Boyd Hubbard, Jr.
Pilot of B-18 36-446

Unusual Experiences
"In 1941, General Hubbard, (then captain) was flying a B-18 on instruments in weather at night at 10,000' in the vicinity of Hilo along the north shore of the island of Hawaii, when a main bearing failure caused the loss of one engine. Although all possible fuel and cargo was jettisoned, the aircraft was too heavily loaded to maintain altitude on one engine. In attempting to reach a field on the northwest tip of the island by holding altitude insofar as possible with maximum power and optimum airspeed, contact was made with trees while still on instruments and the aircraft crash landed on the side of Mount Mauna Kea, at 3,500'.

Only minor injuries were sustained by the general and two of the other five in the crew. There were no navigational aids in the area and although only 13 miles from the auxiliary field, it took a day and a half for the rescue party to reach them and another day and a half to get out. There were 2,500' vertical ravines only one quarter and one half miles on either side of the crash.

References
USAF Biography Brigadier General Boyd Hubbard Jr.

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