2nd Lt.

Mary Ethel Chubb

Nurse

181st Medical Dispensary, Aviation - 8th Air Force Headquarters

Serial Nr N-759572

KIA 14/06/1944

Resting Place - Cambridge American Cemetery, Madingley, Cambridge, UK. Plot F, Row 3, Grave 53

Mary Ethel Chubb was born on 7th May 1913 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Harry Nicholas Costello Chubb, and Anna Ethel Smith - she was one of seven children. As a child, Mary suffered with illness and this gave her a deep rooted respect for the nursing profession. In graduating from Doylestown High School in 1931, their yearbook states "Mary would like to be a nurse if her ill health permits". Mary next attended Chestnut Hill Nursing School before enlisting in the Army on 8th December 1942. She entered the Women's Air Corp (WAC), serving domestically until November 1943 when she was was subsequently assigned to the 181st Medical Dispensary, Aviation in England, on 20th November 1943.

2nd Lt. Mary Chubb had a brother serving with the 384th Bombardment Group at Grafton Underwood - 2nd Lt. Donald Vernon Chubb. From letters she sent home, it is believed that she had been able to meet with him three times during their service time in England. He had joined the 384th Bombardment Group, 547th Bomb Squadron, on 16th April 1944.

On 8th May, whilst on his 3rd combat mission, 2nd Lt. Donald Chubb was involved in a 'Crossbow' mission against V-weapon targets at Sottevast, France. Flying as co-pilot, shortly after leaving the target area their aircraft was struck by flak, knocking out two engines. A further hit destroyed the tail wheel, before another almost severed a wing. With a fire now raging in the wing fuel tanks, the order to bail out was given, whilst over the sea. From the reports of the surviving crew members, the B-17 was seen to explode at about 500 feet above the water, before falling into the sea. A further explosion rocked the aircraft, before it eventually slipped beneath the waves. Neither the pilot, nor 2nd Lt. Donald Chubb, were seen to leave the aircraft. Today, 2nd Lt. Donald Vernon Chubb is listed as Missing in Action, and is remembered on the 'Tablets of the Missing' at the Normandy American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

On the 14th June 1944, just over a month since the loss of her brother, 2nd Lt. Mary Chubb was the solitary passenger on a flight from the 8th Air Force Headquarters in England to Bovingdon. The pilot of the single engine AT-6 Texan aircraft, #41-34655, was 1st Lt. Harry Richard Wayland (O-729937). A veteran of 30 combat missions as pilot / co-pilot on B-17's with the 96th Bomb Group, 413rd Bomb Squadron based at Snetterton Heath, 1st. Lt. Wayland had volunteered to remain in service and was now with the 8HQ Signal Corps, working on the use of radio equipment in combat. The purpose of the flight is recorded as 'medical', but it is unclear as to the context.

Whilst in the vicinity of Church Lawford, Rugby, England the aircraft suffered a structural failure, with the aircraft losing both a wing and the tail assembly whilst in flight. 1st Lt. Wayland bailed out of the aircraft at around 500ft but he had no parachute, and was killed instantly. The body of 2nd Lt. Mary Chubb was discovered in the aircraft wreckage.

From letters that Mary had sent home, it is believed that at the time of her death, she still believed her brother to have survived the crash that had claimed his life.

Mary was to be made a Posthumous Member of The American Legion - Albert R. Atkinson Jr. Post 210 (Doylestown), the first female to be granted this honour.

2nd Lt. Chubb was initially interred at Brookwood Military Cemetery in England. Following the end of hostilities, her parents were offered the opportunity to repatriate her remains and have them returned home. Her mother, Ethel, was unwell at the time, recovering from a stroke. Mary's father Harry apparently spent some time deliberating over the decision, as he was worried that the upset and stress of returning her home may upset his wife further, especially due to the loss of their son Donald. Harry finally made the decision for Mary to remain in England, and on 18th May 1948 her remains were transferred to the Cambridge American Cemetery, where she lays at rest today.

Research courtesy of 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.

Further information courtesy of www.newspapers.com, www.ancestory.com and www.findagrave.com