🇬🇧 WWII uncovered: Victoria Cross Honouree Wing Commander Guy Gibson and Operation Chastise.

 🇬🇧 WWII uncovered: Victoria Cross Honouree Wing Commander Guy Gibson and Operation Chastise.


On the night of 16-17 May 1943, Wing Commander Guy Gibson led 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force on Operation Chastise, a bombing raid to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley, the industrial heartland of Germany. 

According to the Imperial War Museum: "In late March 1943, a new squadron was formed to carry out the raid on the dams.

 Initially codenamed Squadron X, 617 Squadron was led by 24-year old Wing Commander Guy Gibson and was made up of aircrew from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. 

With one month to go before the raid, and with only Gibson knowing the full details of the operation, the squadron began intensive training in low-level night flying and navigation.

"At 9:28 pm on 16 May, 133 aircrew in 19 Lancasters took off in three waves to bomb the dams. 

Gibson was flying in the first wave and his aircraft was first to attack the Möhne at 12:28 am,  five aircraft had to drop their bombs before it was breached. The remaining aircraft then attacked the Eder, which finally collapsed at 1:52 am. 

Meanwhile, aircraft from the two other waves bombed the Sorpe but it remained intact. Of the 133 aircrew that took part, 53 men lost their lives and three became prisoners of war." -  IWM

"The surviving aircrew of 617 Squadron were lauded as heroes, and Guy Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the raid.

 The raid also established 617 Squadron as a specialist precision bombing unit, experimenting with new bomb sights, target marking techniques and colossal new 'earthquake' bombs developed by Barnes Wallis.

Pictured are Wing Commander Guy Gibson with members of his crew.

 Left to right: Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar; Pilot Officer P M Spafford, bomb aimer; Flight Lieutenant R E G Hutchinson, wireless operator; Pilot Officer G A Deering and Flying Officer H T Taerum, gunners.

On September 19, 1944 Wing Commander Gibson was fatally wounded along with his navigator Squadron Leader Jim Warwick, by friendly fire. 

Both gentlemen lie in rest at Steenbergen's Catholic Cemetery in the Netherlands. 

Lest We Forget.


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