Memorial Day, Monday 25th May 2026

Cambridge American Cemetery, Madingley, UK

The 384th Bombardment Group Museum was privileged to have the honour of laying a wreath in memory of all the personnel of the 384th Bombardment Group Museum personnel lost during World War 2, and to pay respect to those that served and got to return home. As the sole official entity representing the 384th in the UK, this is an important date in our calendar.

It has become a tradition that after the original ceremony has concluded with the wreath being laid at the Wall of the Missing, the Museum representatives will move the wreath to a 384th related grave headstone. The person is chosen in advance, and whilst the grave represents a single person, the action is to acknowledge the actions, service and sacrifices of all 384th Bombardment Group personnel.

This year, the wreath was laid at the grave of 2nd Lt. Mary Ethel Chubb. 2nd Lt. Chubb was a nurse, assigned to the 181st Medical Dispensary, Aviation. On 14th June 1944, she was killed on an internal flight after the aircraft she was in, an AT-6 Texan single engine aircraft, broke up in flight near to Rugby, Warwickshire in the UK. Both 2nd Lt. Chubb, and the pilot 1st Lt. Harry Richard Wayland, were killed as a result of the crash.

Mary's link to the 384th Bombardment Group was through her brother, 2nd Lt. Donald Vernon Chubb. Tragically 2nd Lt. Donald Chubb was lost on 8th May 1944 after his aircraft was forced to ditch, His body was never recovered and today he is listed as Missing in Action. 

Both Mary and Donald had managed to meet up in the short time they were both serving their country whilst based in the UK. Their parents received two pieces of tragic news, a little over a month apart.

The full story of Mary can be found in our personal research area of the website.

Article by Keith Andrews on behalf of 384th Bombardment Group Museum.

With kind thanks to the 384th Bomb Group website www.384thbombgroup.com for permission in using material from their records in the making of this story. It holds a wealth of information, documents and photographs of their activities during World War 2.