A signed photograph from 1918 of Major Gibbs receiving a decoration from a French General. Later Air Marshall Sir Gerald Gibbs when he was AOC in C of the Post-Independent Indian Air Force.

Born on 02 September 1896, Gibbs initially joined the British Army as an Infantry Officer.At the outbreak of WW 1, he was one of the early officers to join the Royal Flying Corps.  Posted to 17 Squadron in Macedonia in 1918, he scored 10 victories flying the SE5a. He was awarded the Military Cross and two bars.

After the war, he was posted to the RAF College at Cranwell as a flying instructor and then the RAF Staff College, after which he served with the planning staff in the Air Ministry.  Further operational experience came as CO of RAF Units in Sudan and Kenya.

Between 1934 and 1936, he was the Senior Air Staff Officer with No.11 Group of Fighter Command, responsible for the air defence of the United Kingdom.  After the outbreak of World War 2, he was appointed the Director of Overseas Operations.  In 1943 he became the SASO for the 3rd Tactical Air Force in Italy.  In 1945, he was the SASO for South East Asia Air Command.  

In 1951, he became AOC in C of the Indian Air Force.