The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. C M Gibbons

Charles Martin Gibbons was born on 28th May 1914 in West Ham, then in Essex.

He worked for ten years as a solicitors clerk. He joined the RAFVR in July 1939 as an Airman u/t Observer.

Called up in September, he went to 4 ITW Bexhill after which he was sent on No. 1 Air Observer Course at 11 Air Observer Navigation School from 20th November 1939 to 9th March 1940 as an LAC.

Above: he married Hilda Joyce in 1940.

Gibbons went on to a B&GS to complete his training. In May 1940 he was posted to 3 GRU Coastal Command, flying in Wellingtons. He joined 236 Squadron on 19th July.

The squadron moved to St. Eval in early August and rejoined Coastal Command.

On 9th November 1940 Heinkel He111H-4 1T+FH 6951 of 1./KGr. 126 was attacked by P/O JTM Lumsden, flying with Sgt. Gibbons and Sgt. EE Miles. It jettisoned its torpedo but then crashed into the sea off Brest.

Flgr. O Skusa was killed, Fw. P Hermsen reported missing, Fw. W von Livonius and Oblt. H. Lorenz were both rescued by the Seenotdienst. The body of Skusa was later washed ashore in Brittany.

Commissioned in February 1941, Gibbons was posted in May to 2 (Coastal) OTU as an instructor. In July 1942 Gibbons went to 280 Squadron as Squadron Navigation Officer.

Above two images courtesy of the Gibbons family.

He became Station Navigation Officer at RAF Thornaby in March 1944 and two months later he was posted to the Air Ministry for Air Crew Selection Board duties.

Gibbons left the RAF in 1954 as a Flight Lieutenant, retaining the rank of Squadron Leader.

He was one of the early volunteers at the nascent Tangmere Military Aviation Museum and an early trustee.

He died in August 2004 and his ashes were interred in Tangmere Memorial Garden.

Above: a postwar image courtesy of Chris Goss.