Post-war Career and Later Life
Following his discharge from the RAAF in January 1946, Gibbes was initially employed as a stock and station agent in Coonamble, New South Wales. He then spent most of the next 30 years in New Guinea, pioneering the island's transport, coffee and hospitality industries. In January 1948, he formed Gibbes Sepik Airways using German Junkers Ju 52 aircraft, one of which had allegedly been the personal transport of Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring. He also served as a member of the RAAF Active Reserve, based in Townsville, Queensland, from 1952 until 1957. In 1958, he sold his share in Gibbes Sepik Airways to Mandated Airlines, which was later bought out by Ansett Australia. Gibbes then developed a number of coffee plantations in New Guinea, and built a large chain of hotels beginning with the Bird of Paradise in Goroka. In his 60s, he single-handledly sailed a catamaran from England to Australia, braving heavy seas and Malaysian pirates along the way. He sold his interests in New Guinea in 1972.
Gibbes spent most of the 1970s in the Mediterranean, sailing his catamaran Billabong. He returned to Sydney in 1979, and began building his own twin-engined plane, eventually taking it to the air in 1990. In 1994, Gibbes published his autobiography, You Live But Once. He continued to fly until forced to give up his civil aviation licence at the age of 85. In 2002, he appeared in an episode of Australian Story dedicated to fellow No. 3 Squadron ace Nicky Barr. Gibbes was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2004 for his work in New Guinea. He died of a stroke at Mona Vale Hospital in Sydney on 11 April 2007. Aged 90, he was survived by his wife and two daughters. His funeral service at St Thomas' Church, North Sydney was attended by 350 mourners, including the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, and 40 members of No. 3 Squadron, including the commanding officer. A Spitfire in the "Grey Nurse" livery of one of Gibbes' World War II aircraft, and four F/A-18 Hornet jet fighters from No. 3 Squadron, overflew the church.
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