Letter from Dambusters hero Guy Gibson suggests prophetic title for book just weeks before his death RAF ace Gibson famously led 617 Squadron's 1943 Dambusters mission But in 1944 he was killed aged 26 by friendly fire during Germany sortie Gibson wrote his autobiography during an extended break from flying He put forward seven title suggestions, including The Boys Die Young Book was published posthumously in 1946, called Enemy Coast Ahead RAF ace: Guy Gibson was just 26 when he was killed in 1944 after his plane was downed by friendly fire Dambusters hero Guy Gibson wrote a prophetic letter in which he suggested the title 'The Boys Die Young' for his autobiography just six weeks before his own death, it was revealed today. RAF ace Gibson was just 26 when he was killed in 1944 after his plane was downed by friendly fire in a night-time sortie over Germany. A year earlier he had famously led 617 Squadron's daring mission to destroy three German dams using the revolutionary bouncing bomb, for which he received the Victoria Cross. During an extended break from flying he wrote his autobiography. In a previously unseen letter to his publishers dated August 1 1944, he put forward a number of suggestions for the title, including The Boys Die Young. Six weeks later Gibson and navigator Jim Warwick were killed when their twin-engined Mosquito was shot down, after the aircraft was mistaken for an enemy plane. In his letter to central London-based publishers Pearn, Pollinger and Higham, he wrote: "I cannot seem to think of a good title for this book, but on a separate bit of paper enclosed I have put down a few suggestions." The suggested titles included Four Years Lifetime, Flak-Fun-Fear, The Boys Die Young, Enemy Coast Ahead, Eight Are Missing, Reich Wreckers and By Fire and By Water. In the end the book was called Enemy Coast Ahead and was published posthumously in 1946. The signed letter has now sold at auction for £6,600, to a Second World War enthusiast from Europe. Haunting and prophetic: In a previously unseen letter to his publishers dated August 1 1944, RAF ace Guy Gibson put forward a number of suggestions for the title, including The Boys Die Young Writings: In his letter to London-based publishers Pearn, Pollinger and Higham, he wrote: 'I cannot seem to think of a good title for this book, but on a separate bit of paper enclosed I have put down a few suggestions' Richard Davie, from International Autograph Auctions, said: "This is a fascinating and very emotive letter from one of Britain's best known war heroes. Gibson sent it to his publishers just weeks before he was killed in action. He was trying to come up with names for his autobiography telling the story of the Dambuster raids first hand. In May 16 1943, 19 aircraft set out to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley - the Mohne, the Eder and the Sorpe - to damage a vital source of power to the key industrial area of Germany. The Mohne and Eder Dams in the industrial heart of Germany were attacked and breached by mines dropped from specially modified Lancasters of 617 Squadron. Using bouncing bombs, their daring night-time raid saw the mission hailed a success. The Sorpe dam was was also attacked by two aircraft and damaged. A fourth dam, the Ennepe, was reported as being attacked by a single aircraft (O-Orange), but with no damage. An estimated 1,294 people were killed by floodwaters, but eight of the 19 aircraft that went on the mission failed to return. There was a loss of 53 aircrew - and three were taken as prisoners of war. Wing Commander Guy Gibson of 617 Squadron was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in leading the attack. He said to his publishers he was struggling to come up with a title but attached a list of seven title suggestions. His fourth suggestion, Enemy Coast Ahead, was the one that was eventually used when the book was published posthumously. Ironically, one of his suggestions was The Boys Die Young, which turned out to be very prophetic as he was killed six weeks later aged just 26. The cause of Gibson's death was the subject of much speculation with some suggesting pilot error and even sabotage. Last year researcher James Cutler claimed he could prove beyond doubt that highly-decorated Gibson was killed by one of his own men. Mr Cutler uncovered a taped confession by Lancaster gunner Sergeant Bernard McCormack he gave to his wife before he died, in which he revealed he accidentally shot down Gibson's plane. Heroes: RAF Bomber Command in the Second World War. Guy Gibson is seen (centre) with the air crews who took part in a raid on Cologne in 1942. Gibson won the Victoria Cross for his bravery in the Dambusters raid