Mr. Andrew Smith, the nephew of Ray Hulbert contacted me and very kindly provided some valuable information and photographs on one of 601's pilots who fought with the squadron through the Battle of Britain, and stayed with 601 through May of 1941. 

Ray was working for an accounting office where on weekends he would travel to Castle Bromwich where 605 Squadron was based.  He became hooked on the idea of flying and began weekend training with the Volunteer Reserve.  When war broke out Ray learned to fly Hurricanes and was posted to 601 Squadron in later August.  From Ray:  "The training would seem very odd nowadays.  An instructor would stand on the wing and gave you some instructions, then off you went.  Taking off for the first time in a Hurricane I wondered what on earth I was doing, but as soon as I opened the throttle, it as great." 

After leaving 601 Ray became an instructor, was commissioned as a test pilot in 1942, an would then join 193 Squadron flying Typhoons.  Demobed in November of 1945, Ray joined the RAFVR as an instructor, eventually retiring withthe rank of Flight Lieutenant in 1957.

Pic 1 - Frank Horace Raymond Hulbert



Pic 2 - Ray as a Sgt. in 601



Pic 3 - Ray, 3rd from Left



Pic 4 - Ray in the middle - hasn't yet won his wings!



Pic 5 - Eric Lawson Hetherington, from Ray's album.



Pic 2 -  Caption to follow



Pic 3 - Caption to follow



Pic 4 - Picture Ray drew of his Hurricane



Pic 5 - Post-601 Days



Pic 6 - In front of his Typhoon



Pic 7 - Group in front of Typhoon



Pic 8 - First time in an aircraft