He became famous as leader of the "dambuster raids" 16-17 May 1942; he formed 617 squadron specifically to bomb the Ruhr Dams, and as wing commander led the raid personally, dropping the first bomb on the Mohne Dam. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his leadership in this action. Gibson joined the RAF 1936 and by 1939 was an operational bomber pilot. Following the dambuster raid, he was relieved of operational duties and accompanied Churchill to Canada and the USA late 1944. On returning to Britain he obtained permission for "one more operation", flying a De Havilland Mosquito on a raid on targets in Bavaria. On the return flight his plane crashed in Holland and he was killed.
