and professional association football player who played for Norwich City, and his wife Florence Dack.
17 Facts About Kenneth Hubbard
1. 2.
Kenneth Hubbard was educated at Norwich Technical College from 1932 to 1935, where he trained as a draughtsman.
3.
Kenneth Hubbard then worked as a draughtsman for Stevensons of Norwich.
4.
Kenneth Hubbard earned his wings at No 2 Flying Training School RAF at RAF Brize Norton, and was commissioned as a pilot officer in May 1941.
5.
Kenneth Hubbard was posted to No 2 Central Flying Training School at RAF Cranwell in June 1941, and then to No 12 Flying Training School RAF at RAF Grantham in July 1942 as an instructor.
6.
Kenneth Hubbard flew one out to Foggia Airfield Complex in Italy in January 1944, and joined No 70 Squadron RAF, which operated the Wellington.
7.
Kenneth Hubbard was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 20 April 1945.
8.
Kenneth Hubbard then returned to No 70 Squadron RAF in Italy, which was now flying B24 Liberator bombers from Tortorella.
9.
Kenneth Hubbard went back to the Middle East in May 1946, where he flew Avro Lancaster bombers with No 104 Squadron RAF from RAF Abu Sueir RAF Shallufa in Egypt.
10.
Kenneth Hubbard became a flight commander at the RAF Flying College there in July 1949.
11.
Kenneth Hubbard returned to the Middle East in April 1951, as commander of RAF Shaibah during the Abadan Crisis, for which he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1953 New Year Honours.
12.
The graduates were allowed to express three preferences for their next assignment, and as he had just completed a staff posting, Kenneth Hubbard asked to be posted to the new V bomber force for flying duties.
13.
Kenneth Hubbard's request was granted, but he was first sent to RAF Strubby for an all-weather jet refresher course, flying the Gloster Meteor, then to No 231 Operational Conversion Unit RAF at RAF Bassingbourn for training on the English Electric Canberra, and finally to No 232 Operational Conversion Unit RAF at RAF Gaydon for training on the Vickers Valiant, the first of the RAF's new generation of V-bombers.
14.
Kenneth Hubbard became the first British pilot to drop a live hydrogen bomb.
15.
Kenneth Hubbard was promoted to group captain, and commanded RAF El Adem in Libya.
16.
Kenneth Hubbard chaired the local review committee for parole at HM Prison Blundeston, and was involved with the local Air Training Corps and the RAF Benevolent Fund.
17.
Kenneth Hubbard had no children from either of his marriages.