Frederick J . Gibbs Captain Frederick John Gibbs was a World War I flying ace credited with 11 official victories . Post - war , he went into business . During the beginning of World War II , he took the unusual step of giving up his officer ' s commission in favour of joining the military in the ranks . World War I . On 10 August 1916 , Cadet Frederick John Gibbs was first commissioned in the London Regiment as a second lieutenant on probation . On 29 November 1916 , temporary second lieutenant F . J . Gibbs of the South Staffordshire Regiment was appointed a Flying Officer in the Royal Flying Corps . By mid - 1917 , he had been trained as a Spad pilot and was posted with 23 Squadron in France . On 2 June 1917 , he opened his victory roll when he drove down a German Albatros D . III fighter out of control . Later that month , on the 17th , he destroyed a DFW two - seater reconnaissance plane . On 27 July 1917 , he scored twice , driving down an Albatros D . V fighter on one patrol and sharing in the destruction of an Aviatik recon plane with Roger Neville on another . The destruction of another DFW on 13 August made him an ace . On 18 August 1917 , he scored again , driving down an Albatros D . V . Four days after that , he destroyed a DFW over Wervicq , Belgium . On 25 August , he drove down an Albatros D . V over Langemarck . A month would pass before his next win ; on 25 September , he set a German two - seater recon plane afire in the sky north of Wervicq . On 26 September 1917 , Frederick John Gibbs of the South Staffordshires and RFC was awarded the Military Cross for his valor . It would not be gazetted until 9 January 1918 ; the text of the accompanying award citation read : " For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in attacking enemy aircraft and engaging hostile troops from the ground . He has in all driven down five enemy machines which were destroyed , and one other completely out of control . He has also attacked and silenced a hostile battery with machinegun fire , displaying on every occasion the same dash and determined offensive spirit . " Gibbs would score once more while with 23 Squadron , destroying a Rumpler on 2 October 1917 for his tenth victory . On 10 February 1918 , Gibbs was promoted to lieutenant . After a year ' s lapse , Gibbs scored one final victory while flying a Royal Aircraft Factory SE . 5 a for 64 Squadron . On 29 October 1918 , he destroyed an LVG reconnaissance craft over Estreux , France . Between the World Wars . On 15 November 1918 , Gibbs surrendered his commission because he was invalided by wounds ; he was granted an honorary lieutenancy . On 16 March 1921 , Gibbs was appointed a skilled workman in the British post office . Captain F . J . Gibbs resigned from the Indian Army Reserve of Officers on 10 September 1924 , and was allowed to retain his rank . By 5 October 1934 , Gibbs was the chairman of H . T . Ropes & Co . Limited , which was liquidating . On 8 January 1935 , Gibbs was chairman of the Mersey Pure Ice and Cold Storage Company Limited , which was also liquidating . World War II . On 1 September 1939 , Lieutenant F . J . Gibbs , formerly of the London Regiment , gave up his commission so he could join the military as an enlisted man . On 20 May 1941 , Frederick John Gibbs was executor of the will of Thomas Henry Gibbs . By 24 February 1942 , Gibbs was chairman of The Wholesale Fish and Poultry Supplies Limited as it liquidated . There the trail grows cold , as to date nothing further is known of his life .