By
FLTLT Steven Bradley
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Retired
Wing Commander Nicky Barr, World War II ace and former No.
3 Squadron CO, with current Squadron members.
Photo by AC David Gibbs
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LEGENDARY
pilots of yesteryear are inspiring the fighter pilots of today.
Nos 3 and 77 Squadron members have been addressed recently by
commanding officers and fighter pilots of previous generations,
including Wing Commander Nicky Barr, Squadron Leader Ron Guthrie
and Wing Commander Bobby Gibbes.
77SQN CO Wing Commander Gav Turnbull arranged for SQNLDR Guthrie
and WGCDR Gibbes to visit the squadrons and spend time briefing
the aircrew of their experiences.
And 3SQN CO Wing Commander Mike Kitcher and several squadron members
met former 3SQN CO WGCDR Barr at Coolangatta recently.
A 77SQN veteran, SQNLDR Guthrie was shot down in his Meteor by
a MiG-15 and captured during the Korean War. He escaped but was
recaptured and spent the rest of the war in POW camps in China
and North Korea.
WGCDR Bobby Gibbes, DSO, DFC and Bar, served in the western desert
in North Africa and became commanding officer of 3SQN during World
War II. He was credited with 10¼ kills and was shot down
twice. He managed to avoid capture by Rommel’s Afrika Korps
and enlisted some local help to get himself back into friendly
territory.
WGCDR Barr, OBE, MC, DFC and Bar, like his good friend Bobby Gibbes,
served in the western desert and claimed 12½ kills. He
was shot down three times and seriously wounded on the third occasion.
He escaped from the Germans four times, including once from a
moving train. On the fourth attempt he evaded recapture and, along
with a group of Special Forces, took part in operations behind
enemy lines and also helped fellow POWs escape.
As a tribute to WGCDR Barr, a 3SQN F/A-18, A21-3, was repainted
in 2001 with his name and details as CO in 1942.
3SQN and 77SQN members appreciate the three living legends taking
time to speak to the current generation of fighter pilots, an
experience they will never forget. Their exploits are nothing
short of extraordinary and by re-visiting these adventures they
are helping to keep alive the proud history and traditions that
exist throughout the fighter force.
Recommended reading:
Nicky Barr, An Australian Air Ace, by Peter Dornan; You Live But
Once, by WGCDR R.H. (Bobby) Gibbes; Escape From North Korea, by
Ron Guthrie and Col King.
