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Guy Gibson and the Dam Busters
Jan van den Driesschen with Eve Gibson
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On 19 September 1944 a plane crashed near Steenbergen, Holland. On board, though this was not known at the time, was Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO, DFC. With him was Squadron Leader J.B. Warwick, DFC, who was identified because of a gold wedding ring found at the site.
The two bodies were buried in Steenbergen cemetery with a simple wooden cross marking the grave. The inscription read:
156612 J. B. WARWICK
AND UNKNOWN SOLDIER
19 - 9 -1944
When Steenbergen was liberated in November 1944 details of the crash were passed to the Identification Squad, along with the engine number of the plane. In February 1945 the name of Guy Gibson was added to the cross.
In September 1967 Jan van den Driesschen was reading to his young son from a youth magazine. In it was a story about Guy Gibson and Jan was astonished to learn that Gibson was buried not far away. He and his wife visited the cemetery and found the grave – overgrown, and in an appalling state of disrepair - and decided there and then to look after the graves for as long as they were able.
In 1974 Eve Gibson read in an English newspaper that Jan and his wife had for some time been tending her husband’s grave. They met, became close friends and when Jan decided to write his book he asked Eve Gibson for an insight into the character of Guy Gibson.
Originally published in Holland in 1979 this first English edition has much new information and many previously unseen photographs.
176pp, hardback, jacketed, with over 100 photographs and drawings.
REDUCED TO £10.00 Order
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