Captain Lloyd Hubbard
On 8th February 1944, Captain Hubbard, an American fighter pilot, was flying over Belgium.
The hazards of the war made his mission end tragically. Shot by the enemy anti-aircraft guns located around the Florennes airfield, occupied by the Luftwaffe, he died on board of his P-51 Mustang which crashed in the village Stave.
After the Liberation, the people of the village decided to erect a tombstone on the spot of the crash, as a symbol of gratitude to the courageous pilot.
This young Californian airman came from a family of five children; among them four brothers volunteers in US Army Air Corps during World War II. Lloyd HUBBARD belonged to 357th Fighter Group, 363rd Fighter Squadron based in Leiston, England.
On Sunday 4th September 1994, a particular ceremony was held as homage to the valorous pilot, in presence of his elder brother, Colonel Harry V. Hubbard and his wife Dorothy.
This celebration took place in STAVE as part of the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation.
The P-51 Mustang of Stave.
Story Donated by Jacques Thiry
