Enemy Coast Ahead - Uncensored: The Real Guy Gibson

by Guy Gibson

Overview

First published in 1944, Enemy Coast Ahead combines Guy Gibson's RAF career, including the famous Dambuster raid which he himself led, with the inside story of life in RAF 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 75 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 This uncut edition provides not only previously unpublished details of Gibson's career, but also reveals his true view of the course of the war, of the wartime population, of his pilots and crews and of Bomber Command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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780859791182
Publisher:	Crecy
Publication date:	03/08/2006
Series:	Soft Cover Series
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Born in India in 1918, Guy Gibson grew up in India, Cornwall, Kent and Oxford. An average student, Gibson always had a passion for flying, and commenced flying training in November 1936 at the Bristol Flying School. In early 1937, he began RAF basic training at RAF Uxbridge, and was awarded his pilot’s wings in May 1937. During the war, Gibson was part of three operational tours, with Bomber Command and Fighter Command, playing an important part in the decisive Battle of Britain. He gained notoriety for the Dam Busters raid where he led his squadron. He was awarded the VC and in June 1943 became the most highly decorated serviceman in the country.

Table of Contents

Special Preface to the 1998 Edition   Air Marshal Sir Harold Martin KCB DSO DFC AFC     7
Introduction     9
Foreword and dedication     11
Flight out     17
Peace and war     25
Learn by mistakes     53
The fun begins     57
Balloon cables and bottles     67
Maximum effort     77
Sustained effort     91
Battle of the Barges     99
Interlude     111
29 Fighter Squadron     115
Dusk readiness     125
Find the Hun     135
The Heavy Brigade     151
Turning of the tide     179
The shape of things     197
Squadron X     213
By trial and error     239
Some were unlucky     255
Immediate aftermath     275
German casualties     279
Index     282