Gibbs, John Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | John Arthur |
Surname | Gibbs |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 19-04-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Beynon Gibbs of Llangennith, Gower. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ518 |
Markings | LK-C |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 6. B. 13. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 169 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1338451 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 578 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Cennydd's Church, Llangennith, Swansea |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text |
Location | Adjacent to A19, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | For all who served in 578 Squadron Royal Air Force Burn 1944 - 1945 |
Location | Methodist Church, Burn, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text |
Location | Selby Abbey, Selby, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH in Glass topped wooden cabinet |
Memorial Text | In memory of all 578 Sqn Aircrew who failed to return from Ops at RAF Burn |
Miscellaneous Information
Killed when the PoW column in which he was marching was strafed by Allied Typhoons. Date of crash 23/4/44 |
Born 28 July 1921 in Gower, Glamorgan. |
An Apprentice Mason before enlisting. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2052/9 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2050/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-04-1944 |
End Date | 23-04-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Burn |
Day/Night Raid | Night (0% moon) |
Operation | Düsseldorf. 596 aircraft, 29 losses (4.9%). 2150 tones of bombs were dropped, causing considerable damage, mainly to the northern districts. 56 large industrial premises were hit, of which 7 were destroyed. More than 2000 homes were destroyed, 883 people killed and 593 injured, although these figures were compiled before all the missing had been dug out. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Eppinghoven, Germany |