Guy Gibson

Claire mentioned in a passing comment that while we were flying here and on the train trip to Berlin she was reading a book called Bomber Boys, about the RAF's bomber command during World War 2. Claire finished it, and now I'm reading it, and I discovered something really uncanny.

Wing Commander Guy Gibson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gibson), bomber pilot, wing commander, master bomber, etc. was generally considered a war hero. He flew 174 sorties when most were happy to reach 30 and take early retirement. He led the 'Dams Raid' of 1943 destroying the Moehne and Eder dams in the Ruhr valley, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Normally this would just be something I would read in a book, amongst many other names, but Guy Gibson I've taken a particular interest in. Along with Squadron Leader James Warwick, he is buried just across the road from where I am typing this.

When I discovered this I took a walk to the cemetery across the road, and discovered another interesting fact. The plane he was flying crashed near Steenbergen on the 19th of September 1944. The 19th of September happens to be my birthday. I thought that was just uncanny.

Even to this day, 64 years later, people are still putting flowers, cards and poppies on his grave.