Frank Horace Raymond Hulbert, always known as Ray, was born on 5th January 1917 and joined the RAFVR in December 1938. He began flying training at 14 E&RFTS Castle Bromwich.
Called to full-time service at the outbreak of war, Hulbert was posted to 3ITW at Hastings. In March 1940 he went to 18 EFTS Fairoaks, moved to 10 EFTS Yatesbury in May and finished his training at 8 FTS Montrose.
In early August Hulbert was posted to 5 OTU Aston Down, converted to Hurricanes and then joined 601 Squadron at Exeter late in the month.
In May 1941 he went to the Station Flight at RAF Northolt and in August was posted to 59 OTU, Crosby-on-Eden, as an instructor. Hulbert was commissioned in May 1942. He returned to operations in February 1943, when he joined 193 Squadron at Harrowbeer. He was awarded the AFC (gazetted 2nd June 1943).
In April 1944 Hulbert was appointed CO of 10 Group Communication Flight and was posted to 11 Armament Practice Camp at Fairwood Common in August. It became No 1 Armament Practice Squadron in July 1945. Hulbert went to RAF Molesworth for 1335 Jet Conversion Course in August and in September went to his final posting, 3 Armament Practice Squadron at Hawkinge.
Demobilised in November 1945, Hulbert joined the RAFVR in March 1947 and instructed at 5 RFS, Castle Bromwich until 1953. He retired in 1957, as a Flight Lieutenant. Post-war he was a sales manager in the aluminium industry.
He died on 19th September 2004. He is survived by his wife Eileen, and a daughter, three grandsons and two great-granddaughters.
