Name – Noel Victor Hibberd
RAAF Service Number – 425653
Date of Birth – 24 December 1922
9 September 1941 – Medical examination.
10 September 1941 – enrolled in RAAF Reserve at Brisbane, Badge No 6139; aged 18 years & 8 months; Religion Church of England; current employment as Cadet in the Department of Agriculture, Brisbane; residence at Brookfield, Brisbane. His medical certificate recorded his height as 5 ft 8½ inches; weight 142lb; chest normal 32" & expanded 35"; vision 6/6 both eyes; medical classification A1B & A3B. The Oath of Affirmation was signed on 10 September 1941 at No 3 Recruiting Centre, Brisbane. He was posted to Class Air Crew V of the Reserve. His educational qualifications were Junior Public and Diploma in Agriculture.
25 April 1942 – enlisted at No. 3 Recruiting Centre in RAAF Citizen Air Force with Service Number 425653, for the duration of the war and period of 12 months thereafter; aged 19 years & 4 months; religion Church of England; occupation Cadet with the Department of Agriculture; height 5 feet 8½ inches; weight 142lb; chest normal 32" & expanded 35"; complexion Fair; eyes Blue; hair Dark Brown; medical classification A1B2, A, B.
25 April 1942 – mustering Aircrew V, on enlistment.
25 April 1942 – Classification – AC2 (Air Craftman 2) on enlistment.
25 April 1942 – posting to 3 RC (Recruiting Centre) Brisbane, Queensland.
25 April 1942 – posting to 3 ITS (Initial Training School) Kingaroy, Queensland. (3 ITS is also named as Sandgate, Queensland on later service file pages.)
Next of Kin listed was his father Sgt. Max Henry Hibberd, Garrison Battalion, Gaythorne, Brisbane (records vary as either 1st or 2nd Garrison); and his mother, Mrs Elsie Magdaline (sic) Hibberd at Brookfield, Brisbane. On a later form, person listed to be notified in case of casualty was his brother 435342 Sgt M.J.Hibberd, RAAF Post Office, Kodak House, London.
3 May 1942 – RAAF Will Form P/P 77 signed and dated at 3 ITS Sandgate. It reads "I appoint Elsie Magdaline (sic) Hibberd, my mother executor of this my will. I give to Elsie Magdaline (sic) Hibberd all my property". (One wonders the legality of this will, as his mother's name was actually Elsie Madeline.)
10 June 1942 – Will certified as signed and witnessed, 3 ITS.
14 June 1942 – Remustering as Aircrew V (P), 3 ITS.
7 July 1942 – Vaccination.
16 July 1942 to 19 July 1942 – 4 days leave with pay.
18 July 1942 – Remustering – Aircrew II (P), 8 EFTS.
18 July 1942 – Promotion to LAC (Leading Air Craftman), 8 EFTS.
23 July 1942 – General Conduct Sheet – certified no entry by Adjutant of 3ITS, Sandgate.
27 July 1942 – posting to 8 EFTS (Elementary Flying Training School), Narrandera, NSW – training in Tiger Moth aircraft.
22 Oct 1942 – posting to 2 ED (Embarkation Depot), Bradfield Park, Sydney, NSW.
23 Oct 1942 – General Conduct Sheet – certified no entry by Adjutant of 8 EFTS Narrandera, NSW.
31 Oct 1942 – General Conduct Sheet – certified no entry by Adjutant of 2 ED, Bradfield Park, NSW.
31 Oct 1942 – posting to 1 ED, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria.
Undated entry – General Conduct Sheet – certified no entry by Adjutant of 1 ED, Ascot Vale, Victoria.
2 November 1942 – embarked from Melbourne, destination Canada.
2 November 1942 – attachment to RCAF.
27 November 1942 – disembarked Canada.
27 November 1942 – posting to 3 M Depot (Manning Depot) RCAF, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
4 December 1942 – posting to 15 SFTS (Service Flying Training School), Claresholm, Alberta, Canada; training in Crane and Anson aircraft.
9 December 1942 – to 18 December 1942, period in hospital or sick quarters.
25 January 1943 – 15 SFTS, Claresholm, Alberta, Canada – General Conduct Sheet – one offence (the only offence in his RAAF service).
Rank was LAC (Leading Air Craftman), and his age was 20 years & 1 month.
The offence was listed as "WOAS Did not wear great coat in attention area contrary to D.R.O. #6 (19)". (sic)
The Witness was WO2 Sheik, C.W., and the punishment "3 days C.B." was awarded & signed by Squadron Leader J.M.Dobson on 28 January 1943.
(I have been told C.B. means 'confined to barracks'. Assuming that the 'attention area' was a parade ground outdoors, not wearing a great coat in the Canadian winter seems rather foolhardy. A Canadian who until recently lived less than an hour from Claresholm, has advised that during January, the Alberta winter can be extremely cold, so that the punishment of 3 days confined to barracks would most likely have been welcomed. One wonders if the offence was deliberate, in order to avoid the cold outdoors! WOAS = While On Active Service)
29 April 1943 – Inoculation.
30 April 1943 – Remustering as Airman Pilot, RCAF.
30 April 1943 – graduated as Airman Pilot, an awarded Pilots Flying Badge, RCAF.
30 April 1943 – Promotion to Sergeant, RCAF.
30 April 1943 0600 hrs to 6 May 1943 2400hrs – 7 days embarkation leave with pay.
10 May 1943 – posting to 1 Y Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
26 May 1943 – attachment to RAF.
27 May 1943 – embarked from Canada, destination UK.
4 June 1943 – disembarked UK.
5 June 1943 – posting to 11 PDRC (Personnel Despatch & Reception Centre), Brighton, UK.
23 June 1943 – 7 days Privilege Leave, to 29 June 1943.
2 July 1943 – attachment to 18 EFTS, UK, HQ 50 Group Pool, to 16 July 1943 (Fairoaks, near Woking, Surrey).
24 July 1943 – attachment to ECFS (Empire Central Flying School) Hullavington, until 26 July 1943 (near Chippenham, Wiltshire).
10 August 1943 – General Conduct Sheet – certified no entry by Adjutant of 11 PDRC, Brighton.
10 August 1943 – posting to 20 (P) AFU (Advanced Flying Unit), UK (Kidlington?), training in Oxford aircraft.
21 Oct 1943 – 7 days Privilege Leave, to 27 Oct 1943, (20 (P) AFU).
30 Oct 1943 – promotion to Flight Sergeant, 26 OTU.
16 November 1943 – General Conduct Sheet – certified no entry by F/O of 20(P) AFU.
16 November 1943 – Character & Trade Proficiency – as Sgt Pilot – Character V.G.
16 November 1943 – posting to 26 OTU (Operational Training Unit), Cranfield, UK, training in Wellington aircraft.
31 December 1943 – Character & Trade Proficiency – as Sgt Pilot – Character V.G., Proficiency satisfactory.
7 January 1944 – to 13 January 1944, period in Hospital S.S.Q., 26 OTU.
3 March 1944 – 6 days Privilege Leave, to 8 March 1944, 26 OTU.
10 March 1944 – General Conduct Sheet – certified no entry, 26 OTU.
10 March 1944 – attachment to RAF Feltwell, UK, to 24 March 1944 (Methwold was a satellite landing ground for Feltwell by the start of WW2).
10 March 1944 – attachment to Methwold, to 24 March 1944 (This may be a renamed listing as it has the same dates as the previous entry, and assumed to cover a movement from the main site of Feltwell to the satellite airfield at Methwold.)
10 March 1944 – posting to 31 Base, UK.
24 March 1944 – attachment to 1657 CU (Conversion Unit), 31 Base, to 15 May 1944; Stradishall, Suffolk, training in Stirling 4-engine bombers.
15 May 1944 – General Conduct Sheet – certified no entry by Adjutant of 1657 Conversion Unit.
15 May 1944 – posting to 218 Squadron, No. 3 Group, Woolfox Lodge, UK, equipped with Short Stirling III aircraft.
13 June 1944 – discharged as Airman, on being granted a Commission.
13 June 1944 – Character & Trade Proficiency – as F/Sgt Pilot – Character V.G., Proficiency satisfactory.
14 June 1944 – G.D. Pilot.
14 June 1944 – granted a Commission, at 218 Squadron.
14 June 1944 – Appointment as Pilot Officer, Gaz. No. 228/44.
22 June 1944 – 6 days Privilege Leave, to 27 June 1944, 218 Squadron.
3 July 1944 – Recommended for Appointment to Commission, letter dated 3 July 1944, H.Q. 3 Group.
24 July 1944 – 5 days Privilege Leave, to 28 July 1944, 218 Squadron.
6 August 1944 – acting rank of Flying Officer, OHQ P38/44.
18 September 1944 – 6 days Privilege Leave, to 23 September 1944, 218 Squadron.
6 October 1944 – admission to Littleport Hospital, discharged 20 November 1944, (Authority 31 Base) (Littleport Hospital was near Ely in Cambridgeshire).
15 October 1944 – posting to RAF Methwold, UK; 218 Squadron had relocated there in August 1944, equipped with Stirling Bombers, but was in the process of converting to Lancaster bombers.
21 November 1944 – 14 days Sick Leave to 4 December 1944, 218 Squadron, Methwold.
23 November 1944 – admission to Littleport Hospital, discharged 20 February 1945, (Authority 31 Base).
4 December 1944 – posting to 31 Base, Chedburgh UK, when 218 Squadron moved there from Methwold; equipped with Lancaster bombers.
Undated entry – General Conduct Sheet – certified no entry by Adjutant of 218 Squadron, Methwold.
14 Dec 1944 – promoted to Flying Officer, Gaz. No. 78/45.
3 January 1945 – Service Conduct Sheet – certified no entry by S/Ldr Lombard for Air Officer i/c Records RAF.
10 February 1945 – marriage to Muriel Bertha Allen at Saint Michael’s Church of England, Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. Brother F/Sgt M.J.Hibberd acted as Best Man (please see photos above). After F/O N.V.Hibberd's marriage, his Service documents were amended to include as next-of-kin his English wife's name, and her home address "Church Farm", Manthorpe, Bourne, Lincolnshire.
21 February 1945 – RAAF Will Form P/P 77 signed and dated at RAAF O/Seas H.Q., London – this revoked the former will dated 3 May 1942. This new will took into account his recent marriage. It reads " at present on active service abroad with the Royal Australian Air Force as Flying Officer AUS 425653, formerly of Brookfield Brisbane, Queensland Australia" followed by "I appoint my father Max Henry Hibberd of Brookfield aforesaid executor of this my will. I give, devise and bequeath all my property both real and personal to my wife Muriel Bertha Hibberd of Church Farm, Manthorpe, Bourne, Lincolnshire, England absolutely".
21 February 1945 – admission to Littleport Hospital, discharged 7 March 1945 (Authority 31 Base).
1 March 1945 – posting to 11 PDRC, Brighton, UK.
7 March 1945 – admission to CME Hospital, London, discharged 21 March 1945 (Authority 31 Base).
On sick leave or in hospital from 6 October 1944 through to 21 March 1945.
23 March 1945 – posting to 11 PDRC, Brighton, UK.
28 March 1945 – issued with 65 tropical clothing coupons.
11 April 1945 – embarked from UK, destination Australia (brother F/Sgt M.J.Hibberd reported missing with Halifax NA240 Z5-V and all crew, air operation Target Leipzig, Germany on the night of 10 April 1945).
23 May 1945 – disembarked Sydney, NSW.
23 May 1945 – posting to 2 PD (Personnel Depot), Sydney, NSW.
23 May 1945 – 7 days Recreation Leave, to 31 May 1945, 2 PD.
1 June 1945 – 30 days Special Leave to 1 July, 2 PD.
3 July 1945 – posting to 3 PD Brisbane, Queensland, ex Overseas Postings.
21 September 1945 – Authority for payment in lieu of leave entitlements of 75 days (made up of 7 days Recreation Leave, 38 days War Service Leave, 30 days Re-establishment Leave).
21 September 1945 – 3 Personnel Depot, Sandgate, Queensland – discharged 'On Demobilization'.
23 October 1945 – Advice of Eligibility for Returned from Active Service Badge.
29 October 1945 – Certificate of Service and Discharge covering the period as Airman, and Certificate of Service covering the period as Officer in the RAAF forwarded to home address at Brookfield, Brisbane.
Overseas Service – Canada – 2 Nov 1942 to 27 May 1943.
Overseas Service – United Kingdom – 4 June 1943 to 23 May 1945.
Types of Aircraft flown (RAF Form 373) – Oxfords, Wellington, Stirling, and Lancaster (plus un-listed training aircraft – Tiger Moth, Crane and Anson).
Type on which most proficient – Lancaster.
Information not to hand – names of the crew who trained and flew with F/O N.V.Hibberd while posted to 26 OTU, 1657 CU and 218 Squadron. His Navigator was Lou Brimblecombe, formerly of Capella, central Queensland. If anyone can assist with crew information, please make contact.
(Information from the WW2 Nominal Roll website – Charles Louis Brimblecombe; RAAF 425592; date of birth 23 December 1923; born Brisbane; enlisted 25 April 1942 in Brisbane (same enlistment date and place as Pilot F/O N.V.Hibberd); Next-of-kin James Brimblecombe; discharged 7 December 1945; Rank Flying Officer; discharged from 9 Aircrew Holding Unit. (The family of Lou Brimblecombe have made contact to confirm that this Navigator is correct, and a web page on this site has been created for him.)
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Honours and Awards
1939-45 Star
France and Germany Star
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal 1939-45
Returned from Active Service Badge
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