As a kid, the Dam Busters film was one of my favourites. Therefore, I am saddened to say that I had never read Guy Gibson’s memoirs. Well… I have now and it is everything I had hoped it would be when I first picked it up.

An enthralling, moving story with, in places, a touch of wartime humour which is to be expected from someone so young thrown into war and the horrors it thrusts on people living in it.

Now I am more aware of Guy Gibson the human and have a better understanding of who he was, before and after that one mission he is best known for.

Highly recommended.

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Vintage Airfix

This is a fascinating account of one of the war's most daring missions written by the man most responsible for its success...the notes that accompany this edition add tremendously to understanding Gibson and the Dambusters.

Air Power History, Winter 2020

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The Armourer, March 2020

James Holland’s foreword adds some early life and post dams depth as well as being the author of the 2013 book Dam Busters. There are comprehensive and well written notes at the end of the book which adds much needed depth along with two sets of black and white photographs. As a modern touch there is a centre set of glossy paper photographs, some of which are colourised versions of the monochromes... a good eyewitness book.

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Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)

Gibson’s still remarkably readable classic.

The Aviation Historian, issue 30

There aren't many books that should be on every military aviation fan's reading list, but Guy Gibson's Enemy Coast Ahead is one of them.

Airfix Model World, February 2020

Listed in the 'In View' feature

Military History Matters, January 2020

This is one of the most important memoirs of WWII. Guy Gibson will always be remembered for leading the daring raid on the German Ruhr dams with a unique special bomb, but his illustrated memoirs cover so much more and provide a very important view into the life of pilots and commanders of RAF Bomber Command. – Most Highly Recommended.

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Firetrench

I happen to think he was quite extraordinary from within the utterly extraordinary mass of men who flew in Bomber Command... Celebrate him and his excellent book.

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War History Online, Mark Barnes

I enjoyed this book, as it gives an insight into a man who was not super human, but just a man in an unimaginable time of war and uncertainty. Written by the man himself this is a no nonsense memoir that gives a glimpse of men who did their duty, under the command of a man who was driven to do his best to ‘get the job done’. A good addition to any book collection and one that can be read on the train or beach due to its size..

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Armorama

This is an important piece of world war 2 writing from one of bomber commands leading pilots.
It is written of the time so do expect alot of patriotism to come through and obvious censorship but don't be put off by that, it is an important piece of writing that will appeal to all who want to get inside the minds of these brave men.

Amazon Customer, Richard Domoney-Saunders

I first read Enemy Coast Ahead when I was a teenager, having just seen the film The Dambusters, and finding the whole character and story of Guy Gibson one of the most compelling and amazing stories of the second world war. Pen and Sword's revised, updated and beautiful new edition of Gibson's own story in his own words is guaranteed to move its readers just as I was moved and inspired back in the late 1950s.

Books Monthly

Highly recommended.

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