Guy Gibson

Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson, was a distinguished bomber pilot in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. He was the first Commanding Officer of No. 617 Squadron, which he led in the "Dam Busters" raid in 1943, resulting in the breaching of two large dams in the Ruhr area of Germany. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, in the aftermath of the raid in May 1943 and became the most highly decorated British serviceman at that time. He completed over 170 war operations before being killed in action at the age of 26.

12 August 1918

Born on the same birth date (12 August 1918): Sid Bernstein (impresario)

Born on the same birth day (12 August): Archduchess Isabella Clara of Austria • Ben Sealey • Bruce Matthews (Canadian Army officer) • Curtius baronets • Daniel Biles • Del the Funky Homosapien • Derek Shackleton • Douglas Croft • Jean Cabannes • Jesper Grønkjær • Joe Besser • John Holt (cricketer) • Maggie Lawson • Martin Zurawsky • Panagiotis Chinofotis • Regilio Tuur • Sam J. Jones

Born in the same month (August 1918): Alan Jay Lerner • August 25 • Betty Oliphant • Billy Johnson (baseball) • Brian Crozier • C. Buddingh' • Eddie Jefferson • Frederick Sanger • Ike Quebec • James MacGregor Burns • Larry Haines • Norman Granz • Sid Bernstein (impresario) • Sikander Bakht • Tom Drake