New Zealand-born AVM Gibbs flew Dakota transport aircraft during the North African campaign and later in Italy and to the Yugoslav partisans.  During the Allied invasion of Sicily he flew a diversionary raid to drop dummy paratroopers and flares over the beach head.  Once established in southern Italy, he made the first daylight landing in Yugoslavia when he took Fitzroy Maclean and some of his men to Bosnia.  He later converted to the Martin Marauder bomber and flew with Coastal Command after his return to England. After the war he served in Pakistan and Sudan and enjoyed a long post-war career flying Venom, Hunter and Lightning jets.  He commanded the Lightning base at RAF Wattisham before serving in RAF Germany as the air officer in charge of administration.  He retired to New Zealand and died on October 3 aged 97.

In the photograph he is second from the left with his Wellington crew.

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