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Mosquito

The extraordinary true story of the legendary RAF aircraft from the bestselling author of Harrier 809

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Mosquito

By: Rowland White
Narrated by: Roy McMillan
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Built of lightweight wood, powered by two growling Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, impossibly aerodynamic, headspinningly fast and armed to the teeth, the de Havilland Mosquito was the war-winning wonder that should never have existed: the aircraft the RAF didn't think it wanted then couldn't do without.

Flying on operations barely eighteen months after a single prototype was ordered off the drawing board, it was the answer to its pilots' prayers: a stunningly versatile warplane capable of leaving the Luftwaffe in its wake to attack when and where the enemy was least expecting it.

Excelling as a spyplane, night-fighter and pathfinder for Bomber Command's heavies the Mossie's reputation was cemented by a series of daredevil bombing raids across occupied Europe, including on Berlin itself, where only surprise, speed and precision could ensure success.

So when Churchill's top secret Special Operations Executive needed to destroy the Gestapo HQ in the centre of downtown Copenhagen to prevent a devastating Nazi last stand that might prolong the war for many months, there was only one machine for the job - the Mosquito.

This is the story of that legendary aircraft told through that one impossible mission.

Like Rowland White's previous books, Mosquito is an unputdownable mix of utterly compelling storytelling, incredible human stories and fascinating technological detail, which sheds never-before-told light on a pivotal mission that helped bring the war to its bloody and brutal close.

©2023 Rowland White (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Aeronautics & Astronautics Astronomy & Space Science Europe Great Britain History History & Culture Military Science Aviation War Thought-Provoking Winston Churchill Technology Air Force
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Critic reviews

A captivating history ... White used the history of these operations to weave stories of fortitude and courage into the story of a great machine
This is history as it should be written: adrenaline-charged, exciting, impeccably and painstakingly researched with a cast of vividly-drawn characters. Riding through it is among the greatest, most extraordinarily brilliant aircraft of them all: the Mosquito. One of the most gripping works of history I’ve ever read (James Holland)
10/10 (Helen Fry)
Wonderful detail, intricate research and most importantly, powerful & moving human testimony, ensure the reader is gripped from the first page to the last by this incredible story (John Nichol)
Believe the plaudits - Mosquito is a wonderful tome ... an addictive, moving and tenaciously researched tale ... his best book to date
No dry history, Mosquito reads like a thriller, not just based on fact, but factual in every detail ... this is hard to put down ... Unreservedly recommended
White's engaging style has the reader hanging on every line. It's like the best adventure stories except this one is the real thing
The pace at which White's narrative runs along and the skill with which he ties together the many strands of his chosen story, are exceptional ... an excellent read, unreservedly recommended
White immerses the reader in the action from the first page ... a must read
Weaving together the story of its evolution with vivid accounts of the crews that flew it and the Special Operations Executive on the ground, Mosquito is both a tribute to the finest aircraft Britain produced during the war and a page-turning thriller about its use as the world’s first precision aerial weapon (Tom Petch, author of Speed Aggression Surprise: The Secret Origins of the SAS)
All stars
Most relevant
A little heavy on the danish resistance story, would have rathered a wider story on more uses of the machine, but understand there’s a story to be told and this is the one selected.

Too much Danish

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very well written and the narration was superb enjoyed it a lot. very informative

so much more than the story of an aircraft

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A very interesting and different history of the Mosquito. Really tells the human side of what was achieved by the brave crew

Excellent listening

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Brilliant telling of the historic events surrounding the mosquito and how it was used

mosquito

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This is not a story about an old war plane . It studies human courage in all levels of humanity and it's findings defy belief.

It deserves a wider readership.

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