Warbirds Online » Blog Archive » Gone West… Ralph D. “Hoot” Gibson

TUCSON, AZ - Colonel Ralph D. “Hoot” Gibson (ret), a Korean War ace and former lead pilot for the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds demonstration team, passed away on January 2nd, 2009.

Mr. Gibson retired from the U.S.A.F in 1974 and founded a Tucson, AZ real estate firm. His son, Scott Gibson, said that his father was showing a buyer a piece of property when he struck his head, later passing away from the injury.

Ralph D. “Hoot” Gibson was born in Keensburg, Illinois but raised in nearby Mt. Carmel. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and thus began a long and colorful career. He served as a fighter pilot with the occupation forces in Japan and later became the world’s third jet ace. He later served a tour in Vietnam.

He also served a tour as Leader of the USAF Thunderbird Air Demonstration Team. Colonel Gibson retired from the Air Force in 1974 and moved to Tucson, AZ to start a real estate business, Hoot Gibson Realty. He was active in numerous civil and military associations and organization as well as the Pima Air & Space Museum. In recent years he was inducted into the Illinois Military Aviation Hall of Fame as well as the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife, Donna; three sons, Scott, Duane and Craig; four grandchildren, Alexandra, Layla, Carrie and Michael; a sister, Opal Hamm and brother, Will Gibson.

Share this post...

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks