Frank George Gibbons
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Frank George Gibbons was an aviation pioneer. He was a flying ace
credited with fourteen victories, all against enemy fighter planes, during World War I. Postwar, he became an air racer.
as an air cadet mechanic in June 1917. He was commissioned in November 1917. His first aerial victory came on 31 May 1918. He was piloting a two-seater Bristol F.2 Fighter
for 22 Squadron
with John Jones
manning the guns in the observer's seat, when they drove a Pfalz D.III
down out of control near Armentières
. This was the first in an uninterrupted string that carried through until 27 September 1918, and that saw such aces as John H. Umney, Ronald Malcolm Fletcher
, Valentine Collins, Christopher Shannon
, and James McDonald
man the observer's guns while teamed with Gibbons. In the final tally, Gibbon had destroyed six German fighter planes and driven eight others down out of control, although his front gun was responsible for only three or four of those.
. On 22 April 1920, he received Aviators Certificate no. 7860.
On 26 December 1922, he was granted a permanent commission as a Flying Officer
in place of his short service commission, with seniority date fixed at 15 June 1920.
On 1 January 1926, he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
.
Gibbons was elected to membership in the Royal Aero Club
on 14 March 1928.
Gibbons was participating in an air race sponsored by the Morning Post on 21 May 1932, when he was killed by crashing into a tree. It was believed he was looking at a map inside the cockpit at the moment of the accident. The poor flying weather and the format of a point to point to point race would seem contributory to his death.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with fourteen victories, all against enemy fighter planes, during World War I. Postwar, he became an air racer.
World War I
Gibbons joined the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
as an air cadet mechanic in June 1917. He was commissioned in November 1917. His first aerial victory came on 31 May 1918. He was piloting a two-seater Bristol F.2 Fighter
Bristol F.2 Fighter
The Bristol F.2 Fighter was a British two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War flown by the Royal Flying Corps. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter or popularly the "Brisfit" or "Biff". Despite being a two-seater, the F.2B proved to be an agile aircraft...
for 22 Squadron
with John Jones
John Jones (aviator)
Sergeant John Jones was a World War I flying ace credited with 15 aerial victories.John Jones served as an observer gunner in the Bristol F.2 Fighters of No. 22 Squadron. Flying with such pilots as Second Lieutenants Frank George Gibbons, Sydney A. Oades, Stanley Wallace, and William John Mostyn,...
manning the guns in the observer's seat, when they drove a Pfalz D.III
Pfalz D.III
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam, 1962. ISBN 0-93385-271-1.* Grosz, Peter M. Pfalz D.IIIa . Berkhamsted, Herts, UK: Albatros Publications, 1995. ISBN 0-94841-425-1.* Guttman, Jon. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1 ...
down out of control near Armentières
Armentières
Armentières is a commune in the Nord department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France. It is part of the Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and lies on the Belgian border, northwest of the city of Lille, on the right bank of the river Lys....
. This was the first in an uninterrupted string that carried through until 27 September 1918, and that saw such aces as John H. Umney, Ronald Malcolm Fletcher
Ronald Malcolm Fletcher
Ronald Malcolm Fletcher DFM was an English World War I observer/gunner ace in two-seater fighters who, in conjunction with his pilot, Lt. S.F.H. Thompson, gained 26 confirmed victories...
, Valentine Collins, Christopher Shannon
Christopher Shannon
Sergeant Christopher James Shannon was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.-External links:...
, and James McDonald
James McDonald (aviator)
Lieutenant James McDonald was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-Reference:...
man the observer's guns while teamed with Gibbons. In the final tally, Gibbon had destroyed six German fighter planes and driven eight others down out of control, although his front gun was responsible for only three or four of those.
Post World War I
On 2 March 1920, Gibbons was transferred to the unemployed list of the Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. On 22 April 1920, he received Aviators Certificate no. 7860.
On 26 December 1922, he was granted a permanent commission as a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
in place of his short service commission, with seniority date fixed at 15 June 1920.
On 1 January 1926, he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
.
Gibbons was elected to membership in the Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
on 14 March 1928.
Gibbons was participating in an air race sponsored by the Morning Post on 21 May 1932, when he was killed by crashing into a tree. It was believed he was looking at a map inside the cockpit at the moment of the accident. The poor flying weather and the format of a point to point to point race would seem contributory to his death.
Reference
- Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.