|
Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson (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, and in June 1942 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. ==Early life and education== Gibson was born in Simla, British 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 and his elder brother Alexander ("Alick") and sister Joan and she decided to return to England.〔.〕 As her family came from Porthleven, Cornwall, she settled first in Penzance. Gibson started school in England at the same school as his sister, West Cornwall College.〔.〕 His mother then moved to London and he was sent as a boarder to Earl's Avenue School, a Preparatory School, later known as St George's, in Folkestone, Kent.〔 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 also 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 he managed to make 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.〔.〕 Gibson wanted to fly from an early age and had a picture of his boyhood hero, Albert Ball VC, the World War I 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.〔.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Guy Gibson」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|