Thread: Guy Gibson
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Old November 9th, 2002, 05:04 AM
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Guy Gibson : -

DFC - 8 July 1940 (Flying Officer)
Bar to DFC - 10 September 1941 (Acting Sq Ldr)
DSO - 17 November 1942 (Acting Wing Commander)
Bar to DSO - 30 March 1943 (Acting Wing Commander)
VC - 28 May 1943 (Acting Wing Commander)

Gibson was killed on 19th September 1944 flying a 627 Squadron Mosquito as 'Master Bomber' on a raid to Rheydt.
The Mosquito crashed near Steenbergen in Holland and was totally burned out. Controversy has continued ever since as to the reason; flak was the 'story' at the time, but 'old hands' on both 617 and 627 agree that Gibson's lack of experience on the Mosquito was a probable factor.

For any one interested in Gibson, I very highly recommend Richard Morris' biography, 'Guy Gibson', published by Viking, London in 1994. I rate this as one of the best biographies of anyone that I've ever read.

'After The Battle' published an exact facsimile of Gibson's personal logbook in the late '70s. Regrettably, the print run was very limited and copies are now advertised on the internet for over 100 pounds.

[ 09. November 2002, 12:06 AM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ]
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