World War II Honoree

Frederick J. Gibson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Kansas City, Missouri

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A P-51 ‘MUSTANG’ FIGHTER PILOT IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 72ND FIGHTER SQUADRON, 21ST FIGHTER GROUP, VII FIGHTER COMMAND. STATIONED ON IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS BEGINNING MARCH 26, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC, AIR OFFENSIVE-JAPAN, EASTERN MANDATES, AND AIR COMBAT-ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER CAMPAIGNS. FLEW STRIKES AGAINST ENEMY AIRFIELDS, SHIPPING AND INSTALLATIONS IN THE BONIN ISLANDS. ALSO TOOK PART IN LONG-RANGE BOMBER ESCORT AND FIGHTER SWEEPS AGAINST AIRFIELDS AND OTHER TARGETS ON THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS. FLIGHTS AGAINST JAPAN INVOLVED A LONG 8-HOUR ROUND TRIP FROM IWO JIMA OVER A DISTANCE OF SOME 1600 MILES. DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF MARCH 26, 1945, 10 DAYS AFTER THE ISLAND HAD BEEN DECLARED 'SECURE', HIS GROUP'S AREA WAS ATTACKED BY SOME 300 JAPANESE SOLDIERS, REMNANTS OF THREE UNITS, IN A 'BANZAI' CHARGE. AFTER THE ATTACK, 150 DEAD JAPANESE WERE FOUND IN THE UNIT AREA. FOR CAPTAIN GIBSON'S BRAVERY DURING THE ATTACK, HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS SQUADRON ON APRIL 7, 1945 WHILE ESCORTING B-29 ‘SUPERFORTRESS’ BOMBERS TO STRIKE THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT PLANT NEAR TOKYO, JAPAN. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.