Bruce Hubbard, Attu Island, 1945
When Bruce Hubbard graduated from high school in 1942, he joined his brother and his father at the Boeing Aircraft Company where he worked as a mechanic. The company was so satisfied with his work, they offered to get him a deferment. Hubbard would have none of it. He wanted to fly. Within a few months he found himself at Sheppard Field in Texas for basic training. As soon as he was trained up, he was sent to the Aleutian Islands where he flew P-40s in the 11th Fighter Squadron. He was incredibly pleased when a new shipment of P-38s arrived on the islands, saying, "Well it was like you wanted to pay the government. It was such a blessing."