The story
Wing Commander GUY ‘GIBBO’ GIBSON, 16th/17th May 1943, buried Steenbergen-en-Kruisland RC Churchyard, Holland. VC location, Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, London, England.
Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO* DFC* (12 August 1918 – 19 September 1944), was the first CO of the Royal Air Force'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 awarded the Victoria Cross, but lost his life later in the war. He had completed over 170 operations at the age of 24.
See more about this raid here
See more about this squadron here
There's more to discover
You have arrived at just one small part of Back to Normandy — a personal project dedicated to preserving stories, images, music and memories of the Second World War.
Every record is a doorway to a larger story. Explore Back to Normandy to discover more, or visit Fred Vogels' personal website to learn about the person and the projects behind it.