Wing Commander Guy Gibson D. F. C. RAF Pilot's Flying Log Book No 2

Clearly this example is a replica, with the original held as a national archive item at the Public Records Office. Despite this, these copies are now incredibly rare and have become a sought after collector's item in its own right. This was published in a single run by 'After the Battle ' magazine in 1975 and sold out very quickly and are now only very occasionally available on the second hand market. I will certainly never be selling my own copy but we have now been fortunate enough to find a further example that is offered for resale here. This one even comes with the original paper insert order form issued with the book when first offered for sale and is now nearly always missing.

Guy Gibson's Log Book No. 2 was faithfully replicated from the original copy held in the Public Record Office, London. The first and last pages have been stuck together as in the original book. The photograph that had been inserted on the page following the entry for the Dams raid on May 16, 1943, is missing in the original and is missing here. This log book remains in excellent used condition with just minor fading to a part of the cover, (which actually adds to the authenticity in our view) and is marked 'Log Book No2' ;it is not known what happened to Guy Gibson's original log book covering the period up to November 15, 1940. The written entries end of September 15, 1944. Just Three days later, on September 19, Gibson piloted a Mosquito, acting as Master Bomber and target illumination for an attack on Bremen. At 21.53 hours he turned for home but three-quarters of an hour later crashed in flames at Steenbergen, Holland. Mystery continues to surround his loss but the current theory is he was mistaken for a Luftwaffe Junkers 88 and was sadly shot down and killed by 'friendly fire'.

Don't just take our word for it just how good this facsimile is and I quote from Amazon. com reviewer J. R. Perkins: "As an historic document, this item ranks up there with the best. Especially if you have an interest in aviation from the Second World War, as Guy Gibson is one of the best known pilots of the Royal Air Force and to have a reproduction of his Log Book is something really special. Some of his less known sorties are listed here, being his time as a night fighter pilot with 29 Squadron flying Blenheims and then Beaufighters defending the skies of England against German night bombers. Truly a very special book to own and treasure. Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO DFC (12 August 1918 – 19 September 1944), was the first CO of the Royal Air Force's 617 Squadron, which he led in the "Dam Busters" raid (Operation Chastise) in 1943, resulting in the destruction of two large dams in the Ruhr area. He was awarded the Victoria Cross and died later in the war. He had completed over 170 operations at the age of 24. "

One personal and emotive entry in the log book, made on 21st November 1940 and is featured in our attached photograph. Gibson met Eve Moore, a show dancer and actress, in December 1939 when she was performing in the revue'Come Out To Play' at the New Hippodrome Theatre, Coventry. Gibson proposed to Eve in October 1940 and she accepted and on 21st November he flew down to Cardiff in a Blenheim and the log book connotation reads under 'Duty'section:'To Cardiff -To be Married!

This edition is not to be confused with modern copies that have recently been offered from Holland and is from the original one off limited edition 'After the Battle' print run. We did however spot one offered on UK eBay that sold on 1st November 2020 for £350 plus delivery; ours is rather more modestly priced!