Re. Guy Gibson, there was a suggestion recently that he wasn't familiar with fuel selecting on his Mosquito which may well have led to his demise - anyway he was not over popular, though nowhere near to the degree of the hugely over-rated Bader.
More to the point, I was astonished to hear from someone I know that he's just gained airliner command - I've flown with him in light aircraft & he was exemplary, but in mid 20's seems far too young to me...