Operation: Mönchengladbach/Rheydt, Germany

Date: 19th/20th September 1944 (Monday/Tuesday)

Unit No: 627 Squadron, 5 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Mosquito B.XX

Serial: KB267

Code: AZ:E

Base: RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire

Location: Near Steenbergen-en-Krisland, Netherlands

Pilot: Wg Cdr. Guy Penrose Gibson VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, 39438 RAFO Age 26. KiA (1)

Navigator: Sqn Ldr. James Brown 'Jim' Warwick DFC 156612 RAFVR Age 22. KiA (2)

Above: Wg Cdr. Guy Penrose Gibson VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar

REASON FOR LOSS

Wg Cdr. Gibson was serving as the Base Operations Officer at 54 Base, RAF Coningsby and was on a ground tour after completing his tours with 83, 29, 106 and 617 Sqns.

To the crews at RAF Woodhall Spa being briefed on the operation for the night of the 19th/20th September 1944 it came as a surprised that Wg Cdr. Gibson was to act as raid leader. His presence was as a result of his content lobbying for action. Senior officers finally relented but placed a number of restrictions upon him to reduce his exposure to enemy occupied areas. (Ref 1, pp 284-302).

Although he was considered the first Master Bomber from his actions during the ‘Dam Busters’ raid he had not undertaken the training and assessment required for the role with the Mosquito and was there because of his seniority, which no one could challenge. (Ref 1, pp 284-302).

He arrived at RAF Woodhall Spa at 16:30 hrs accompanied by Sqn Ldr. Warwick as his Navigator. Sqn Ldr. Warwick was a squadron Navigation officer and was on a ground tour after following an operational tour. As he was not expected to fly it appeared that he had been conscripted to be Wg Cdr. Gibson’s navigator. He rejected KB213, the Mosquito allocated to him and commandeered KB267, much to the irritation of its crew, Flt Lt. Mallender and Flt Lt. Gaunt. (Ref 1, pp 284-302).

Note: Sqn Ldr. Peter Frederick Mallender DFC 74680 RAFVR and Flt Lt. Wallace Stanhope Gaunt DFC and Bar 116793 RAFVR both survived the war.

Wg Cdr. Gibson’s instructions over the target were heard throughout the raid and gave no hint of trouble. Apparently on the homebound leg leaving the target KB267 crashed near Steenbergen-en-Krisland (Noord-Brabant) at around 22:30 hrs killing Wg Cdr. Gibson and Sqn Ldr. Warwick.

The loss of the aircraft was subject to some speculation:

There was no German night-fighter claims for the Mosquito but it was possible that may have been damaged by Flak over the target or on the return leg, or may have developed engine trouble;

It was believed that the loss was accidental rather than the result of enemy action. Witnesses on the ground heard an aircraft flying low, with the cockpit lighting visible and reported hearing the engines spluttering before the crash, which might suggest fuel starvation. Neither Wg Cdr. Gibson nor Sqn Ldr. Warwick was particularly familiar with the Mosquito, in fact this was the first time that Sqn Ldr. Warwick had flown aboard a Mosquito. It was possible that a tank or tanks had run dry and had not been able to diagnose and rectify the cause of the power loss in time to prevent the crash;

It was later claimed that Sgt. Bernard McCormack the Mid-Upper Gunner from 61 Sqn Lancaster EE176 accidentally identified the Mosquito as a Junkers Ju-88 and shot it down. However, and contrary to instructions, Wg Cdr. Gibson was adamant that he would return at low-level and high speed, so it was implausible that he would have been flying at 11,000 feet to encounter Sgt. McCormack’s Lancaster.

At first, Wg Cdr. Gibson's failure to return to RAF Woodhall Spa was not considered out of the ordinary, as it was assumed he had landed at RAF Coningsby. Likewise at RAF Coningsby there was no immediate concern as there was fog and it was assumed he would have landed elsewhere. However, it soon became apparent he had not returned and a rumour spread rapidly around No. 5 Group that he was missing. It was not until the 29th November 1944 that the aircraft and crew were officially posted as missing.

(1) Fg Off. Gibson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 83 Sqn. (London Gazette 9th July 1940).

He was awarded a Bar to his DFC whilst an acting Sqn Ldr. with 29 Sqn. (London Gazette 16th September 1941).

Citation: "Acting Squadron Leader Guy Penrose GIBSON, DFC (39438), Reserve of Air Force Officers, No. 29 Squadron. This officer continues to show the utmost courage and devotion to duty. Since joining his present unit, Squadron Leader Gibson has destroyed three and damaged a fourth enemy aircraft. His skill was notably demonstrated when, one night in July, 1941, he intercepted and destroyed a Heinkel 111."

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) whilst an acting Wg Cdr. with 106 Sqn. (London Gazette 20th November 1942).

Citation: "Since being awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, this officer has completed many sorties, including a daylight raid on Danzig and an attack at Gdynia. In the recent attack on Le Creusot, Wing Commander Gibson bombed and machine-gunned the transformer station nearby from 500 feet. On 22nd October, 1942, he participated in the attack on Genoa and, two days later, he led his squadron in a daylight sortie against Milan. On both occasions, Wing Commander Gibson flew with great distinction. He is a most skilful and courageous leader whose keenness has set a most inspiring example."

He was awarded a Bar to his DSO whilst with 106 Sqn. (London Gazette 2nd April 1943).

Citation: "This officer has an outstanding operational record, having completed 172 sorties. He has always displayed the greatest keenness and, within the past 2 months, has taken part in 6 attacks against well defended targets, including Berlin. In March, 1943, he captained an aircraft detailed to attack Stuttgart. On the outward flight engine trouble developed but he flew on to his objective and bombed it from a low level. This is typical of his outstanding determination to make every sortie a success. By his skilful leadership and contempt for danger he has set an example which has inspired the squadron he commands."

Above: group image of 106 Squadron (Courtesy of Chris Hewitt).

Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) Gibson is the left of the two Wg Cdrs (as viewed) in the front centre of the image. His jacket has the ribbon of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar (rosette in the middle of the ribbon). The Bar to the DFC was awarded on the 16th September 1941, so this photograph was taken before he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on the 20th November 1942. In April 1942 he was active as a temporary Wg Cdr. on 106 Sqn flying the Manchester.

An educated guess would be that this was taken after he became the Commanding Officer (CO) of 106 Sqn and on his third tour of operations. The two (2) aircraft in the background are examples of the Manchester Mk I, distinguished by the central tail fin of which there were just twenty (20) examples manufactured. 106 Sqn were flying the Manchester in early 1942 which were being replaced with the Lancaster in May of that year. To Wg Cdr. Gibson’s left may have been outgoing Wg Cdr. the CO of 106 Sqn, whose name is not known.

None of the other personnel in the image have been identified so any responses would be greatly appreciated.

Acting Wg Cdr. Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions with 617 Sqn (London Gazette 28th May 1943).

Citation: "Air Ministry, 28th May, 1943. ROYAL AIR FORCE. The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the undermentioned officer in recognition of most conspicuous bravery:

Acting Wing Commander Guy Penrose GIBSON, DSO DFC (39438), Reserve of Air Force Officers, No. 617 Squadron: This officer served as a night bomber pilot at the beginning of the war and quickly established a reputation as an outstanding operational pilot. In addition to taking the fullest possible share in all normal operations, he made single-handed attacks during his "rest" nights on such highly defended objectives as the German battleship Tirpitz, then completing in Wilhelmshaven. When his tour of operational duty was concluded, he asked for a further operational posting and went to a night-fighter unit instead of being posted for instructional duties. In the course of his second operational tour, he destroyed at least three enemy bombers and contributed much to the raising and development of new night-fighter formations. After a short period in a training unit, he again volunteered for operational duties and returned to night bombers. Both as an operational pilot and as leader of his squadron, he achieved outstandingly successful results and his personal courage knew no bounds. Berlin, Cologne, Danzig, Gdynia, Genoa, Le Creusot, Milan, Nuremberg and Stuttgart were among the targets he attacked by day and by night. On the conclusion of his third operational tour, Wing Commander Gibson pressed strongly to be allowed to remain on operations and he was selected to command a squadron then forming for special tasks. Under his inspiring leadership, this squadron has now executed one of the most devastating attacks of the war the breaching of the Moehne and Eder dams. The task was fraught with danger and difficulty. Wing Commander Gibson personally made the initial attack on the Moehne dam. Descending to within a few feet of the water and taking the full brunt of the antiaircraft defences, he delivered his attack with great accuracy. Afterwards he circled very low for 30 minutes, drawing the enemy fire on himself in order to leave as free a run as possible to the following aircraft which were attacking the dam in turn. Wing Commander Gibson then led the remainder of his force to the Eder dam where, with complete disregard for his own safety, he repeated his tactics and once more drew on himself the enemy fire so that the attack could be successfully developed. Wing Commander Gibson has completed over 170 sorties, involving more than 600 hours operational flying. Throughout his operational career, prolonged exceptionally at his own request, he has shown leadership, determination and valour of the highest order."

(2) Plt Off. Warwick was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 49 Sqn, (London Gazette 15th February 1944).

Burial Details:

It is noteworthy that it was only Sqn Ldr. Warwick that had been positively identified and it was thought by the Germans that there was only one airman aboard the crashed aircraft. It was not until later that after a gruesome discovery at the crash site that Wg Cdr. Gibson was identified.

Above: The Steenbergen-en-Kruisland Roman Catholic Cemetery is located 44 km (27¼ mls) north of Antwerp and 24 km (15 mls) after crossing the border of Belgium into the Netherlands (Courtesy of the CWGC)

Wg Cdr. Guy Penrose Gibson VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar. Steenbergen-en-Kruisland Roman Catholic Cemetery. Born on the 12th August 1918 in Himachal Pradesh, India. Son of Alexander James and Leonorah Mary (née Strike) Gibson. Husband of Eve Mary (née Moore) Gibson of Westminster, London.

Sqn Ldr. James Brown 'Jim' Warwick DFC. Steenbergen-en-Kruisland Roman Catholic Cemetery. Born on the 10th October 1921 in Ligonel, Belfast. Son of William John and Josephine (née Brown) Warwick from Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their families, with thanks to Chris Hewitt for the group photograph of 106 Sqn (Aug 2026).

See also:

A Mysterious Dog

Other sources listed below:

References:

1. Mosquito Men – The Elite Pathfinders of 627 Squadron: David Price: ISBN 9 781800 242302.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2026 Last Modified: 16 August 2026, 05:31