Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
Gibson was probably the most famous bomber pilot of the Second World War. He led the famous dams raid, and was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross, using the ‘bouncing bombs’ in attacks on German dams in May 1943.
Why did you choose to recommend Guy Gibson’s Enemy Coast Ahead?
Because he was probably the most famous bomber pilot of the Second World War.
Could you explain what being a bomber pilot involved, as opposed to a fighter pilot?
A fighter pilot had a single engine aircraft and was fighting against the opposition fighters, and a bomber pilot had a multi-engine aircraft so it wasn’t as easy to manoeuvre. Their purpose was to deliver bombs, which they dropped at night. The bomber pilots were sometimes called the ‘bus drivers’.
What’s significant about Gibson’s account of the Second World War?
He led the famous dams raid, and was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross, using the ‘bouncing bombs’ in attacks on German dams in May 1943.
The authors of the first two books we discussed managed to survive the war – Gibson, however, was killed. What were the circumstances of his death?
He was insistent that he wanted to go back on operations, following a lecture tour in the United States, though I believe the higher echelons wanted him to stay away from operations. But he went back and ultimately he lost his life in 1944.
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Steve Darlow is the grandson of a bomber command pilot and the author of nine books on military aviation. During 12 years of research, he has interviewed more than a hundred RAF aircrew.
