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Cenotaph record

John Albert Axel Gibson

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Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

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  • 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

Civilian life

About birth

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Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) AWMM
      15 August 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

Training and Enlistment

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Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details
    WW2
    3rd Embarkation AWMM

Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • 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

Death

About death

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  • Death
    1 July 2000 Rudge
    Nottingham, England Rudge
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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  • To a brave half-brother, who I unfortunately never had the opportunity to meet.
    R I P
    Public - lexa Mary - Sibling - 19 October 2022
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author. AWMM
      p. 168-172 AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Rudge, C. (2003). Air-to-air : the story behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF. Lyttelton, N.Z.: Adventure Air. AWMM
    • London Gazette AWMM
    • 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]. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
19 October 2022lexa Marynewmarket UKSibling
13 May 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher

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