The first Commanding Officer of the Royal Air Force's No. 617 Squadron (1918-1944) whose 'Dam Busters' raid in 1943 resulted in the destruction of two large dams in the Ruhr area of Germany. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, and in June 1943 became the most highly decorated serviceman in the country. Gibson completed over 170 war operations before dying in action at the age of 26. Two books owned by Gibson as a child, one signed "Guy P. Gibson" at age 13 on May 18, 1932, and with a drawing of Sherlock Holmes by Gibson inside; the other with a few notations and a doodle, possibly in the hand of his older brother Alick.
First is a hardcover edition of Shakespeare's Hamlet, edited by D. C. Somervell, published in London by J. M. Dent in 1929, 4.5 x 6, 184 pages, signed inside the front cover in fountain pen, "Guy P. Gibson, 18 of May 1932." On page 168, Gibson transforms an illustration of a bundle of flowers into the cap of "Sherlock Holmes."
Second is a hardcover edition of Moliere's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, edited by A. C. Clapin, published in Cambridge by the University Press in 1931, 4.5 x 6.75, 111 pages, with a handwritten note on the first free end page: "Gibson Ma. Cowell's House, 30/9/32." This would have been 'Gibson, Major' a reference to Alick being the older of the two Gibson boys. "Cowell's House" was the "house" to which both boys belonged at St. Edward's. Inside the back cover are a few more notes and doodles. In overall very good to fine condition, with heavy sunning to the Moliere spine. Gibson's autograph is exceedingly rare in any form—this being just the third we have offered.
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