Bobby Gibbes

Robert Henry Maxwell Gibbes (6 May 1916 – 11 April 2007) was an Australian fighter ace in World War II and the longest-serving wartime commanding officer of No. 3 Squadron RAAFNo. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter squadron, headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales. Estab... More. He was officially credited with 10¼ aerial victories, though some sources report 12, including two shared. Gibbes was also credited with five aircraft probably destroyed and another 16 damaged. He led No. 3 SquadronNo. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter squadron, headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales. Estab... More in North Africa from February 1942 to April 1943, except for a short time when he was wounded.

Gibbes was born in rural New South Wales and worked as a jackaroo and salesman before joining the Royal Australian Air Force in February 1940. He was sent to the Middle East in April 1941, where he flew with No. 3 SquadronNo. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fighter squadron, headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales. Estab... More during the Syria–Lebanon Campaign. He later became commanding officer during the Western Desert Campaign, earning the Distinguished Service Order and the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar for his leadership and combat skills. Later, he served in the South West Pacific with No. 80 Wing of the Australian First Tactical Air Force and took part in the “Morotai Mutiny” in April 1945. After the war, he spent many years in New Guinea helping to develop local industry, which led to his receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004. He continued flying until he was 85.