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RAF Pilot Flt Lt Matt Brighty posing in front of his No.XI Squadron Eurofighter Typhoon with Wing Commander Guy Gibson's pilot's wings. Flt Lt Brighty flew the wings in his Typhoon around Lincoln Cathedral on Friday 24th January.
Flight Lieutenant Brighty said, “Guy Gibson flew most of his operations from Lincolnshire, at Scampton and here at Coningsby. It’s a huge honour and privilage to be asked to carry his wings with me as I fly over Lincoln...”
The wings were on a uniform that was left at Coningsby after Wg Cdr Guy Gibson VC was killed in action in 1944. They will be on display at an exhibition in Lincoln, ‘Bastion in the Air: A Century of Valour’ that features Gibson’s Victoria Cross medal won for leading the Dambusters mission in 1943. The event will also showcase other artefacts from RAF personnel decorated for gallantry. (photo by SAC Ben Mayfield)
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The Royal Air Force conducted a touching tribute to Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC on Friday January 24th. Flight Lieutenant Matt Brighty flew his 11 Squadron Eurofighter Typhoon from RAF Coningsby around the spires of nearby Lincoln Cathedral while bearing the RAF wings which once belonged to the legendary WWII pilot. As most readers will remember, Gibson helped form RAF No.617 Squadron during early 1943 for the specialized and extraordinarily perilous pursuit of Operation Chastise, the daring nighttime ‘bouncing bomb’ raid which breached two massive hydroelectric dams in Germany’s Rhur Valley during the night of May 16th/17th that year.
Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC, photographed by the official RAF photographerRoyal Air Force official photographer Stannus (F/O)
The nearly 10,000lb bouncing bomb, code-named Upkeep, mounted under Gibson’s Lancaster B III (Special) ED932 (AJ-G). Ten minutes prior to the bombing run, a hydraulic motor would ‘spin up’ the bomb via a belt drive, so that it was rotating at 500rpm back spin. The bomb aimer aboard the Avro Lancaster, flying at precisely 232mph and 60 feet altitude, would release the bomb at a specific distance from the dam, whereupon the bomb would skip across the water and then sink beside the dam wall. The back spin helped to keep the bomb close the wall as it sank. It was designed to explode once it had reached a depth of 30 feet. (image via wikipedia)
A spectacular image of Upkeep’s designer, Barnes Wallis, and others watching a practice Upkeep bomb strike the shoreline at Reculver, Kent during the lead up to the Dams Raid. (image via Wikipedia)
Photograph of the breached Möhne Dam taken by Flying Officer Jerry Fray of No. 542 Squadron from his Spitfire PR IX, six Barrage balloons are above the dam. Wing Commander Guy Gibson had led the mission which blew a gaping hole in the dam on May 16/17th, 1943. (image via Wikipedia)
A closeup view of the Möhne dam following the breach. Both dams were eventually repaired, and are still functioning today. (image via wikipedia)
The Eder dam on May 17th, 1943 following the raid by 617 Squadron the night before. (image via Wikipedia)
AVM R A Cochrane, Wg Cdr Guy Gibson, King George VI and Gp Capt Whitworth discussing the ‘Dambusters Raid’ in May 1943. (image via wikipedia)
While 617 Squadron trained for and launched Operation Chastise from nearby RAF Scampton, Gibson spent a significant part of his combat career, both before and after the mission, at RAF Coningsby. Indeed, the pilot’s wings flying aboard Flt Lt Brighty’s Typhoon this January were a legacy of Gibson’s time at Coningsby; his family found them on a uniform hanging in his locker at the RAF station following his loss over the Netherlands (returning from on a nighttime mission to Munich in a deHavilland Mosquito on September 19th, 1944). Gibson had flown on 175 combat missions by the time of his death at the age of just 26. Interestingly, Gibson had also served in night fighters on both Bristol Blenheims and Beaufighters earlier in the war. He is credited with four confirmed aerial victories, and about as many unconfirmed as well…
RAF Pilot Flt Lt Matt Brighty posing in front of his No.XI Squadron Eurofighter Typhoon with Wing Commander Guy Gibson’s pilot’s wings. Flt Lt Brighty flew the wings in his Typhoon around Lincoln Cathedral on Friday 24th January.
Flight Lieutenant Brighty said, “Guy Gibson flew most of his operations from Lincolnshire, at Scampton and here at Coningsby. It’s a huge honour and privilage to be asked to carry his wings with me as I fly over Lincoln…”
The wings were on a uniform that was left at Coningsby after Wg Cdr Guy Gibson VC was killed in action in 1944. They will be on display at an exhibition in Lincoln, ‘Bastion in the Air: A Century of Valour’ that features Gibson’s Victoria Cross medal won for leading the Dambusters mission in 1943. The event will also showcase other artefacts from RAF personnel decorated for gallantry. (photo by SAC Ben Mayfield)
A closeup of the RAF pilot’s wings which once belonged to Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson. These wings were recently involved in a flypast of Lincoln Cathedral, and currently part of an exhibit called “A Century of Valor” at The Collection in the City of Lincoln. (image via RAF)
Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO, DFC, was the most highly decorated and first Commanding Officer of 617 (Dam Busters) Sqn. Pictured here are his wings inside the cockpit of Avro Lancaster PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby. The picture frame also holds the RAF pilot’s wings which Gibson once wore. The images are to commemorate the opening of a new exhibition in Lincoln, “Bastion in the Air – A Century of Valour. (photo by Sgt Paul Oldfield)
Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO, DFC, was the most highly decorated and first Commanding Officer of 617 (Dam Busters) Sqn. Pictured here are his wings in a silver picture frame with a wartime portrait of Gibson. Gibson’s sister Joan created this tribute to her brother following his death in September, 1944. The image was captured inside the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s hangar at RAF Coningsby. The BBMF’s Avro Lancaster can be seen in the background. It was in this type of aircraft which Gibson lead the famous 617 Squadron on their legendary bouncing bomb attack against the hydroelectric dams in Germany’s Rhur Valley during the night of May 16/17, 1943. (photo by Sgt Paul Oldfield)
Avro Lancaster Mk.I PA474 undergoing maintenance in the BBMF hangar at RAF Coningsby. The Lancaster was arguably the most successful night bomber of the war, but It is worth considering that of the
7,377 Lancasters built between 1941 and early 1946, 3,249 were lost on operations… most taking the lives of all seven air crew usually aboard. This is a small testament to the staggering cost paid by the men of Bomber Command during WWII. (photo by SAC Megan Woodhouse (RAF))
A closer view of one of four Merlin engines fitted to PA474, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Avro Lancaster Mk I undergoing maintenance in the unit’s hangar at RAF Coningsby. (photo by SAC Megan Woodhouse (RAF))
One of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Hawker Hurricanes undergoing maintenance at RAF Coningsby. Hurricane LF363 is believed to be the last Hurricane delivered to the RAF. The aircraft served with 63 Squadron, 309 (Polish) Squadron and 26 Squadron during World War II. (photo by Cpl Phil Major (RAF))
Flt Lt Brighty’s Typhoon flying over Lincoln Cathedral
On Friday 24 January, a Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby flew ‘wings’ belonging to a legendary World War Two airman in a flypast over Lincoln.
The ‘wings’, denoting that he was a pilot, were on a uniform that was left at Coningsby after Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC was killed in action in 1944. They will be on display at an exhibition in Lincoln, ‘Bastion in the Air: A Century of Valour’ that features Gibson’s Victoria Cross medal won for leading the Dambusters mission in 1943. The event will also showcase other artefacts from RAF personnel decorated for gallantry.
The pilot of the Typhoon said, ‘Guy Gibson flew most of his operations from Lincolnshire, at Scampton and here at Coningsby. It’s a huge honour and privilege to be asked to carry his wings with me as I fly over Lincoln today’
Dave Harrigan, Aviation Heritage Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to again highlight Lincolnshire’s vital contribution to the defence of our country through the bravery of such incredible individuals. It is very appropriate and gratifying that RAF Coningsby agreed to fly the wings as a tribute to Gibson and all of the other people that we are celebrating in this exhibition.”
The exhibition opens at The Collection in Lincoln on 25 January and runs until 15 March. (photo by SAC Rose Buchanan)
Pictured is an RAF Typhoon flying over Lincoln Cathedral
On Friday 24 January, a Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby flew ‘wings’ belonging to a legendary World War Two airman in a flypast over Lincoln.
The ‘wings’, denoting that he was a pilot, were on a uniform that was left at Coningsby after Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC was killed in action in 1944. They will be on display at an exhibition in Lincoln, ‘Bastion in the Air: A Century of Valour’ that features Gibson’s Victoria Cross medal won for leading the Dambusters mission in 1943. The event will also showcase other artefacts from RAF personnel decorated for gallantry.
The pilot of the Typhoon said, ‘Guy Gibson flew most of his operations from Lincolnshire, at Scampton and here at Coningsby. It’s a huge honour and privilege to be asked to carry his wings with me as I fly over Lincoln today’
Dave Harrigan, Aviation Heritage Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to again highlight Lincolnshire’s vital contribution to the defence of our country through the bravery of such incredible individuals. It is very appropriate and gratifying that RAF Coningsby agreed to fly the wings as a tribute to Gibson and all of the other people that we are celebrating in this exhibition.”
The exhibition opens at The Collection in Lincoln on 25 January and runs until 15 March. (photo by SAC Rose Buchanan)
Following the ceremonial flypast of Wing Commander Gibson’s wings around Ely Cathedral, the Typhoon’s pilot, Flight Lieutenant Brighty, noted that, “Guy Gibson flew most of his operations from Lincolnshire, at Scampton and here at Coningsby. It’s a huge honour and privilage to be asked to carry his wings with me as I fly over Lincoln today.” The precious badge is now on display alongside his Victoria Cross at an exhibition entitled ‘Bastion in the Air: A Century of Valour’ within The Collection Lincoln & Usher Gallery. The show which also contains artifacts from other RAF personnel of note spanning WWI through the Cold War will be open through March 15th.
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
