Ralph “Hoot” Gibson “joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 and went to flight school, but didn’t see combat during World War II. Assigned to the 4th Flying Group during the Korean War, he flew 94 missions in the F-86 Sabre and downed five MiG-15 fighters to become the nation’s third jet fighter ace. In the 1960s, Gibson led the Thunderbirds for two years and flew 104 missions in F-4 Phantoms over Vietnam as a squadron commander.” (1)
“After retirement Gibson was inducted into the Illinois Military Aviation Hall of Fame, and he started a successful second career selling real estate in Tucson, Arizona. Having established himself in the State, he was further honored with an induction into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame.” (2)
Sources: (1) findagrave.com, (2) https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Ralph_Gibson_(fighter_pilot)
Ralph “Hoot” Gibson, Col USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on January 2, 2009.
Ralph D. “Hoot” Gibson, a Korean War ace and former lead pilot for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team, died Jan. 2 in Tucson, Ariz. He was 84.
Gibson, an Air Force colonel who founded a Tucson real estate firm after he retired in 1974, died after striking his head while showing a buyer a piece of property. Gibson joined the Army Air Forces in 1943 and went to flight school, but didn’t see combat during World War II.
Assigned to the 4th Flying Group during the Korean War, he flew 94 missions in the F-86 Sabre and downed five MiG-15 fighters to become the nation’s third jet fighter ace. In the 1960s, Gibson led the Thunderbirds for two years and flew 104 missions in F-4 Phantoms over Vietnam as a squadron commander, according to an Air Force biography.
Gibson’s awards included two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star for valor, a Meritorious Service Medal, 14 Air Medals and an Air Force Commendation Medal.
After retirement Gibson was inducted into the Illinois Military Aviation Hall of Fame, and he started a successful second career selling real estate in Tucson, Arizona. Having established himself in the State, he was further honoured with an induction into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame. Hoot was an energetic member of the Tucson community. In addition to realty-related organizations, he was active in Kiwanis, the Business Association of Tucson, Caballeros del Sol, Executives International, and SAHBA as well as several military-related organizations: the Air Force Assoc., Daedalians, Fighter Aces Assoc., Thunderbird Alumni Assoc., River Rats, Sabre Pilots, Super Sabre Society, QB’s, and the Pima Air Museum.
He is survived by his wife, Donna; three sons, Scott, Duane and Craig; four grandchildren, Alexandra, Layla, Carrie and Michael; a sister, Opal Hamm and brother, Will Gibson. (1)
Ralph Gibson is interred at East Lawn Palms Cemetery and Mortuary in Tucson.
(Tulsa World, Tulsa, OK, Saturday, January 10, 2009)
