The final letter Dambusters commander Guy Gibson wrote before he was killed in action over the Netherlands has sold, accompanied by a gold RAF wings brooch, following a bidding battle at Burstow and Hewett in the UK.
 Joyce Meads helped Gibson type up his book, Enemy Coast Ahead, shortly after his tour of America |
Gibson sent the brooch and letter to his secretary Joyce Meads, who helped Gibson type up the original transcript of his book, Enemy Coast Ahead, which is now housed in the RAF museum at Hendon.
Originally valued at just £300-500 in the May 21 sale, the lasting legacy of Guy Gibson and the famous Dambuster raids on the Mohne dam in 1943 ensured strong bids, with the final price coming in at £11,000 ($18,430) - a 2,100% increase on estimate.
Gibson led the successful Operation Chastise and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his services, carrying out a promotional tour of America and Canada in celebration of the landmark action. He was killed in 1944 as he prepared for an attack on Bremen, Germany.
The exact circumstances of Guy Gibson's death are unknown and shrouded in mystery. Prime Minister Winston Churchill said of Gibson following his death: "We have lost in this officer one of the most splendid of all our fighting men. His name will not be forgotten. It will forever be enshrined in the most wonderful records of our country."
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fine selection of militaria for sale, including signed items from Winston Churchill. Remember the heroes of D-Day on June 6 - the 70th anniversary.
