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CHARLES WILFRED JAMES
GIBBS
27 May 1908 - 12 Oct 2006
Charlie was educated at the Northcote
Central and University High School, Melbourne Victoria; with admittance
to the University being by scholarship.
Concurrent with his 6 year apprenticeship with A.H.McDonald &
Coy, manufacturers of "Internal combustion engines",
he attended the Melbourne Technical College taking the subjects,
machine workshop practice, pattern making and moulding, mechanical
drawing, mechanics and heat treatment, electricity and magnetism.
In the case of "machine shop", he won the class prize
and the Beazley Scholarship for his skill and ability.
He also filled positions as an instructor at evening classes at
both Perth and Melbourne Technical Colleges, in the subjects of
Airframe construction and Aero engines.
In 1933 Charlie joined the RAAF, a young service at the time having
been formed in 1921, just 12 years earlier. He was engaged in
the overhaul of aircraft and engines at No 1 Aircraft Depot, Laverton
Victoria and at various flying squadrons.
It was from this unit he was selected to be part of a seven man
RAAF team assigned to search for missing American explorer, Lincoln
Ellsworth and his pilot, Herbert Hollick-Kenyon in December 1935.
The RAAF "ALFRESCO FLIGHT 1935-36" loaded two bi-planes,
a Westland Wapiti (A5-37) and a DH60G Gipsy Moth (A7-55) aboard
the British government Royal Research Society Ship, Discovery
II , sailing for Antarctica via Dunedin NZ on the 24th December
1935.
One thousand miles south of Dunedin the Discovery II crossed the
international date line and entered into loose pack ice. Now in
calmer waters Charlie and his team assembled the aircraft ready
for flight. The Gypsy Moth was operated using floats and was used
to assist the ship to navigate through the ice heading for the
Bay of Whales, the destination of Ellsworth's flight.
On the 15th of January 1936, Hollick-Kenyon was spotted some miles
inland from the end of the Ross Ice Barrier, by the Gypsy Moth.
A hand made parachute containing directions and some food was
dropped from the plane as a means of communication.
The airman, in true Aussie flare, later signed this parachute
and presented it to Ellsworth with the following message; "Compliments
to Messrs Ellsworth and Kenyon from the personel of the Royal
Australian Airforce aboard the R.R.S. Discovery II, Bay of Whales,
Ross Sea, Antarctica, January 15 1936"
Charlie's RAAF career continued on his return. He was selected
for flying training but after a short time was dropped from the
course due to a colour blindness condition. He returned to the
maintenance aspect and reached the rank of Warrant Officer as
a comparative junior early in 1939.
He was also part of the first RAAF team, sent by rail, to establish
the RAAF base near Perth in Western Australia and told some interesting
stories of that era.
In 1940 he was seconded to the Department of Air, Aeronautical
Inspection Directorate, and opened the Perth area office and continued
as Inspector-in-charge until a promotion necessitated a transfer
to Adelaide in 1941 as Inspector -in-Charge of the Beaufort aircraft
project.
Subsequent promotions brought him back to Melbourne in 1942, where
he filled the positions of Inspector-in-Charge, Engine overhaul
and servicing, A.I.D. Headquarters and Inspector-in-Charge, spares
division, Pt Melbourne, along with Inspector-in-Charge of Experimental
Flights, Government Aircraft Factory Melbourne.
In 1947, as part of the G.A.F. Experimental Flight involving the
Lincoln Bomber being manufactured at Melbourne (the largest aircraft
ever made in Australia), he was sent to the United Kingdom to
gain further experience in aircraft and aero engine construction.
During that assignment he attended courses at Armstrong Whitworth
Ltd., Armstrong Siddeley Ltd., Bristol Aeroplane Co., and Rolls
Royce Ltd., Courses were also attend which involved the new technology
of x-ray to check for airframe fatigue.
He transferred to the Department of Civil Aviation as an Aircraft
surveyor in January in 1948, mainly specializing in aircraft engines
and propellers and was the supervisor, Senior Aeronautical Engineer
by the end of 1951.
In 1946 he traveled to the U.S.A. in connection with the introduction
of the Douglas DC 6 aircraft into Australia for the TAA and ANA
airlines.
Charlie transferred to DCA Brisbane office in 1953 as the Senior
Aircraft Surveyor and was involved with the approvals for construction
and test flying the Toowoomba Foundary's "Southern Cross
1" light aircraft at Oakey Qld. In 1960.
Additionally he was a keen member of the Australian National Antarctic
Research Expedition Club, attending many of the Mid-winter dinners
over the years.
At the Mid-winter Dinner in June this year he was the center of
attention when he was featured on the club's menu's, port bottles
and place mats, along with a projected DVD showing his Antarctic
achievements.
He was also a member of the Early Birds Association of Australia,
which consist mainly of people who have worked with or on the
aircraft of the "Stick and Rag" era.
Charles Wilfred Gibbs, passed away peacefully at the Raynbird
Place, Carseldine, Qld., on the 12th October 2006
Further information on his Antarctic
exploits will be posted onto the ANARE QLD. Club web site, www.anareqld.org.au
in the near future.
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