Guy Gibson was the first Commanding Officer of the Royal Air Force's No. 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, and in June 1943 became the most highly decorated serviceman in the country, but lost his life later in the war. He had completed over 170 operations at the age of 26.
Background
Gibson was born in Simla, India, the son of Alexander James Gibson and his wife Leonora ("Nora") Mary Gibson. At the time of his birth, his father was an officer in the Imperial Indian Forestry Service, becoming the Chief Conservator of Forests for the Simla Hill States in 1922. In 1924, when he was six, his parents separated. His mother was granted custody of Gibson, his elder brother Alexander ("Alick") and sister Joan, and decided to return to England.
Education
In 1932 he started at St Edward's School, Oxford, the same school as Douglas Bader where he was also placed in the same house, Cowell's. Gibson's housemaster was A. F. "Freddie" Yorke who became Gibson's guardian.
Following her return from India, his mother developed a drinking problem which escalated into alcoholism. Her behaviour became increasingly erratic and sometimes violent towards her children. The school organised lodgings for Gibson and his brother during the school holidays. Nora's younger sister, Mrs Beatrice ("Gwennie") Christopher, gave Gibson his own room at her house. Her husband, John, helped Nora out with school fees. They also both attended some school functions to support their nephews.
Gibson was an average student academically and played for the Rugby Second XV. His interests included science and photography. At one stage as a teenager, he seems to have become interested and quite expert in the workings of cinema organs. He read all kinds of books, especially the Arthurian legends and Shakespeare. His favourite play was Henry V. He was made a house prefect.
From an early age Gibson wanted to fly. He had a picture of his boyhood hero, Albert Ball VC, the First World War flying ace, on his bedroom wall at his aunt's house. His ambition was to become a civilian test pilot. He wrote for advice to Vickers, receiving a reply from their chief test pilot, Captain Joseph "Mutt" Summers, who wrote that Gibson should first learn to fly by joining the RAF on a short service commission. Gibson applied to the RAF, but was rejected when he failed the Medical Board; the probable reason is his legs were too short. His later application was successful, and his personal file included the remark "satisfactory leg length test carried out". He commenced a short service commission in November 1936.
Career
Gibson joined the RAF in 1936, becoming an Acting Pilot Officer with effect from and with seniority of 31-01-1937 and a Pilot Officer on 16-11-1937, learning to fly at No.3 Flying Training School at RAF Scopwick in Lincolnshire. By the outbreak of the Second World War he was a bomber pilot with 83rd Squadron , flying the Handley Page Hampden. In July 1940 he won the Distinguished Flying Cross. On the night of 24/25 August 1940 his gunners claimed the probable destruction of a Dornier Do 17 over Lorient docks. After completing his first tour of duty of 27 operational sorties, Gibson and Les “Leslie” Gordon Knight volunteered for RAF Fighter Command, avoiding the normal six-month rest from operations at a flying training establishment. In 1943 he was selected to command the new 617 Squadron asked 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 (18 m) 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 Operation Chastise had to be flown at night. On the night of 16-05-1943 19 Lancasters carried one bomb each. It took five attempts to breach the Moehne Dam. Gibson then led the three remaining Lancasters to attack and breach the Eder Dam. Two other dams were attacked but not breached. 11 of the bombers survived the mission, 53 crew members died in the raid. The devastation caused by the raids was extensive but the Germans managed to rebuild and recover much more quickly than was expected. After the Dams raid, Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross in recognition not just of the raid, but his leadership and valor demonstrated as master bomber on many previous sorties. He received the award of king George VI.
After Gibson’s death Evelyn moved to South Africa in 1948 to marry a South African businessman. They divorced and she returned to Britain in 1954. She reverted to the surname Gibson. On 03-11-1988 Evelyn Gibson died.
Placer County Bar Association (President, 1989). State Bar of California.
Connections
Gibson married show dancer and actress Evelyn Mary Moore of Westminster, London on 23 November 1940 at Penarth in Wales. They had met each other in December 1939 at Coventry. Evelyn was born on 27 December 1911 in Penarth. It was not a happy marriage. They both had casual relationships outside their marriage. They last met in august 1944 and he seems to have been ready to discuss a divorce, although she seemed to want to try again when the war had finished.