Balfour C. Gibson
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 9 February 1943, First Lieutenant Balfour C. Gibson was serving as Navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber in the 72nd Bombardment Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Thirteenth Air Force.

On that day, 1LT Gibson’s aircraft was in action against Japanese forces while engaged in a search mission over Japanese-held territory in the South Pacific Area. During the search, 1LT Gibson's bomber was attacked by 8 Japanese Zero fighters that circled at maximum gun range while making a series of direct attacks. Two of the Zero's were shot down and 2 more were probably destroyed during the initial phase of the air battle, although one of the bomber's 4 engines was silenced, 10 guns were damaged beyond usefulness, and all members of the crew were wounded. The fighters finally gave up the chase after an hour-and-a-half attack, leaving 2 engines of the B-17 silenced and a 3rd damaged. The airplane's maximum altitude was now barely 20 feet above the water. After the Pilot ordered the removal of all possible gear, the B-17 was able, after an hour's effort, to climb to about 800 feet. When a water landing of the disabled airplane became necessary, all of the crew escaped from the wreckage. The group of airmen paddled and drifted in 2 inflated life rafts through torrid sun and tropical storms for more than 600 miles. On the 16th day, they made their way through a difficult coral passage to a group of little-known islands in Japanese territory where, upon being recognized as Americans, they received what rest and comforts the war-starved Melanesian natives could offer. More than 2 months after ditching their B-17, the crew reached an island occupied by friendly personnel and were returned to their base. 1LT Gibson's extraordinary determination and skill contributed greatly to the escape and safe return of his entire crew. His courageous actions and extraordinary heroism during that period earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Three members of the crew were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the other six members received the Silver Star Medal, making them one of the most decorated air crews of the War.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Purple Heart
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Navigator Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Balfour C. Gibson (ASN: 0-433010), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Navigator on a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 72d Bombardment Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group (H), THIRTEENTH Air Force, while engaged in a search mission over enemy territory on 9 February 1943, in the South Pacific Area. During this search First Lieutenant Gibson's airplane was attacked by eight enemy Zero fighters. The enemy circled at maximum gun range, executing a series of direct assaults. Two of the enemy fighters were shot down and two more were probably destroyed during the initial phase of the air battle, although one engine of the bomber was silenced, ten guns were damaged beyond usefulness, and all members of the crew wounded. After attacking for an hour and a half, the fighters finally gave up the chase, leaving two motors of the bomber silenced and a third damaged. By this time the airplane was flying at an altitude of barely 20 feet above the water. The Pilot ordered the removal of all possible gear and was able, after approximately an hour's effort, to gain an altitude of 800 feet. When a water landing of the disabled airplane was necessitated, all of the crew escaped from the wreckage. The group of airmen paddled and drifted in two inflated life rafts through torrid sun and tropical storms for more than 600 miles, until on the sixteenth day they made their way through a difficult coral passage to a group of little-known islands in enemy territory where, upon being recognized as Americans, they received what rest and comforts the war starved native settlement could offer. More than two months after the encounter with the enemy fighters the air crew reached an island occupied by friendly personnel and were returned to their base. First Lieutenant Gibson's extraordinary determination and skill contributed greatly to the escape and safe return of his entire crew. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Gibson throughout this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 13th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, General Orders No. 105 (May 1, 1943)

Death and Burial

First Lieutenant Balfour C. Gibson died on 19 December 1993 in Napa, CA. His burial location is unknown.