John Albert Axel Gibson
Born 24 Aug 1916 - Died 1 Jul 2000
- Service number
- 40969 AWMM
- NZ2500 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Inter War New Zealand Army, Territorial Force Rudge
- WW2 Temporary Squadron Leader/Military AWMM Royal Air Force AWMM
- Post WW2 Squadron Leader AWMM Royal Air Force AWMM
- War
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- John Albert Axel AWMM
- Surname
- Gibson AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- 40969 AWMM
- NZ2500 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 24 Aug 1916 AWMM
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- —
- Post war occupation
- Next of kin
- —
- Relationship status
- Pre 07 Apr 1938 AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- 1940 AWMM Battle of Britain AWMM
- Pacific Theatre of War AWMM
- Solomon Islands Campaign AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- 40969 AWMM
- NZ2500 AWMM
- Military service
- Royal Air Force, No. 3 Flying Training School AWMM
- Royal Auxiliary Air Force, No. 501 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Australian Air Force, No. 457 Squadron AWMM
- Attached Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
- Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 15 Squadron AWMM
- Royal New Zealand Air Force, No. 1 Islands Group AWMM
- United States Air Force, 68th Pursuit Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 80 Squadron AWMM
- Royal Air Force, No. 53 Operational Training Unit AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
15 Aug 1940 AWMM
No. 34935, The London Gazette, 30 August 1940. p. 5289. Citation: "In August, whilst on an offensive patrol over Dover this officer engaged and destroyed a Junkers 87 and was afterwards shot down himself. Although his aircraft was in flames he steered it away from the town of Folkestone and did not abandon the aircraft until it had descended to 1,000ft. Pilot Officer Gibson has destroyed eight enemy aircraft, and has displayed great courage and presence of mind." AWMM - Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) AWMM
Citation: "Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his achievements as a fighter pilot in the Battle of Britain, this officer has further distinguished himself both in England and more recently in the Pacific, where he has made three tours in the Solomons area. He has destroyed a total of 14 1/2 enemy aircraft, adding to his record one Japanese fighter which was fiercely attacking an allied formation over Rabual Harbour. Acting Squadron Leader Gibson, who is a brilliant pilot and born leader, has to his credit the exception total of 669 hours of operational flying covering 382 missions. Of his two latest tours in the Pacific this year, he had commanded a squadron and his enthusiasm and fearless leadership have been outstanding. His personal courage, both in aerial combat and in ground strafing and fighter bomber missions, and his long experience have been of inestimable value to his squadron, which has earned the high praise of allied commanders." AWMM - 1939-45 Star (Battle of Britain clasp) AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- PilotPublic - Antonio - Researcher - 23 August 2025 - A Clasp For the Few: Wynne
- Enlistment
- Post WW2 1952 AWMM Flight Lieutenant/Military AWMM Royal Air Force AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2
3rd Embarkation AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- Inter War 1938 Rudge New Zealand Army, Territorial Force Rudge
- WW2 1950 AWMM Temporary Squadron Leader/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force AWMM - Post WW2 1954 AWMM Squadron Leader AWMM
Royal Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Flew 382 sorties
Transferred to RNZAF 1 December 1945
Rejpoined RAF 24 December 1946
Last position held in RAF Personal aide and Pilot to Marshal of Air Force, Lord Tedder.
Also flew in the Biafran War and with the Rhodesian Air Force until 1979
Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July - 31 October 1940 AWMM
About death
- Death
- 1 Jul 2000 Rudge
- Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- —
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
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- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- —
Sources
- External links
- Battle of Britain, a website.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html
Further Reference - Battle of Britain Historical Society, a website.
http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/
Further Reference - Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6218433
Further Reference - See a list of New Zealanders awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp here (PDF). Compiled with the assistance of Errol Martyn and linked from the NZHistory page produced by Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/nz-battle-of-britain-list.pdf
Further Reference - Battle of Britain: Allied Pilots, Aircrew Remembered
https://aircrewremembered.com/BattleOfBritainDatabase/battlebritain-alpha-list.html
Further Reference - Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 15). List of World War II aces from New Zealand. In Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_aces_from_New_Zealand
Further Reference
- Battle of Britain, a website.
- References
- Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author.
p. 168-172 - Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- Rudge, C. (2003). Air-to-air : the story behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF. Lyttelton, N.Z.: Adventure Air.
- London Gazette
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn].
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - List of New Zealand Fighter aces with their Scores (Unofficial) December 1944. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845799).
- Royal New Zealand Air Force. (1941–1945). Contact: National magazine of the R.N.Z.A.F.; the official organ of the Air Force Association (Inc.). Levin, New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force.
V7,n5,p71 v5,n5,p11
- Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author.
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