Warbird Information Exchange

Col. (Ret.) Ralph D. "Hoot" Gibson Ralph D. "Hoot" Gibson was born in Keensburg, Illinois and raised in nearby Mt. Carmel. His military career began in 1943 when he joined the U.S. Air Corps. During his 31 years as a fighter pilot, he served in the occupation of Japan after WWII; in the Korean War, where he became the world's third jet ace; and in Vietnam. Other assignments included two tours in Germany and a tour as Leader of the USAF Thunderbird Air Demonstration Team. Hoot retired from the Air Force in 1974 and came to Tucson to begin a second career in real estate. As broker of Hoot Gibson Realty and his own best sales agent, he sold hundreds of properties and touched thousands of lives in Tucson and southern Arizona. Hoot was an energetic member of the Tucson community. In addition to realty-related organizations, he was active in Kiwanis, the Business Association of Tucson, Caballeros del Sol, Executives International, and SAHBA as well as several military-related organizations: the Air Force Assoc., Daedalians, Fighter Aces Assoc., Thunderbird Alumni Assoc., River Rats, Sabre Pilots, Super Sabre Society, QB's, and the Pima Air Museum. In recent years he was inducted into the Illinois Military Aviation Hall of Fame and the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame. Among the decorations Hoot earned in the Air Force were two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Star/V, Meritorious Service Medal, 14 Air Medals, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Hoot died January 2, 2009, in a fall while doing what he loved to do - showing property to prospective buyers. 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. Visitation will be held at BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway on Thursday, January 8, 2009, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Services will be at Christ Community Church, 7801 E. Kenyon Dr., Friday, January 9, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.

Published in the Tucson Newspapers on 1/7/20

OH NO!

Godspeed.

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

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Remember there are two "Hoot" Gibsons...Hoot Gibson the astronaut and Reno racer is still with us.

This is true. I almost had a heart attack when I first read the thread topic as I thought it was the Reno Hoot Gibson. Either way, that doesn't diminish the significance of this sad news. Another veteran lost. Apparently there are several Hoot Gibsons. I've heard of at least 3 or 4, btw.

Yes...wasn't there a 3rd Hoot Gibson who supposedly took a 727 supersonic in the 1970s?

Regardless, they have all had stellar flying careers!

Very popular callsign/nickname for people with that last name.

I believe this was the original Hoot Gibson...............

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoot_Gibson

Looks like that Hoot also loved to race planes.

Wasn't the guy who crashed a Goose now famous as being in some C-list surfer movie and on YouTube also a "Hoot" Gibson?