Strana 32
ET953, Sqn. Ldr. Robert H. M. Gibbes, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF),
LG91, Egypt, August-September 1942
Maj. Pyotr A. Pokryshev, CO of 154 IAP, Plekhanovo, the Soviet Union, September 1942
Robert Henry Maxwell Gibbes was born on
May 6, 1916 and joined the ranks of the RAAF
in February 1940. After completing his training,
he was commissioned on June 28, 1940 and
assigned to No. 23 Sqn. flying CAC Wirraways
and Lockheed Hudsons. In April 1941 he was
transferred to No. 450 Sqn. in the Middle East,
but just a month later he moved to No. 3 Sqn.
Another month later this unit rearmed from
Hurricanes to Tomahawks and began operations
in Syria and Lebanon. Gibbes was credited with
one probable kill of a Ju 88 near Beirut on June
13 and achieved his first confirmed kill on July
11. His victim was a Vichy D.520. In September
No. 3 Sqn. was moved to Africa. Gibbes shot
down two Fiat G.50s and damaged three others
plus one Bf 109 on November 25. He then
served at Darwin (Australia) at No. 80 Wing as
Caldwell’s deputy. In all, he scored 12 confirmed
kills, five probable ones and 16 damaged aircraft
during the war. After the war he built a network
of hotels and coffee plantations and kept flying
until the age of 85, dying in April 2007 (aged 90)
of a heart attack. His P-40E carried a drawing
of a dachshund, symbolizing a German, being
kicked in the butt by a kangaroo. The drawing is
photographically documented on this aircraft in
both unpainted and painted versions, but these
drawings differ in detail. It is possible that it
was done repeatedly after the engine covers
were replaced.
Pyotr Afanasevich Pokryshev was born on
August 24, 1914, in Hola Pristani, Ukraine. Before
the war, he worked in shipyards and after
graduating from trade school in 1932 he worked
as a mechanic. In 1934 he completed pilot
training at the aeroclub and joined the army.
A year later he graduated from the Odessa
Military Aviation School and was subsequently
assigned to the 13 Independent Fighter Squadron.
In 1938 he was transferred to the 38 Fighter
Aviation Regiment (IAP) as a Flight commander.
During the Winter War he flew with the 7 IAP
on the I-16 and was credited with two kills.
He was himself shot down on December 20, 1939.
In January 1941, he transferred to the 158 IAP as
squadron commander. In October 1942 he was
transferred to 154 IAP as deputy commander.
His first victim after retraining on the P-40 was
a Bf 109. On August 24, 1943, he was awarded
the title Hero of the Soviet Union for the second
time and also crashed heavily during a training
flight. In total, he scored 18 (some sources say
22) confirmed and six shared kills. After the war,
he served at the Monin Military Academy
and rose through several command and staff
positions to become Chief of Staff of the Air
Force. He flew the MiG-15s and MiG-17s. He died
on August 22, 1967, when he drowned while on
vacation.
KITS 02/2025
INFO Eduard32
February 2025