Porthleven memorial to remember Dambusters hero Guy Gibson

A short service was held in Cornwall on Tuesday (October 19th) to remember the 77th anniversary of the death of Second World War hero Wing Commander Guy Gibson.

In 1943, he led 617 Squadron on the famous Dambusters Raid – one of the squadrons which today flies the UK's F35B Lightning Jets.

Wing Commander Gibson had close family links to the village of Porthleven. His mother was one of the Strike family and he spent time there on leave during the war. He was killed in action in 1944.

The memorial, held on a grey and windy day in October, was led by Beatrice Kerno of the Porthleven Old Cornwall Society, which organised the event.

It included the mayor Councillor Mike Toy and representatives of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and Royal Canadian Air Force.

They laid wreaths beside a plaque dedicated to the memory of Wing Commander Gibson on the Bickford-Smith Institute clock tower building.

It was poignant for Lieutenant Commander Keith 'Daisy' Adams, who had previously served on the same 617 'Dambusters' Squadron.

Nowadays, the squadron based in Norfolk is a joint RAF and Royal Navy unit which operates the UK's F35B Lightning Jets, which flew last year from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Air engineering officer Lt Cdr Adams transferred to Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, near to Porthleven at Helston, this year to begin work with remotely-piloted air systems.

He said:

"The RAF is rightly proud of all those who served on the Dambusters squadron, a tradition still honoured by 617 Squadron to this day. As an air engineering officer with the Royal Navy, I too felt that sense of history as I served alongside my RAF colleagues.

"We remember their sacrifice. It was fortunate that I am now based at RNAS Culdrose and can make that link to Porthleven."

Representing the Royal Air Force was Flight Lieutenant Jon Lord, based at RAF St Mawgan, Newquay, who said:

"Remembering the sacrifices of our service personnel and keeping their stories alive in our communities across Cornwall and beyond is one of the most important roles that we can fulfill.

"The story of the Dambusters is one of innovation and adaptability, something synonymous with the RAF, and a heritage we are extremely proud of."

The memorial was due to be held in September but had been postponed due to coronavirus restrictions.

Click here to see more from RNAS Culdrose.

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