Guy Gibsons 29 Sqn claims

[andy bird]

Understand Gibson claimed 3 confirmed and three probables.

Confirmed: 11 March 1941 He 111, then another in May, and the third ?

Any help much appreciated

Regards

Andy Bird

[keith A]

I think, like Mickey Martin (515 Squadron) he made only two confirmed kills, with a probable and a couple of damaged but I will search Foreman's Fighter Command claims.

regards

Keith

[Stig Jarlevik]

According to Chris Shores he claimed 3-1-3

24/25.8.40 Do 17 (prob)
14/15.3.41 He 111
23.4.41 enemy aircraft (dam)
3/4.5.41 enemy aircraft
6/7.7.41 He 111
21.10.41 Ju 87x2 (dam)

Cheers
Stig

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Just to fill out on Stig's list.
Details from Forman's "Victory Claims".

The only 29 Sqn claim for 24/25-8-40 was P/O. J. R. D. Braham, He111 probably destroyed, Humber 01.26.
Could Guy have been crew in this a/c or is this claim of P/O. Braham's another for 29 Sqn on that night ?

Also to clear up what may well be a misunderstanding, 501 Sqn claims on the
24-8-40
501 Sqn. P/O. J. A. A. Gibson, Ju88 destroyed, Ramsgate area, 13.00.
501 Sqn. P/O. J. A. A. Gibson, Ju88 destroyed, Gravesend area, 16.00.

14/15-3-41
29 Sqn. F/Lt. G. P. Gibson, He111 destroyed, Skegness, 21.50.

23/24-4-41
29 Sqn. F/Lt. G. P. Gibson, Do17, damaged, East of Boston, 01.00

3/4-5-41
29 Sqn. F/Lt. G. P. Gibson, He111 destroyed, Near Bognor, 22.50.

6/7-7-41
29 Sqn. F/Lt. J. R. D. Graham, Ju88 destroyed, Thames estuary, 0110.
29 Sqn. S/Ldr. G. P. Gibson, He111 destroyed, Thames estuary, 01.40.

21/22-10-41
S/Ldr. G. P. Gibson, Ju87 damaged, Dover, 19.00
S/Ldr. G. P. Gibson, Ju87 damaged, Dover, 19.00.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Good points Alex

Perhaps I should have been more specific, but we had guests coming around the corner, so....
24/25.8.40 claim made in a Hampden by his gunners over/near Lorient, France

Interesting to note that Shores has only one claim made by J A A Gibson on 24.8.40, a Ju 88 destroyed over Manston (which should correspond to Foreman's Ramsgate area). I wonder from where Foreman got the "extra one"?

I hope you are aware that the Graham you mention was actually Braham. Probably a slip of the finger since I guess you were a bit tired when you wrote the stuff.

Also interesting how much Foreman and Shores differ when it comes to places and aircraft types claimed. I have no really good answer to that. Different sources??

Cheers
Stig

[focusfocus]

Hi guys

source:Simon W.Parry

24/08/40
501°Sqd:P/O J A A Gibson=Ju.88 destroyed 'Ramsgate" (one of the 5 of II/KG76 lost) 13h00

501°Sqd:P/O J A A Gibson=Ju.88 destroyed "Gravesend" (unknown,no Ju.88 lost) 16h00

The crew of P/O J R D Braham (Graham) was Sgt J Wilson (air gunner) and A.C.2 Jacobson (AI Operator)

source J.L Roba

14/15-3-41
F/Lt G.P Gibson=He.111 destroyed (V4+HK 2./KG1)

michel

[andy bird]

Thank you for enlightening me on his victories and claims extremely grateful to you all.

Kind regards

Andy Bird

[keith A]

The 1940 claim was actually made when Gibson was flying a Hampden bomber with 83 Squadron. His air gunner claimed a probable but I'm not sure it was credited at the time. It's claimed in "Enemy Coast Ahead".

regards

Keith

[Alex Smart]

Hello Stig & Michael, Keith,
Stig you are quite correct name is Braham.
Michael you may like to delete (Graham) from your post.

My tablet changes my word/spelling and unless you good people pick it up it would never be corrected unless I go back to the original post for some reason,by which time it is usually too late to edit

My copy of "Enemy Coast Ahead", page's 84/85. ( Bridge Books - ISBN 1-872424-50-3 ).
Quote:
"As we crossed over Cherbourg on the way home an aircraft passed us going in the opposite direction with his navigation lights on. This must have been a Hun which had been bombing England. Quickly we whipped around and by pushing the old Hampden to the limit so that she shuddered and quivered at the unknown horsepower she was developing, we at last caught him up just near to Lorient. For a while we flew in formation, about fifty yards away, trying to make out what type of aircraft it was, but the night was dark. At last, through the welcome beam of an enemy searchlight we identified it as a Dornier 17. Moreover, both pilots on board seemed very happy; they had their full cockpit lights on and we could see them inside sitting motionless as they no doubt, thought of the ersatz coffee and bacon and eggs they were going to get in a few minutes' time.
In the rear both my bottom and top guns slid slowly over to the starboard side and I told Mac to take careful aim. Then I counted slowly.
"One-two-three" and then I yelled:"Let him have it Mac".
There was a quick staccato roar as all four guns belched out tracers and the Dornier dived to the ground with one engine on fire. In doing so he flew low right over Lorient Docks where his own flak, no doubt thinking he was one of ours, gave him a pretty good pasting, and the last we saw of him was a flaming mass going down behind some trees. Bomber Command credited us with a probable when we got home". End quote.

Many thanks
Alex

[keith A]

Possibly the only claim by a Hampden in WW2. Did Bomber Command credit the crew with a "probable" (in August 1940 would that not have been an "unconfirmed"? or was Gibson "line-shooting"?

On the Gibson claims for Ju87 damaged were there Ju87 in France on the coast at this time? Surely the demands of Africa and Russia would have removed them to other theatres unless these were training aircraft?

A third, and less important point for deliberation is surely that Gibson was without doubt an ace in the making. His claims marry those of JRD Braham's in the same time period.

regards

Keith

regards

Keith