Photo acknowledgement to Temore Aviation Museum.
Wing Commander R H M "Bobby" Gibbes DSO DFC & Bar OAM[Redt]
1915 - 2007
War Hero, airline owner, hotelier, grazier, coffee grower and a bloody good bloke!
Bobby passed away at 9.50 pm last night, following a stoke last Sunday morning. I think he was 92 years of age.
Before the war Bobby was a stock & station agent in northern NSW. During the war he served in North Africa, northern Australia and Asia, managing to get shot down twice but scored 10 1/4 "kills". A fact often not mentioned was that Gibbsie made Group Captain, then got Court Marshalled for flying booze from Darwin to Moratai - a noble deed, he should have been promoted, not demoted.
He was also recommended for a VC for an act in Italy, however it wasn't approved - but that is another story!
After the war, Bobby started Gibbes Sepik Airways in Papua New Guinea, mostly operating Noseman and Junkers JU52 aircraft. He sold out to Ansett in 1959.
During the 1950s and 60s, Bobby developed his coffee plantation, "Tremarne" near Mt Hagen. After the sale of GSA, Bobby built the Bird of Paradise Hotel in Goroka and other hotels in PNG.
Bobby leaves wife Jeannie and daughters Robin and Julie.
I'd imagine his welcome by Blackjack and Junior would be something to rival the days of old!!!
Sadly missed old mate.