Strana 65
BUILT
ET953, Sqn. Ldr. Robert H. M. Gibbes, No. 3 Squadron (RAAF), LG91, Egypt, August-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.
INFO Eduard
65
September 2025