Flying Officer Eric Charles Hibbins - RAFVR

Flying Officer Eric Charles Hibbins was born in Riverhead, near Sevenoaks, Kent. He married Freda (Simmons) and had two daughters, Jane and Clare.

 He served as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner from January 1943 to July 1945.

After enlisting in the RAFVR, Eric joined OC Air Operation section, No 4 Radio School in December 1942 followed by “D” Flight, 24 Operational Training Unit at Honeybourne on the 23^rd of May 1943, flying on Whitley’s and Ansons untilfinishing on the 27^th of June 1943.

 On the 18^th of July 1943 till the 29^th of July 1943, he trained with his crew as a member of “C” Flight, at 1664 HCU at Croft, Yorkshire.

 On the 2^nd of August 1943 till the 12^th of November 1943, he served with “A” Flight of 419 Squadron at Middleton St George. He was posted to 433 Squadron as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner on the 1^st of February 1944.

 He flew for the following pilots-P/O White, F/Sgt Lossing, F/.Sgt.Reikett, F/Sgt Devine, P/O Major, F/Lt Van Slyck, Sqdn Leader McNeil, P/O Rissett, F/O Prescott, P/O Wright, F/Lt.Appleton, P/O Forbes, F/O Simspon, F/Lt Miller, F/Lt McGrath.He flew his 23^rd Op. for F/O Mara (a note in Eric’s log book mentions the loss of F/O Mara and his crew during an operation to Osterfeld on February 4/5,1945).

Eric Hibbins' Logbook

Entries 1942

24 OTU May 1943

24 OTU June 1943

June 1943 (cont'd)

1664 HCU Croft July 1943

419 Sqn August 1943

419 Sqn September 1943

419 Sqn October 1943

419 Sqn November 1943

433 Sqn January 1944

433 Sqn February 1944

433 Sqn March 1944

433 Sqn April 1944

433 Sqn May 1944

433 Sqn June 1944

433 Sqn July 1944

433 Sqn August/September 1944

433 Sqn October/November 1944

433 Sqn November 1944

433 Sqn December 1944

433 Sqn January 1945

1666 HCU Wombleton March - July 1945

Eric Early in His Career

Eric Hibbins

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Eric Hibbins' Logbook

 

 He flew eleven ops with Squadron Leader W. Pierce (DFC) and crew. On the 14^th of January 1945 he took part in an op to Grevenbrotch which resulted in various awards for the Pierce crew. In his log book, Eric has written-“Grevenbrotch”-Ruhr-3 Engines, 14000 feet,”Shaky “Do”. This was his  30^th op.

 On the 4^th of March 1945 he served with 1666 HCU at Wombleton, taking part in several “Sightseeing” trips, the first with ground crew, over Arnheim, the Ruhr, Amsterdam, Cologne and many more until July 1945. After the war,Eric worked at the local electricity supply company in the U.K., firstly in a technical capacity and later in administration.