Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the mission. However, to use the bouncing bomb, the pilots had to fly very low and 45 per cent of the planes used in the Dambusters Raid were brought down by German anti-aircraft guns.
Pour le Mérite: An obsolete German decoration for military bravery which at one time ranked highest and was approximately equivalent to our own Victoria Cross, although it was more freely awarded.
Major Lanoe Hawker attacked three separate aircraft during a single sortie, shooting down two with a single-shot, bolt-action rifle which was mounted next to his cockpit at an angle to avoid hitting the propeller, and was awarded the Victoria Cross.
 See also: Pilot, Aviation, Victor, Cross, Aircraft
  
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