Guy Gibson

Missing image
VCGuyPenroseGibson.jpg
Photo from 617 Squadron The "dambusters"
Missing image
VCGuyPenroseGibsonGrave.jpg
Photo submitted by Roger Shenton - (taken by John Kramer)
Missing image
VCGuyPenroseGibsonMemorial.jpg
Photo of the Dambusters Memorial at Woodhall Spa. Photo submitted by Roger Shenton)


Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DFC with bar DSO with bar (12 August 1918 - 19 September 1944), was the first CO of the RAF's 617 Squadron, which he led in the "Dam Busters" raid (Operation Chastise), in 1943, resulting in the destruction of two large dams in the Ruhr area. He was killed later in the war.

Contents

Early Life and Career

Gibson was born in Simla in the Empire of India, the son of Alexander James Gibson and Norah Gibson. He moved with his family to Porthleven, Cornwall, England in 1921 aged three. He was educated at St. Edward's School, Oxford.

In 1936 he joined the RAF and by the outbreak of the Second World War was a bomber pilot with 83 Squadron. In July 1940 on Bomber Command's first raid of the war he won the Distinguished Flying Cross. After completing his first tour of duty, by volunteering for Fighter Command, he avoided the normal six-month rest from operations at a flying training establishment. As a night fighter he obtained four kills and won a bar to his DFC. Promoton to wing commander followed and at the age of 23 he was posted back to Bomber Command in 1942. During the next 11 months he led 106 Squadron on 172 sorties.

Operation Chastise

In 1943 he was selected to command 617 Squadron who were tasked to destroy dams in the Ruhr area. To accomplish this they were provided with the bouncing bomb designed and developed by Barnes Wallis. The bombs had to be dropped from 60 feet from a predefined distance to skip across the water into the dam face and then roll down it to explode at predefined depth. To stand any chance of success the mission had to be flown at night.

The height problem was solved by using to fixed spot lights strapped to the bottom of the Avro Lancaster Bomber which when shining at the same spot meant that the bomber was 60 feet above the water. The distance to target was solved by the bomb aimer holding a simple wooded triangle with dowels on top and a handle below. When the dowels lined up with the towers on the dam then the distance was optimal for release.

On the night of May 16 1943 there were no other bombing missions over Germany because it was a full moon. As the Dambusters needed a full moon to carry out their mission, it was thought that the only way they could penetrate German Anti-aircraft defences was to fly the whole mission as close to the ground as possible. The 19 Lancasters carried one bomb each. It took five attempts to breach the Moehne Dam. Gibson then led the three remaining Lancasters to attack the Eder Dam. Only 11 of the bombers survived the mission.

The devastation caused by the raids was extensive but the Germans managed to rebuild and recover much more quickly than was expected. However they were forced to use assets to protect key installations like dams to a greater extent than they had before. These assets would have been useful on other fronts. The propaganda boost given to the allied war effort was considerable.

Victoria Cross

Missing image
Victoria_Cross.jpg
Thumb

After the Dams raid, Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross in recognition not just of the raid, but his leadership and valour demonstrated as master bomber on many previous sorties.

Wing Commander Gibson, whose personal courage knew no bounds, was quickly recognised to be an outstanding operational pilot and leader. He served with conspicuously successful results as a night bomber pilot and also as a night fighter pilot, on operational tours. In addition, on his "rest" nights he made single-handed attacks on highly defended objectives such as the German battleship Tirpitz. Wing Commander Gibson was then selected to command a squadron formed for special tasks. Under his inspiring leadership this squadron executed one of the most devastating attacks of the war - the breaching of the Moehne and Eder dams. Wing Commander Gibson personally made the initial attack on the Moehne dam. Descending to within a few feet of the water, he delivered his attack with great accuracy. He then circled very low for thirty minutes, drawing the enemy fire and permitting as free a run as possible to the following aircraft. He repeated these tactics in the attack on the Eder dam. Throughout his operational career, prolonged exceptionally at his own request, he has shown leadership, determination and valour of the highest order.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum (Hendon, England).

After the Dams Raid

After receiving his VC Gibson was sent on a lecture tour of the United States by the government, partly to keep the new hero safe. He also wrote an account of the raids, Enemy Coast Ahead. The tour was at a time "when the first American airmen were coming home `tour expired' after 25 operations. During questions one young lady asked `Wing commander Gibson, how many operations have you been on over Germany?' `One hundred and seventy-four.' There was a stunned silience." [From Sir Robert Thompson's autobiography Make for the Hills].

Return to Operations

Gibson returned to operational duties in 1944 after pestering to continue flying, and was killed when his de Havilland Mosquito was shot down during a bombing raid on Rheydt, near Bergen-op-Zoom, the Netherlands, on 19 September 1944.

Other

Gibson's grave and a memorial are in Steenbergen en Kruisland R.C. Churchyard, the Netherlands.

He was survived by his wife, Eve Mary Gibson of Westminster.

Gibson was played by Richard Todd in the film The Dam Busters.


References Books

  • British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
  • Dam Buster: the Life of Guy Gibson, VC (Susan Ottaway, 1996)
  • The Dam Busters (Paul Brickhill, 1983)
  • Enemy Coast Ahead (Guy Gibson, 1984)
  • Enemy Coast Ahead (Guy Gibson, 1946)
  • Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External Links

Template:Lived

Navigation

  • Art and Cultures
    • Art (https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Art)
    • Architecture (https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Architecture)
    • Cultures (https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Cultures)
    • Music (https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Music)
    • Musical Instruments (http://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/List_of_musical_instruments)
  • Biographies (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Biographies)
  • Clipart (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Clipart)
  • Geography (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Geography)
    • Countries of the World (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Countries)
    • Maps (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Maps)
    • Flags (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Flags)
    • Continents (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Continents)
  • History (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/History)
    • Ancient Civilizations (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Ancient_Civilizations)
    • Industrial Revolution (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Industrial_Revolution)
    • Middle Ages (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Middle_Ages)
    • Prehistory (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Prehistory)
    • Renaissance (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Renaissance)
    • Timelines (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Timelines)
    • United States (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/United_States)
    • Wars (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Wars)
    • World History (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/History_of_the_world)
  • Human Body (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Human_Body)
  • Mathematics (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Mathematics)
  • Reference (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Reference)
  • Science (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Science)
    • Animals (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Animals)
    • Aviation (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Aviation)
    • Dinosaurs (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Dinosaurs)
    • Earth (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Earth)
    • Inventions (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Inventions)
    • Physical Science (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Physical_Science)
    • Plants (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Plants)
    • Scientists (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Scientists)
  • Social Studies (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Social_Studies)
    • Anthropology (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Anthropology)
    • Economics (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Economics)
    • Government (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Government)
    • Religion (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Religion)
    • Holidays (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Holidays)
  • Space and Astronomy
    • Solar System (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Solar_System)
    • Planets (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Planets)
  • Sports (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Sports)
  • Timelines (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Timelines)
  • Weather (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Weather)
  • US States (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/US_States)

Information

  • Home Page (http://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php)
  • Contact Us (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Contactus)

  • Clip Art (http://classroomclipart.com)
Toolbox
Personal tools