Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson , VC , DSO & Bar , DFC & Bar ( 12 August 1918 – 19 September 1944 ), was the first Commanding Officer of the Royal Air Force ' s No . 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 in June 1943 became the most highly decorated serviceman in the country , but lost his life later in the war . He had completed over 170 operations at the age of 26 .
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