Former naval aviator Dave Gibson died in Western Australia on 3 May 2012.
He is remembered as a skilled pilot and a helpful and friendly colleague. He was a member of the 3rd Contingent RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam when as a lieutenant he was seriously injured (6 March 1970) when he brought his slick into a landing zone east of Ben Tre that had been booby-trapped with a 105mm-artillery shell. The shell detonated as the helicopter was hovering above the landing zone with the explosion completely destroying the helicopter and killing two ARVN soldiers travelling in it. Seriously wounded, Lieutenant Gibson was evacuated to Australia and did not return to the RANHFV.
His funeral will be at Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park, Whitford Avenue, Padbury.
