Gibson, Guy (1918 – 1944)

An extremely rare signed 5″ X 3″ photograph by Guy Gibson, in bold fountain pen ink. Gibson is shown standing in a three-quarter length pose in an open top Royal Air Force vehicle, surrounded by officers and pilots. A typed caption to a light are of the image reads ‘Llanishen Gliding School, A.T.C. March 4th 1944’.

Gibson is recorded as having visited the trainees at the Air Training Corps base at Llanishen during World War Two. Situated close to Gibson’s wife’s family home at Penarth, Llanishen served as a camp where the young A.T.C. members received basic training as glider pilots. Gibson was very popular with the young airmen who were delighted when he did two circuits of the area in one of the gliders.
In very fine condition.

Together with a letter of provenance, dated March 1996, explaining how the photograph came to light. and noting that it was likely taken by an RAF navigator named Denis Counsell (1926 – 1949).