Bradenton resident remembers 26 WWII bombing missions as he nears age 100

Michael Hobin will be 100 years old in June. Even though time has robbed him of his vision and most of his hearing, the Bradenton resident’s memories of bombing missions over Germany and long-dead World War II crewmates burn bright as Memorial Day approaches.

“I am the only member of my crew left. We had something special — you never forget those guys,” Hobin said.

Hobin, a native of Rutherford, N.J., flew 26 bombing missions in a B-17 Flying Fortress as a co-pilot, and then flew C-54 cargo supply missions in the Pacific Theater.

The difference: bombers always get shot at, cargo planes not as often.

Even before he was assigned to the European theater, Hobin had a brush with death when the military plane he was flying in as a passenger ran out of gas and crashed near Roanoke, Va. Hobin and five others bailed out and survived the crash, although he broke his leg in two places.

“The fuel gauge got stuck,” Hobin said of the reason for the crash. The crew thought it had more fuel than was in the plane’s tank.

On his 25th bombing mission with the 8th Air Force in Europe, Hobin’s next-to-last combat mission, German anti-aircraft fire knocked out the No. 2 engine on his B-17.

“The pilot’s compartment in the B-17 is heated by the No. 2 engine. The temperature fell to minus-67 degrees Fahrenheit and I got frostbite on both hands,” he said.

Another memory of World War II was shipping to Europe on the Queen Mary luxury liner, which had been converted to a troop transport ship, and having to sleep in shifts.

“I was up all night shooting craps, and made $2,500 that I sent to my wife, Dorothy,” Hobin said.

The Queen Mary docked in Scotland, and Hobin and his crew were sent by train to London, and eventually to Chelveston, which would be the base for his B-17 missions.

Altogether, Hobin had 18 years service with the Army Air Forces and the U.S. Air Force. His final rank was major.

Family photos and photos of his military service hang on the walls of his residence at Westminster Towers, where he has lived for 10 years. One frame contains his military medals, including a Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement, and Air Medals awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in flight.

In civilian life, Hobin worked for the Lincoln-Mercury Division of the Ford Motor Co., retiring as merchandising manager after 27 years.

He lost his first wife, Dorothy, to cancer in 1989. She encouraged him throughout the war with letters every day.

“She was a great lady,” Hobin said.

Hobin also wrote Dorothy daily, although all the letters were censored to prevent any sensitive information from slipping out, Hobin said.

He also outlived his second wife, Joan Brace.

Renee Wyatt, Hobin’s carekeeper, says she is impressed with all of her clients and their life experiences, but you get the feeling that she sees Hobin as something special.

“He doesn’t look 100. He is still full of vinegar and wants to go out and do things,” Wyatt said. “It amazes me all the things that he accomplished in his life.

“He has poached eggs, hash browns and orange juice for breakfast every day. He loves his steaks. Maybe that’s why he is so healthy. He takes no medication,” she said.

As for Memorial Day, Hobin knows how fortunate he is to survive the war, when so many others lost their lives.

“I think it is a great day, and I wish I could be out there for the the observances,” he said.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Bradenton resident remembers 26 WWII bombing missions as he nears age 100."