Walter Gibb - passed away

[the_tartanterror]

Hi,

I was speaking to Geoff Worrall last night, and he advised me that Walter Gibb of Bristol Aircraft fame passed away recently.

If memory serves me correctly he flew nightfighters during WWII and after the war Walter was the Co-Pilot on the maiden flight of the Brabazon and also tested the Britannia. He also set a World Altitude record in the Olympus powered Canberra.

If anyone has seen an obituary, i would be greatful if a copy/link could be forwarded to me

Regds
Neil

[GK430]

I understood that he had been living in Australia latterly, but unable to confirm. That information came from my father who was also ex Bristol's of that vintage, however, he died three years ago.

Perhaps something may have appeared in the Antipodean press.

[Avionyx]

3 years ago?

A 10 minute web search reveals nothing - I must be looking in the wrong places!

What a shame to hear he has passed away however long ago it was - another fine individual to leave this earth.

Avionyx

[the_tartanterror]

I think he only passed away in the last month, and it was in England.

I had a couple of letters correspondance with Walter Gibb in May/June this year about his wartime and test flying experiences

He was a real gentleman and i am pleased that he took the time to indulge my interest in aviation

RIP

[nigeletmaz]

my father worked under him in the bristol stresses and strains dept i believe before joining up on outbreak of war

[GK430]

Apologies for earlier inaccurate post. W.G. moved back to the U.K. and had been living in Wootton-Under-Edge in Glos.
Perhaps a check of the local press might reveal more.

[airborne_artist]

Obituary (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2006/10/26/db2601.xml) in the Telegraph of 26 October.

"Wing Commander Walter Gibb, who has died aged 87, was twice decorated for gallantry as a night fighter pilot before becoming a test pilot with the Bristol Aeroplane Company, when he flew the Brabazon and Britannia airliners; during the early 1950s he flew a modified Canberra bomber, twice breaking the altitude record for an aeroplane."

A good pic. in the print version. I could post it to you if reqd.

[Milt]

Could Walter Gibb have been in that rare photo of a Test Pilot's Reunion taken at Popham airfield on June 14 by the Editor, Michael Oakey, of Aeroplane magazine? Tel (020) 7261 5846

The photo appears on page 96/97 of the August 2006 issue of Aeroplane.

If anyone calls the Editor please determine whether he has names to go with the 50 odd famous aviators.

[hobie]

the man himself .....

http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/printobjectTL.php?rnum=G2293&l=g&c=&d=&y=1955&rpy=19&n=1

http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/aimages/G2293.jpg