Born on September 25, 1914, at Wichita, Kansas, John Delmond McCubbin graduated from Sunset High School at Dallas, Texas, in 1932. He studied Aeronautical Engineering for two years and Business Administration for one year at North Texas Agriculture College, Arlington, Texas before entering the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., as a cadet on August 5, 1935.
After graduating from the Academy with a B.S. Degree and with a commission as Ensign on May 29, 1939, he was assigned as deck officer on board the 327-ft. Coat Guard Cutter Tamey at Honolulu.
Assigned to flight training in November 1941, he was graduated from the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla., with the designation of Coast Guard Aviator on May 24, 1942, at the outset of World War II. He then flew on anti-submarine patrol missions and search and rescue in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico first out of the Coast Guard Air Station, St. Petersburg and the Naval Air Station, Key West, Fla., for one year and then out of the Coast Guard Air Station, Biloxi, Miss.
He received the Air Medal for meritorious achievement as Patrol Plane Commander in Patrol Squadron Six, operating out of BW-1, Greenland, and Argentia, Nfld., on extensive anti-submarine and convoy coverage flights under hazardous weather conditions in the North Atlantic regions off Labrador and Greenland, from December 1943 to April 1944.
During the remainder of the war and following post-war period, he was assigned to the Search and Rescue Agency at Coast Guard Headquarters at Washington, D.C. While there he was associated with the testing and development of search and rescue equipment for allied services. He also worked with the Air Coordinating Committee and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), duties that sent him to various parts of the world.
He next served as Executive Officer of the Coast Guard Air Station in Port Angeles, Wash., from November 1948 to October 1951, following which he commanded the Coast Guard Air Detachment at Kodiak, Alaska, until August 1953. At that time he became Executive Officer of the Coast Guard Air Station at Elizabeth City, N.C. While there he earned the designation of Coast Guard helicopter pilot No. 232 (December 19, 1955).
In July 1956, he returned to Coast Guard Headquarters to serve as Assistant Chief, Aviation Division, and as pilot for top administrative officials for four years.
From August 1960 to July 1963, he commanded the Coast Guard Air Detachment at Barber's Point, Hawaii, and then performed duty as Operations Officer in flight status the following three years for the Commander, Western Area.
In July 1966, he was stationed at the 17th Coast Guard District office in Juneau, Alaska, where he served first as Chief, Operations Division until February 1967, when he assumed the post of Chief of Staff.
By nomination of the President on November 30, 1967, the then CAPT McCubbin was appointed flag officer to rank as permanent Rear Admiral from the date of Senate confirmation on December 13, 1967. He subsequently was named to the post of Chief, Office of Reserve at Coast Guard Headquarters effective March 18, 1968. After serving three years in that post he was awarded a Department of Defense Certificate of Appreciation for his distinguished service as a member of the Armed Forces Policy Board (March 1971).
In late June 1971, RADM McCubbin was transferred to the post of Commander, 8th Coast Guard District, New Orleans, La.
In addition to the Air Medal, RADM McCubbin has the following World War II campaign service medals and ribbons: American Defense (with star); American Area; European-African-Middle Eastern Area; and World War II Victory Medal. He also has the National Defense Service Medal (with star).
Following is a resume of his promotions with dates of rank: Cadet, August 10, 1935; Ensign, May 29, 1939; Lieutenant (jg), November 1, 1941; Lieutenant, June 15, 1942; Lieut. Commander, June 3, 1943; Commander, January 26, 1951; Captain, June 1, 1960; Rear Admiral, December 13, 1967.
During his four years as a cadet, RADM McCubbin was a member of the cross country varsity team, and a member of the rifle team which he captained during 1938-39.
RADM McCubbin's wife is the former Margaret B. of Summit, N.J., a graduate of the Connecticut College for Women in New London. They have two children, John D. and Eleanor "Sandy", who is employed as a supervisor of stewardesses with United Airlines.