Gibson, Jonathan Shelby
Male
Verified Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jonathan Shelby Gibson, 32, of Aurora, Oregon, was a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (HSC-6). He was killed in a helicopter crash in the Red Sea on September 22, 2013.
Their Story
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jonathan Shelby Gibson was a 32-year-old naval aviator from Aurora, Oregon. He served with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (HSC-6), known as the 'Screamin' Indians,' based at Naval Air Station North Island, California. The squadron's primary mission was combat search and rescue and special warfare support.
On September 22, 2013, Gibson was one of five crew members aboard an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter that crashed into the Red Sea shortly after takeoff from the flight deck of the USS *William P. Lawrence* (DDG-110). The ship was conducting maritime security operations in the Red Sea at the time. The crash occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time. Gibson and three other sailors were recovered and pronounced dead; one sailor survived.
The crash occurred under the operational umbrella of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign that began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. While major combat operations in Afghanistan concluded in 2014, the broader counterterrorism mission, which included maritime security in regions like the Horn of Africa, continued under the OEF designation at the time of the incident.
According to a U.S. Navy statement, an immediate search and rescue operation was launched following the crash. The Navy initiated a formal investigation to determine the cause. Gibson's remains were returned to the United States. He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal and other service medals.
Gibson is memorialized on the Navy Memorial's 'Lone Sailor' statue donor plaque and on the 'Virtual Wall of Gold' at the USS *Midway* Museum in San Diego. His name is listed on the Oregon Fallen War Heroes Memorial in Salem.
Explore Further
Jonathan Shelby Gibson was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
