Foil: 14 Panel: Retired United Pilots Association Column: 3 Line: 59

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Captain Ralph J (Mike) Gibbons was born 4 September 1907 in Mobile, Alabama. At the age of five his family moved to Walla Walla, Washington where Mike grew to a young man. He attended Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington.

Mike entered the Army Air Corps in February 1929 as a flying cadet. He graduated in eight months and was commissioned.

Mike held the title of individual high shot of the Third Attack Squadron at the competition held at Langley Field, Virginia, in September 1931.

Mike was released from active duty 1 October 1931. That same year he applied and got the job of managing the local airport at Walla Walla.

June 8, 1933 Mike applied and was accepted by United Air Lines as a co-pilot. It is thought that he started his airline career flying between Portland and Salt Lake City.

Mike went back into the service in 1942 flying with the troop carrier command. Mike retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1950 with the rank of Colonel.

During the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts Mike flew the Pacific for the military under the supervision of United Air Lines.

During his career with United Mike Gibbons was assigned to Japan to be an instructor pilot with Japan Air Lines flying DC-8 aircraft from Tokyo to the West Coast of the US.

Mike flew for UAL for 35 years amassing 32,000 hours on the following aircraft — Boeing 40B, 247, DC 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and Boeing 377, 720.

A photo exists of a Boeing 247 making a low pass over a 12-mule team pulling three wagons. This was a salute to the old from the new at the close of the Pendleton Roundup Sept 17, 1936. The pilot of the 247 was Mike Gibbons.