Hubert Hines Winstead, plane number 14810 of the VF-26 squadron, flew his last mission on April 1, 1943. While piloting a F4F-4 plane, he intercepted a force of around 30 Japanese Zero fighters in the vicinity of the Russell Islands. The F4F-4 fighter planes, otherwise known as Grumman F4F Wildcats, were heavily utilized in the beginning of World War II on the Pacific front. There were conflicting accounts on whether Hubert flew the F4F-4 Wildcat or the F4F-5 Wildcat. There are few differences, with the most notable one being a different engine, specifically the Wright R-1820-40. Since there were more F4F-4 airplanes produced compared to F4F-5 variation, it is ssumed that he flew an F4F-4 plane. The last report on Hubert stated that after being attacked by 2 Zeroes, he went into a dive at 13,000 feet and was last seen at 4,000 feet still diving. His position was estimated to have been about five miles southwestardly from the Russell Islands. Patrol torpedo boats searched the area, but nobody was found. He was declared missing as of April 1, 1943 and presumed dead as of April 2, 1944.
Search for Remains
On February 6, 1949, a search team led by Sgt. Smith left Yandina Village in search of information concerning Hubert’s MIA status. Upon arriving at Catalina Island, Sgt. Smith and his team, Pfe Hutchinson and Pfe Kolase, questioned overseers of the Fairymaid plantation. None of them reported knowledge of remains or wreckage of beaches relative to the case. The team then went to the Leona Village on the Northeast of Lona Island. Sub-Chief Styvester was questioned, and he reported that neither he nor the island natives were present on the island during the war. He continued saying that since the war, the natives have not seen any American wreckage along the beaches.
According to the team, all possible sources of information concerning the case had been exhausted with negative results, and they recommended that the case be closed.
Death and Commemoration According to his IPDF, Hubert had a gold crown on his upper right teeth, and on his right leg, he had a two inch scar below his knee.
Hubert is memorialized in Fort Bonifacio, 1634, Philippines (American Battle Monuments Commission) on the Walls of the Missing, and memorialized in the Brandon Cemetery in Rankin County, Mississippi. The Marshall News Messenger listed Hubert on the May 8, 1945 in the “They Gave Their Lives” section.