Product Description

First published in 1944, Guy Gibson's Enemy Coast Ahead quickly became regarded as the classic Bomber Command book, following Gibson's RAF career from flying the Hampden and Manchester at the beginning of WWII to the triumphant return home of the Lancasters from the famous 1943 Dambuster raid which Gibson led and for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Enemy Coast Ahead is also the inside story of life in Bomber Command throughout the first five years of WW2, culminating in breath-holding drama as the RAF planned, practiced and strove towards breaching the dams on that famous night in May 1943.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #274648 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Customer Reviews

Compulsory Reading
The book, although written in 1944 and therefore a bit bullish, nonetheless gives a sobering account of bomber command from the first day of the war - when the pilots didn't even know if the planes would get off the ground with a full bomb load - to the Dambusters raid.

Raw Courage
As an avid reader of first hand combat accounts I have to place this book at the very top of the pile. Gibson's book is simply stunning.

The immense power of this book lies in the story of unbelievable courage shown by the men of bomber command. Gibson takes us through the early days of the war, the tragic waste of the skilled aircrews thrown away in obsolete planes and flawed tactics, the tremendous spirit shown by these young men in the face of almost inevitable death and the deep sadness of seeing their comrades lost with such regularity.

After defying the odds and completing one tour of duty, Gibson transfers to night fighters rather than resting, before going back for another tour on 'heavies' and eventually forming and leading the elite 617 squadron on the famous Dams raid.

Yes it is jingoistic, yes it is bullish, what else could it be from a warrior and leader of this nature? Indeed, it is these traits that give us great insight into the prevailing feelings and attitudes of the men involved that make first hand accounts so valuable in our assessment of history. We should be thankful that this document encapsulating the spirit of the aircrew was written by one of their greatest leaders before he too gave his life to the cause.

Technical details are necessarily censored from a book written at the height of the hostilities but this in no way detracts. Those interested can easily fill in the blanks through reading books such as Max Hastings' 'Bomber Command' or Paul Brickhill's 'Dam Busters'.

After reading this book maybe a dozen times over the last 35 years, I recommend it unreservedly to all.

An interesting view of what it was like to be a bomber pilot
I think Gibson gives a very interesting view of what it was like to be a pilot in bomber command. He is best known as the leader of operation chastise: the dambusters. Although the content is clearly edited and censored for sensitive material and secret weapons (radar) I found it a gripping tale and the jargon and WWII expressions add to the atmosphere of the book. The memory of these brave men is well served by this book.