DAMBUSTERS Gibson, Guy Penrose

Long Range Desert Group
By W.B.Kennedy Shaw
Hill 488
By Ray Hildreth

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Gibson
  • FORENAME
Guy Penrose
  • UNIT
former 617 Squadron, R.A.F.O.
  • RANK
Wing Commander
  • NUMBER
39438
  • DATE OF DEATH
19th September 1944
  • AGE
26
  • GRAVESITE
Steenbergen-en-Kruisland Roman Catholic Cemetery,Netherlands
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 12.8.1918 Simla, India
son of Alexander James and Leonora Mary (nee Strike) Gibson, Porthleven, Cornwall
husband of Eve Mary (nee Moore) Gibson (1911-1988), Westminster, London (married 23.11.1940)
family returned to England 1924
educated St George's Preparatory School, Folkestone 1926-32
educated St Edward's School, Oxford 1932-36 (Cpl, OTC)
gained Oxford and Cambridge School Certificate
RAF November 1936
A/Pilot Officer 16.11.1936
CFS Yatesbury 16.11.1936
24 Depot 31.1.1937
6 FTS 6.2.1937
83 Squadron 4.9.1937
Flying Officer 16.6.1939
award DFC (9.7.1940)
Flight Lt 3.9.1940
14 OTU 26.9.1940
16 OTU 10.10.1940
29 Squadron 13.11.1940
A/Squadron Leader 29.6.1941
award bar to DFC (16.9.1941)
T/Squadron Leader 1.12.1941
51 OTU (CFI) 23.12.1941
51 Group HQ 23.3.1942
Squadron Leader 13.4.1942
A/Wing Commander 13.4.1942
106 Squadron 13.4.1942
award DSO (20.11.1942)
award bar to DSO (2.4.1943)
5 Group HQ 15.3.1943
617 Squadron (C.O.) 24.3.1943
award V.C. (28.5.1943)
Special Duties August 1943 (Op.Quadrant - lecture tour, Canada and USA)
award Legion of Merit (US) by General Arnold 13.10.1943
Air Ministry (Directorate of Accidents) 3.1.1944
28 Group Course 13.3.1944
53 Base HQ (Staff Officer) 12.6.1944
54 Base HQ (Staff Officer) August 1944
Master Bomber, Rheydt and Munchen raid
pilot
Mosquito KB267 (of 627 Squadron)
Rheydt, Germany
crashed when homebound near Steenbergen, Noord-Brabant, Holland
Penarth (Glamorgan) War Memorial
 

DATE OF DEATH:

19-Sep-1944

AWARD:

https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/gibson-guy-penrose.34873/

CITATION:

Victoria Cross : This officer served as a night bomber pilot at the beginning of the war and quickly established a reputation as an outstanding operational pilot. In addition to taking the fullest possible share in all normal operations, he made single-handed attacks during his " rest " nights on such highly defended objectives as the German battleship Tirpitz, then completing in Wilhelmshaven.

When his tour of operational duty was concluded, he asked for a further operational posting and went to a night-fighter unit instead of being posted for instructional duties. In the course of his second operational tour, he destroyed at least three enemy bombers and contributed much to the raising and development of new night-fighter formations.

After a short period in a training unit, he again volunteered for operational duties and returned to night bombers. Both as an operational pilot and as leader of his squadron, he achieved outstandingly successful results and his personal courage knew no bounds. Berlin, Cologne, Danzig, Gdynia, Genoa, Le Creusot, Milan, Nuremberg and Stuttgart were among the targets he attacked by day and by night.

On the conclusion of his third operational tour, Wing Commander Gibson pressed strongly to be allowed to remain on operations and he was selected to command a squadron then forming for special tasks. Under his inspiring leadership, this squadron has now executed one of the most devastating attacks of the war—the breaching of the Moehne and Eder dams.

The task was fraught with danger and difficulty. Wing Commander Gibson personally made the initial attack on the Moehne dam. Descending to within a few feet of the water and taking the full brunt of the antiaircraft defences, he delivered his attack with great accuracy. Afterwards he circled very low for 30 minutes, drawing the enemy fire on himself in order to leave as free a run as possible to the following aircraft which were attacking the dam in turn.

Wing Commander Gibson then led the remainder of his force to the Eder dam where, with complete disregard for his own safety, he repeated his tactics and once more drew on himself the enemy fire so that the attack could be successfully developed.

Wing Commander Gibson has completed over 170 sorties, involving more than 600 hours operational flying. Throughout his operational career, prolonged exceptionally at his own request, he has shown leadership, determination and valour of the highest order.

WEB LINKS:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36030/supplement/2361
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7232368
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gibson
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219164869/guy-penrose-gibson (Memorial)

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8016351/guy-penrose-gibson
Last edited by a moderator:
Top