Frederick J. Gibbs
Encyclopedia
Captain Frederick John Gibbs was a World War I flying ace
credited with 11 official victories. Post-war, he went into business. During the beginning of World War II, he took the unusual step of giving up his officer's commission in favour of joining the military in the ranks.
Frederick John Gibbs was first commissioned in the London Regiment
as a second lieutenant
on probation. On 29 November 1916, temporary second lieutenant F. J. Gibbs of the South Staffordshire Regiment
was appointed a Flying Officer
in the Royal Flying Corps
.
By mid-1917, he had been trained as a Spad
pilot and was posted with 23 Squadron in France. On 2 June 1917, he opened his victory roll when he drove down a German Albatros D.III
fighter out of control. Later that month, on the 17th, he destroyed a DFW
two-seater reconnaissance plane. On 27 July 1917, he scored twice, driving down an Albatros D.V
fighter on one patrol and sharing in the destruction of an Aviatik
recon plane with Roger Neville
on another. The destruction of another DFW on 13 August made him an ace.
On 18 August 1917, he scored again, driving down an Albatros D.V. Four days after that, he destroyed a DFW over Wervicq, Belgium. On 25 August, he drove down an Albatros D.V over Langemarck. A month would pass before his next win; on 25 September, he set a German two-seater recon plane afire in the sky north of Wervicq.
On 26 September 1917, Frederick John Gibbs of the South Staffordshires and RFC was awarded the Military Cross for his valor. It would not be gazetted until 9 January 1918; the text of the accompanying award citation read:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attacking enemy aircraft and engaging hostile troops from the ground. He has in all driven down five enemy machines which were destroyed, and one other completely out of control. He has also attacked and silenced a hostile battery with machinegun fire, displaying on every occasion the same dash and determined offensive spirit.
Gibbs would score once more while with 23 Squadron, destroying a Rumpler
on 2 October 1917 for his tenth victory.
On 10 February 1918, Gibbs was promoted to lieutenant
.
After a year's lapse, Gibbs scored one final victory while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a for 64 Squadron. On 29 October 1918, he destroyed an LVG
reconnaissance craft over Estreux
, France.
On 16 March 1921, Gibbs was appointed a skilled workman in the British post office
.
Captain F. J. Gibbs resigned from the Indian Army Reserve of Officers on 10 September 1924, and was allowed to retain his rank.
By 5 October 1934, Gibbs was the chairman of H. T. Ropes & Co. Limited, which was liquidating. On 8 January 1935, Gibbs was chairman of the Mersey Pure Ice and Cold Storage Company Limited, which was also liquidating.
On 20 May 1941, Frederick John Gibbs was executor of the will of Thomas Henry Gibbs.
By 24 February 1942, Gibbs was chairman of The Wholesale Fish and Poultry Supplies Limited as it liquidated.
There the trail grows cold, as to date nothing further is known of his life.
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 11 official victories. Post-war, he went into business. During the beginning of World War II, he took the unusual step of giving up his officer's commission in favour of joining the military in the ranks.
World War I
On 10 August 1916, CadetCadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
Frederick John Gibbs was first commissioned in the London Regiment
London Regiment
The London Regiment is a Territorial Army regiment in the British Army. It was first formed in 1908 in order to regiment the various Volunteer Force battalions in the newly formed County of London, each battalion having a distinctive uniform. The Volunteer Force was merged with the Yeomanry in 1908...
as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on probation. On 29 November 1916, temporary second lieutenant F. J. Gibbs of the South Staffordshire Regiment
South Staffordshire Regiment
The South Staffordshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 38th Regiment of Foot and the 80th Regiment of Foot. In 1959 the regiment was amlagamated with the North Staffordshire Regiment to form the Staffordshire Regiment...
was appointed 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 the Royal Flying Corps
Royal 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...
.
By mid-1917, he had been trained as a Spad
Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés
SPAD was a French aircraft manufacturer between 1911 and 1921. Its SPAD S.XIII biplane was the most popular French fighter airplane in World War I.-Deperdussin:...
pilot and was posted with 23 Squadron in France. On 2 June 1917, he opened his victory roll when he drove down a German Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
fighter out of control. Later that month, on the 17th, he destroyed a DFW
Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke
Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke, usually known as DFW was a German aircraft manufacturer of the early twentieth century. It was established by Bernhard Meyer and Erich Thiele at Lindenthal in 1910, and initially produced Farman designs under licence, later moving on to the Etrich Taube and eventually to...
two-seater reconnaissance plane. On 27 July 1917, he scored twice, driving down an Albatros D.V
Albatros D.V
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Bennett, Leon. Gunning for the Red Baron. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58544-507-X....
fighter on one patrol and sharing in the destruction of an Aviatik
Aviatik
Automobil und Aviatik AG was a German aircraft manufacturer during World War I. The company was established at Mülhausen in 1910 and soon became one of the country's leading producers of aircraft, relocating to Freiburg in 1914 and establishing a subsidiary in Vienna as Österreichisch-Ungarische...
recon plane with Roger Neville
Roger Neville
Captain Roger Henry Gartside Neville was a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.Neville was commissioned in the infantry on 14 July 1915. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 5 December. He joined 21 Squadron early in 1916, to fly a Royal Aircraft Factory FE.12...
on another. The destruction of another DFW on 13 August made him an ace.
On 18 August 1917, he scored again, driving down an Albatros D.V. Four days after that, he destroyed a DFW over Wervicq, Belgium. On 25 August, he drove down an Albatros D.V over Langemarck. A month would pass before his next win; on 25 September, he set a German two-seater recon plane afire in the sky north of Wervicq.
On 26 September 1917, Frederick John Gibbs of the South Staffordshires and RFC was awarded the Military Cross for his valor. It would not be gazetted until 9 January 1918; the text of the accompanying award citation read:
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attacking enemy aircraft and engaging hostile troops from the ground. He has in all driven down five enemy machines which were destroyed, and one other completely out of control. He has also attacked and silenced a hostile battery with machinegun fire, displaying on every occasion the same dash and determined offensive spirit.
Gibbs would score once more while with 23 Squadron, destroying a Rumpler
Rumpler
The Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a car developed by Austrian engineer Edmund Rumpler.Rumpler, born in Vienna, was a designer of aircraft when on the 1921's Berlin car show he introduced the Tropfenwagen. It was to be the first streamlined car . The Rumpler had a Cw-value of only 0.28...
on 2 October 1917 for his tenth victory.
On 10 February 1918, Gibbs was promoted to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.
After a year's lapse, Gibbs scored one final victory while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a for 64 Squadron. On 29 October 1918, he destroyed an LVG
LVG
Luftverkehrsgesellschaft m.b.H. was a German aircraft manufacturer based in Berlin-Johannisthal, which began constructing aircraft in 1912, building Farman-type aircraft. The company constructed many reconnaissance and light bomber biplanes during World War I.The raid on London in 1916 was...
reconnaissance craft over Estreux
Estreux
-References:*...
, France.
Between the World Wars
On 15 November 1918, Gibbs surrendered his commission because he was invalided by wounds; he was granted an honorary lieutenancy.On 16 March 1921, Gibbs was appointed a skilled workman in the British post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
.
Captain F. J. Gibbs resigned from the Indian Army Reserve of Officers on 10 September 1924, and was allowed to retain his rank.
By 5 October 1934, Gibbs was the chairman of H. T. Ropes & Co. Limited, which was liquidating. On 8 January 1935, Gibbs was chairman of the Mersey Pure Ice and Cold Storage Company Limited, which was also liquidating.
World War II
On 1 September 1939, Lieutenant F. J. Gibbs, formerly of the London Regiment, gave up his commission so he could join the military as an enlisted man.On 20 May 1941, Frederick John Gibbs was executor of the will of Thomas Henry Gibbs.
By 24 February 1942, Gibbs was chairman of The Wholesale Fish and Poultry Supplies Limited as it liquidated.
There the trail grows cold, as to date nothing further is known of his life.