Flight Lieutenant Frank George Gibbons DFC (13 June 1899 – 21 May 1932) was a British First World War flying ace credited with fourteen aerial victories.
[1] Gibbons joined the Royal Flying Corps as an air mechanic (cadet) in June 1917, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in November.
In his final tally, he had destroyed six German fighter aircraft and driven eight others down out of control,[1] although his front gun was responsible for only three or four of those.
Unfortunately his opponents Avro suffered an engine failure at takeoff and had to make a forced landing, writing off his undercarriage and propeller, and so the contest was abandoned.
He competed in the 1930 King's Cup Air Race flying the Cirrus Hermes-engined Simmonds Spartan G-AAMG, but failed to complete the course.
[1] The following year, on 30 May 1931, he took part in the London to Newcastle Air Race, flying the Hermes II-powered Spartan G-AAHA at an average speed of 118.7 miles per hour (191.0 km/h) and coming in 4th place.
[25] The next day he attended the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club's event at Sherburn-in-Elmet, taking part in a 30-mile air race in his Spartan, and coming third.
[26] On 25 July 1931 Gibbons took part in the King's Cup Air Race for the second time, again flying Spartan G-AAHA.
Gibbons was flying the Gipsy II-engined Spartan Three Seater G-ABTT, and came third, despite carrying Louis Strange and his wife as passengers.
[29] On 21 May 1932 Gibbons was again flying the Three Seater G-ABTT in a race sponsored by The Morning Post,[30] when his aircraft crashed into a tree near Stanton, Suffolk, killing him instantly.