The Wartime Experiences of Colonel Claude Maxwell (Max) Stubbs in the Southwest Pacific Area.
In July 1940, Claude Maxwell, (Max) Stubbs reported for duty in the Army Air Corps, at Selfridge Field, Michigan. Assigned first to the 39th Fighter Squadron, he later joined the elite 475th Fighter Group – known as “Satan’s Angels” – upon its formation in spring 1943.
As an administrative officer in the Southwest Pacific theater of World War II, Max traveled from Sydney, Australia to Port Moresby, New Guinea in multiple battles and campaigns, and finally he saw the liberation of the Philippines and the end of the war in 1945.
After Max died in August 2007, his son, Jerry Stubbs, spent nearly eight years writing the tale of his father’s WWII experiences – thousands of hours of research, interviews, and even taking courses. Upon Jerry’s death in 2015, his son, Chris Stubbs, finished the manuscript, to produce the book.
The rich narrative in Jungles, Aces, and Thieves not only chronicles the 475th’s movements through the Southwest Pacific, but also explores the personalities and experiences of the men involved. Events are brought to life via first-person memories recorded by Max himself.
The book combines history and biography to paint a compelling picture of five extraordinary years in Max Stubbs’ life.