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Guy Gibson wrote this book while being rested from operations in 1944. By then he had flown two full tours on bombing ops with 83 and 106 Squadrons, another one as a night-fighter pilot with 29 Squadron and, of course, the Dam Busters raid with 617 Squadron on 16 May 1943. It was serialised in the Sunday Express during the winter of 1944-45, by which time Gibson was dead, the Mosquito that he was flying having crashed near Steenbergen in Holland on 10 September 1944. It was first published in book form in 1946, to much critical acclaim.
There has been a certain amount of comment since then regarding the authorship. It is such a well-written book that there was speculation that Gibson was assisted by a ghostwriter. This contention has been comprehensively refuted by his biographer, who examined the original manuscript (Guy Gibson by Richard Morris, Penguin Books 1995).
This edition of the book, published by Crecy, has used that draft, restoring some of Gibson's more robust and less than tactful opinions and comments on personalities, tactics and the course of the war, which the censor and his original publishers omitted. It has the feel of authenticity, of Gibson's thoughts being poured out onto the page.
It is a highly readable, enjoyable and at times, moving account; giving a rounded picture of
just what it was like to be a young man at that time (Gibson was only a month over 26 when
he died). He was brought up when the Empire was a part of daily life, he grew to manhood
in the age of the dictators and the appeasers, joining the RAP pre-war when it was the best flying club in the world. The early years of the war seemed at the time to be an almost hopeless struggle against the odds with setbacks and disasters on all fronts. Gibson was part of the only force, which for a period of several dark years, seemed to be the only means of taking the war to the enemy. He recounts this learning process with great clarity, as he himself grew in experience and maturity, rising from rather bumptious Pilot Officer to a highly decorated Wing Commander, just as Bomber Command grew from its somewhat amateurish early days into mighty force bringing death and destruction to the enemy on a nightly basis.
There has been a certain amount of comment since then regarding the authorship. It is such a well-written book that there was speculation that Gibson was assisted by a ghostwriter. This contention has been comprehensively refuted by his biographer, who examined the original manuscript (Guy Gibson by Richard Morris, Penguin Books 1995).
This edition of the book, published by Crecy, has used that draft, restoring some of Gibson's more robust and less than tactful opinions and comments on personalities, tactics and the course of the war, which the censor and his original publishers omitted. It has the feel of authenticity, of Gibson's thoughts being poured out onto the page.
It is a highly readable, enjoyable and at times, moving account; giving a rounded picture of
just what it was like to be a young man at that time (Gibson was only a month over 26 when
he died). He was brought up when the Empire was a part of daily life, he grew to manhood
in the age of the dictators and the appeasers, joining the RAP pre-war when it was the best flying club in the world. The early years of the war seemed at the time to be an almost hopeless struggle against the odds with setbacks and disasters on all fronts. Gibson was part of the only force, which for a period of several dark years, seemed to be the only means of taking the war to the enemy. He recounts this learning process with great clarity, as he himself grew in experience and maturity, rising from rather bumptious Pilot Officer to a highly decorated Wing Commander, just as Bomber Command grew from its somewhat amateurish early days into mighty force bringing death and destruction to the enemy on a nightly basis.
The descriptions of the aircraft, preparations, operations and social life are well drawn and evocative. The character studies of individuals are brief but very much to the point. The bomber war from 1939 to 1943 is described with great insight and shows a penetrating, analytical mind at work.
Gibson was a remarkable, talented and forceful man, like many warriors he was at his best
when at the forefront of the battle, back in England he was hero-worshipped by many, respected, loved, feared and cordially disliked by others. He had immense responsibility thrust upon him and deserves to be remembered as a hero. I found that I had developed a
liking for Gibson as I read the book, he would not perhaps have been the easiest to work for
but he was to say the least an interesting person, whom it would have been rewarding to know.
The book itself is produced to a very high standard, with an excellent selection of crisply reproduced photographs, two useful appendices on the Dams Raid and an index (none of which were included in the Pan paperback which my father purchased in 1955). At £10.95 it is excellent value for money and I would recommend it highly.
Guy Warner --Ulster Airmail - Jan 2009
Book Description
First published in 1944, Enemy Coast Ahead combines Gibson's RAF career, including the famous Dambuster raid which he himself led, with the inside story of life in Bomber Command and is still a riveting read for the immediacy and vibrancy of its writing.
And yet, what has not been widely known is that the published edition of Enemy Coast Ahead was carefully cut by wartime censors.
Now, Gibson's original manuscript which was archived for almost 60 years has been be brought to light. This uncut edition provides not only previously unpublished details of Gibson's career, but also reveals his true view of the course of the war, of the wartime population, of his pilots and crews and of Bomber Command tactics. Combined with newly added photographs and diagrams Enemy Coast Ahead - Uncensored remains one of the outstanding accounts of WWII seen through the eyes of one of its most respected and controversial personalities, but now allows the reader to know Gibson's own story in his own words.
And yet, what has not been widely known is that the published edition of Enemy Coast Ahead was carefully cut by wartime censors.
Now, Gibson's original manuscript which was archived for almost 60 years has been be brought to light. This uncut edition provides not only previously unpublished details of Gibson's career, but also reveals his true view of the course of the war, of the wartime population, of his pilots and crews and of Bomber Command tactics. Combined with newly added photographs and diagrams Enemy Coast Ahead - Uncensored remains one of the outstanding accounts of WWII seen through the eyes of one of its most respected and controversial personalities, but now allows the reader to know Gibson's own story in his own words.
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THE moon was full; everywhere its pleasant, watery haze spread over the peaceful English countryside, rendering it colourless. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
THE moon was full; everywhere its pleasant, watery haze spread over the peaceful English countryside, rendering it colourless. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read this when I was 12 in the early '70's, and snapped this up as soon as I saw it has been re-printed.
Gibson started right at the beginning of the war in Bombers, did a stint in nightfighters (he was due for rest, but wouldn't accept the genuine break from the war that his superiors wanted him to have), then went back to Bombers through to his being killed in a raid over Germany after he returned to front line duty post Dambusters' raids.
This autobiographical book chronicles the aerial bombing campaign, and, as well as recording Gibson's personal experiences, the people he knew, and some of the scrapes that they got up to on base, charts the developing sophistication of RAF Bomber Command's tactics and aircraft.
As you'd expect, a good chunk is devoted to the Dambusters' raid. The build up to this is also good, and is written very much on the basis of what Gibson was told and "needed to know" at the time. He wrote the book before returning to active service after his post - Dambusters' break, and is very much written so as to not give away any secrets of the time.
This - I believe - provides additional atmosphere to the story.
I've heard that Guy Gibson was thought to be big headed and arrogant - well, it's hard to accomplish things if you don't have a degree of self belief, and at no time in this book do I recall him appearing to self - aggrandise.
It's a great read, and I thoroughly recommend this to anyone interested in the period.
Gibson started right at the beginning of the war in Bombers, did a stint in nightfighters (he was due for rest, but wouldn't accept the genuine break from the war that his superiors wanted him to have), then went back to Bombers through to his being killed in a raid over Germany after he returned to front line duty post Dambusters' raids.
This autobiographical book chronicles the aerial bombing campaign, and, as well as recording Gibson's personal experiences, the people he knew, and some of the scrapes that they got up to on base, charts the developing sophistication of RAF Bomber Command's tactics and aircraft.
As you'd expect, a good chunk is devoted to the Dambusters' raid. The build up to this is also good, and is written very much on the basis of what Gibson was told and "needed to know" at the time. He wrote the book before returning to active service after his post - Dambusters' break, and is very much written so as to not give away any secrets of the time.
This - I believe - provides additional atmosphere to the story.
I've heard that Guy Gibson was thought to be big headed and arrogant - well, it's hard to accomplish things if you don't have a degree of self belief, and at no time in this book do I recall him appearing to self - aggrandise.
It's a great read, and I thoroughly recommend this to anyone interested in the period.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my dad and he loved it. He's really into history, in particular the World Wars, so this book made a great addition to his collection.
He had wanted this book for ages and at first I couldn't decide which version he would prefer. In the end I chose the uncensored version so that he could read Guy Gibson's story in its full historical context, rather than reading the edited version that Dam Busters was based on. When you read it you can guess which bits might have been cut, which provides its own insight into the machinations of political censorship. And not only is this honest account of one man's experience packed full of facts, but it is also very well written which makes it a very touching and human read as well.
He had wanted this book for ages and at first I couldn't decide which version he would prefer. In the end I chose the uncensored version so that he could read Guy Gibson's story in its full historical context, rather than reading the edited version that Dam Busters was based on. When you read it you can guess which bits might have been cut, which provides its own insight into the machinations of political censorship. And not only is this honest account of one man's experience packed full of facts, but it is also very well written which makes it a very touching and human read as well.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As someone very interested in Bomber Command and Fighter Command I have read both the original version and this now uncensored version several times and find it a very informative and wonderful read. It is the autobiography of one of the most famous pilots of the war years, Guy Penrose Gibson, VC, DFC bar and DSO bar, leader of the Dambusters.
It starts flying out to the lakes on the Dambusters raid and quickly changes to several years before as the War breaks out as he reminises about hois life as a pilot in both bombers and fighters them comes full circle back to the Dambusters.
Gibsons account is not emotional, in fact far from it. It is instead a factual account telling the real stories of himself and those flying with him. The most emotional it gets is some 18 months into the war when he realises he is the only one still flying from his friends he flew with on the day war broke out (most are dead, one a POW).
It covers 1939 to 1943 and has the stories of flying getting things wrong and the struggle to improve as well as life on the ground with lots of drunken parties etc. as they all believed today they would die so we live life to the full. One exceptional part involves a Dunkirk survivor asking where the RAF had been at the beach.
Other reviewers have said Gibson perhaps didn't deserve the reputation he has, I am not one to say if he does or doesn't but he certainly lacks real emotion in his writing, its is all matter of fact, which makes this such a remarkable book. There's nothing else quite like it, a fitting tribute to Gibson and all the other fliers of WW2.
It starts flying out to the lakes on the Dambusters raid and quickly changes to several years before as the War breaks out as he reminises about hois life as a pilot in both bombers and fighters them comes full circle back to the Dambusters.
Gibsons account is not emotional, in fact far from it. It is instead a factual account telling the real stories of himself and those flying with him. The most emotional it gets is some 18 months into the war when he realises he is the only one still flying from his friends he flew with on the day war broke out (most are dead, one a POW).
It covers 1939 to 1943 and has the stories of flying getting things wrong and the struggle to improve as well as life on the ground with lots of drunken parties etc. as they all believed today they would die so we live life to the full. One exceptional part involves a Dunkirk survivor asking where the RAF had been at the beach.
Other reviewers have said Gibson perhaps didn't deserve the reputation he has, I am not one to say if he does or doesn't but he certainly lacks real emotion in his writing, its is all matter of fact, which makes this such a remarkable book. There's nothing else quite like it, a fitting tribute to Gibson and all the other fliers of WW2.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Guy Gibson
This is a very good insight to what being a bomber crew member was like. I read the original years ago, but this is much better as it is uncensored. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Michael R. Bannister
From a man who did it
We have probably all read this and the uncensored version helps make sense of a few bits of blatant editing in the original. Read more
Published 10 months ago by John Fareham
Stunning First Hand Account
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. Read more
Published 10 months ago by David Austin
Very small print
The content of this book is exactly what was expected. However, the print/type face is very small and difficult to read, even with a magnifying glass and therefore spoils the... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Lyn
Good read
The book was a gift for my husband who is delighted with it and found it a most interesting read. The picture on the front is not the same as the one displayed on the picture on... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Anne Morgan
brilliant
this book by susan ottaway is one of the best reads i have had for a long time, i didnt think i would enjoy it thought would be too heavy, guy gibson has always interested me, a... Read more
Published 15 months ago by polly
I've got the original
Its a compelling historical document.
Gibson was indeed supposed to have been arrogant,aloof,but also charismatic. Read more
Gibson was indeed supposed to have been arrogant,aloof,but also charismatic. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2010 by R. L. Haywood
Enemy coast ahead
Very well written . I have a keen interest in the air war 1939- 45 , and especially the dams raid .Having read a few accounts of this , the "horses mouth " version was excellent . Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2009 by Alistair Yule
Best read in ages
This is the best book I have read in a long while. Right from the opening page I was absolutely hooked, even if you have seen the film this truly is the view from the cockpit. Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2009 by G. Leighton
Atlast back in print after many years.
A dear friend of mine now well into his eighties and one of the founder members of the RAF Duxford museum loaned me the long out of print original copy of this book and a... Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2009 by Mr. P. J. R. LEWIS
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