Lt. Col. William Junior Gibson

1920 - 2010  (90 years)

• Name	William Junior Gibson
  Title	Lt. Col.
  Born	28 Apr 1920	North Ogden, Weber, Utah
  Gender	Male
  Died	2 Sep 2010	Air Force Village, San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
  	Lt. Col. William J. Gibson, (USAF-Ret.), a native of Ogden, UT, passed away at his home in Air Force Village, San Antonio, TX, on Sept. 2, 2010 at the age of 90. He was born in Ogden, UT, on April 28, 1920, to John William and Hazel Margaret Berrett Gibson. Col. Gibson was a distinguished and decorated veteran of World War II and the Vietnam War. He entered active duty with the Army Air Corps in October 1941 as a B-17 pilot. Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he deployed to the Pacific Theater, where he flew numerous combat missions against enemy shipping and ground targe At age 24 he was the youngest Lt. Col. in the Army Air Corps, commanding a squadron of B-29s. In the last mission of the war, he led a composite crew drawn from all the air crews in the Pacific Theater to fly the official photos of the Jae surrender back to Washington, D.C. He died on the 65th anniversary of that mission. Col. Gibson served in Vietnam, completing more than 1, 000 combat missions. He was rated in 62 different aircraft from bi-planes to jets, with more than 22, 000 flying hours. Col. Gibson married Beth Jensen of Huntsville, UT, on May 24, 1946. He was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Col. Gibson earned bachelors and masters degrees from Utah State University and Weber State Unity. He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen, the Order of Daedalians and the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Col. Gibson volunteered for many years as a docent at the Institute of Texas Cultures. He served the Air Force Association as a National Director and a trustee of the Aerospace Education Foundation. Col. Gibson also was devoted to his felloerans of the 505th Bomb Group, who met regularly for reunions under his direction. He is survived by his wife, Beth J. Gibson; three children, Patricia Zanghi of Athena, PA, Daryl Gibson of Austin, and John William Gibson of San Antonio; brother, Gerald R. Gibson of Pleasant View, UT; ten grandchildren and three great-graldren. Services and interment will be in North Ogden, UT. ____________________________________________________________
  Person ID	I7514	Grow
  Last Modified	29 Feb 2012

  
  

  Family	Beth Jensen,   b. 11 Nov 1920, Carey, Blaine, Idaho ,   d. 13 Nov 2011, San Antonio, Texas  (Age 91 years)
  Married	24 May 1946	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
  Children	1. Patricia Gibson   2. Daryl Gibson   3. John William Gibson
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2012
  Family ID	F2422	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 28 Apr 1920 - North Ogden, Weber, Utah Married - 24 May 1946 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Died - 2 Sep 2010 - Air Force Village, San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Lt Col. William Junior Gibson