Walsh, Jeremy Mosquito Intruders. Target Europe

The RAF’s First Elite Night Raider Units

Only the above-average pilots and navigators were invited to volunteer for some of the most demanding, daring and rewarding flying missions of the Second World War. Their task was to fly Mosquitos at low altitude through the night over Europe, circling near an Luftwaffe airfield to attack and shoot down returning enemy bombers or night fighters. The story of the Mosquito intruders begins during the Battle of Britain, when RAF planners noticed that some German intruders were hiding in the returning bomber squadrons to attack landing RAF aircraft. They realised that this was a tactic that the RAF could also use. To properly exploit this concept, the RAF needed the right equipment, the right training programme and the right pilots. Establishing all of this would take time. It was not until mid-1943, with the superior performance and capabilities of the legendary de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito FB VI, that the full impact of the Intruders would finally be felt. The first three Intruder squadrons, Nos. 23, 418 and 605, were the elite of the elite. Their battle honours testify to their contribution to the victory over the Axis powers. Mosquito Intruders - Target Europe uses diaries, eyewitness accounts, contemporary sources and official records to guide the reader through the development of the Intruder concept, from its beginnings with the Douglas DB-7 Boston and the Mosquito NF II (Special) to the missions of the first three Mosquito Intruder squadrons. These three squadrons defended Malta, supported the invasion of Sicily, assisted No. 617 Squadron Dambusters in their famous attack on the Dortmund-Ems Canal, were the first to attack on D-Day, and discovered how to shoot down V1 flying bombs. They were led from the front and by their example of larger-than-life fighter pilots. The Mosquito commanded respect and could take a lot of punishment. Beautifully balanced, fast and with enormous firepower, it was the aircraft of dreams for most aircrews.