GIBSON

Wg Cdr Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO* DFC*
is probably better known for his exploits as the CO of 617 Squadron than for having been the CO of 106 Sqn prior to his selection by the then, Air Chief Marshal Arthur "Bomber" Harris, to form a new Squadron at RAF Scampton for a special operation.
Gibson was given a degree of autonomy in selecting his crews to form 617 Sqn and amongst others chose three from his time with 106 Sqn. Namely P/O Burpee, Flt Lt Shannon and Flt Lt Hopgood.
Burpee and Hopgood did not return from the raid on the Dams.
After the Dams, Gibson was required to go on a morale boosting tour of Canada and the United States.
Gibson's next operational flight was his last. Acting as a Master Bomber flying a Mosquito, he crashed at Steenbergen in the Netherlands whilst returning to base on the 19th September 1944.
Gibson flew 171 Operational mission. He was also credited with shooting down 4 Enemy aircraft during his time as a Night-fighter pilot with 29 Sqn.
Gibson was 26 years old when he died.

Here at Metheringham we have part of the wheel hydraulics from that Mosquito, KB267 AZ-E, recovered from the crash site