Julie Ann Gibson was born into a military family; her father was a
Lieutenant commander in the
Royal Navy. Because of his military career, Gibson travelled frequently during her childhood as he was posted in different ports around the world. She attended the
City, University of London, where she graduated in 1983 with a
Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering. While at University, she had learnt to fly and had joined the associated
University Air Squadron. Gibson joined the
Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1984 and, following her officer training, she was posted to 74(F) Sqn based at
RAF Wattisham in
Suffolk. She was initially in charge of 75 engineers supporting the F4J variant of the
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. In her following assignment, she commanded 160 men in the Tactical Weapons Unit at
RAF Brawdy She graduated as the first female pilot in the RAF on 14 June 1991 at
No. 6 Flying Training School RAF, within
RAF Finningley. She was the second RAF commissioned aircrew, after
Anne-Marie Dawe, who was the first RAF commissioned aircrew in March 1991, when she had qualified as a navigator. She was assigned to
No. 32 Squadron RAF, where she flew
Hawker Siddeley Andovers out of
RAF Northolt. She was subsequently promoted to Flight Lieutenant, and assigned to fly
Lockheed C-130 Hercules at
RAF Lyneham. ==See also==