Guy Gibson

Guy Gibson
Wing Commander Guy Gibson in 1944
Born	(1918-08-12)12 August 1918 Simla, British India
Died	19 September 1944(1944-09-19) (aged 26) Steenbergen, Netherlands
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1936–1944
Rank	Wing Commander
Service number	39438
Unit	No. 83 (Bomber) Squadron No. 29 Squadron
Commands held	No. 106 Squadron (1942-43) No. 617 Squadron (1943)
Battles/wars	Second World War European air campaign  † Operation Chastise
Awards	Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order & Bar Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson, VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (12 August 1918 – 19 September 1944)^[1] was a distinguished bomber pilot in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was the first Commanding Officer of No. 617 Squadron, which he led in the "Dam Busters" raid in 1943, resulting in the breaching of two large dams in the Ruhr area of Germany. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, in the aftermath of the raid in May 1943 and became the most highly decorated British serviceman at that time.^[2] He completed over 170 war operations before being killed in action at the age of 26.