Mosquito Squadron

George Yeoman #5

by Robert Jackson

Summer 1943. The Battle of Britain is over. But the Battle of Germany has just begun. By night and day, RAF and USAAF bombers drive deep into enemy territory, striking at the heart of Germany’s war effort. Squadron Leader George Yeoman, veteran of the skies, has orders to protect the bombers on their long-range missions. He and his men will support in the elusive de Havilland Mosquito, a versatile plane made from wood but capable of stinging the Luftwaffe and sucking the fight from its airmen. Across the channel, Major Joachim Richter, Yeoman’s counterpart and adversary, bravely leads his squadron out each night to intercept the Allied bombers before they destroy German cities. The fight will be long and gruelling, but engineers behind the scenes on both sides are racing to build a plane that may soon decide the battle, the fighter jet. Will Yeoman survive the fight or will this be his last? Mosquito Squadron is a classic WWII adventure story. Praise for Robert Jackson 'Takes you to the heart of the action.' - Tom Kasey, best-selling author of Cold Kill Robert Jackson (b. 1941) is a prolific author of military and aviation history, having become a fulltime writer in 1969. As an active serviceman in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve he flew a wide range of aircraft, ranging from jets to gliders. Mosquito Squadron is the fifth book in the Sergeant George Yeoman series. Hurricane Squadron is the first.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Military Fiction

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 23, 1982

About the author

Robert Jackson was born in 1941 in the North Yorkshire village of Melsonby. A former pilot and navigation instructor, his active involvement with aviation lasted many years. Following his retirement from the RAFVR in 1977 as a squadron leader, he became a full-time aviation writer and aerospace correspondent and lectured extensively on strategic issues. He speaks five languages, including Russian, and has written more than forty nonfiction works on military affairs. He is also the author of the popular Yeoman and SAS fiction series.

Reviews

[Nicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short book doesn't have an over-arching story. Instead, each chapter tells of a sortie or raid over Occupied Europe during the Second World War.

The book follows two pilots, Squadron Leader George Yeoman of the RAF and Major Joachim Richter of the Luftwaffe, both aces, both committed to their jobs and their countries.

The author is good on the technical aspects of flying. He quite obviously knows his stuff. However, the lack of plot and characterisation lets this book down. Yeoman and Richter are practically interchangeable. There are tantalising glimpses of what could be solid plot lines, but they're just dropped in and left to lie fallow.

This book certainly gives you a sense of how exhilarating and terrifying aerial combat was during the war. It also gives you a strong sense of the terrible loss of young lives. If you're interested in the air battles and air raids of the Second World War, this is definitely worth a read. If you're here for a fully developed story, this is not the book for you.

[John McNair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just wrote a review of Jackson's four-volume book 1-4 last week so I needn't dwell on this. it was just as good as any of the first four. A different theatre (back in NW Europe for Yeoman), and I'm beginning to think that Yeoman leads a rather charmed and lucky life! But why not? it wouldn't work with Yeoman gone. And although the series revolves around Yeoman he by no means dominates the narrative. I won't give away any secrets here but it's all about raids on German airfields in the Netherlands and northern Germany, and the first int received on the V1 flying bomb. Plus the terrible US and RAF missions of 1943 when such heavy losses were taken. Another story based very much on fact and history, but "dressed up" in a very compelling story. Well worth a read!

[Mrs J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tales of aerial joustings.

An insight into the thoughts and actions of people involved in/witnessing the contribution of the RAF and Luftwaffe in the Second World War.
Snapshots from the people on the ground , with a focus on the Mosquito
Squadron Leader Yeoman and his German opponent Major Richter.
It felt very much as a part of a series. With details of specific raids and a glimpse at their life outside of the planes there was no definitive ending.
Lots of detail and information so did lose track of who was who and where exactly they were flying. There was drama and tension and the release from that was casual and very ‘stiff upper lip’.
For war story anecdotes fans this would be ideal.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book only had one mosquito operation. The second half of the book starts off with a series of diary entries, the raids aren’t really documented just listed. Then follows a very brief interlude with George and Julia (this author isn’t really that good at romance).
Eventually the book ends with a final big raid. Overall it’s an OK story but it didn’t really have as much of George as I would have liked.

[Tom Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really entertaining series of historical fiction with lots of action

I have read five books of the Yeoman series so far and I have to say that I'm pretty much hooked. Likable characters, good guys and bad guys, and a lot of well written flight action make these excellent diversions. Mosquito Squadron reveled around the 1943 time period and even includes a story line about the first raid on Schweinfurt. Very much recommended

[Mohammed Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opener

One of only a handful of books I have read that truly depict just how fragile life as an aircrew was in WW2. Written in a style that is rather easy for the reader to understand without having to delve too deeply into the technical detail of aircraft. Quite a short book as novels go, but a hard hitter that brought both pride and sorrow to me. A very enlightening read I would recommend reading.

[Tom Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story of unsung heroes in mosquitos

Hat with nonstop action analogy of only those who experience trying to stem the tide and push it back into Germany or the unsung heroes line both knight fighters and the twin engine all women that mosquito bombers. Great book thanks for writing it.

[Lois Carkhuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing work

I wish I knew more about flying but this book was a great adventure. I didn’t understand all the terminology bit it didn’t seem to matter much. It was still a great adventure.

[Viragored · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of Robert Jackson's books I've read. I did enjoy it, found the story engaging, well-written and evocative of the WWII setting.
But the characters seemed a little bit shallow.
I'm sure I'd enjoy more of the Yeoman stories if they come my way.

[Stephen Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like his writing.

I enjoy the author's, Jackson, ability to show many emotions within a confined number of characters. This book isn't a masterpiece, but it kept me reading.

[Snakeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cracking Yeoman tale....Mosquitos over Europe !

[brian d barnhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book has some of both sides, I think it made the book better!

But the book is a great 1st time you could hear from both sides of the war I highly recommend the book Enjoy reading it

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid war yarn telling of combat trials and tribulations of an RAF Mosquito fighter-bomber squadron during World War Two, as they rove across Europe from their base in England to harass the enemy. It's quite a short book made up of chapters which follow each other chronologically but are almost standalone in the sense that each one tells a distinct little story and depicts a specific sortie or battle scene. There isn't really much of an overall plot, just the various happenings and exploits but these are described in rather good detail and in a nicely written style that flows very well. The author appears to have a good understanding of the more technical aspects of the subject matter such as the aircraft and weapons which adds a touch of authenticity to the story, you often feel like you're right there in the cockpit with the chaps. Parallel to the Mosquito squadron, we also see the action from the perspective of a German Luftwaffe fighter commander and he plays his part in the increasingly futile attempt to defend their homeland from the growing Allied advances from all sides. We witness trials of experimental aircraft and weapons, given a seat of the pants ride across Europe on marauding raids seeking the enemy and shown the destruction wrought by these courageous knights of the sky. It's a fun read, the only disappointment being the lack of an overall story, this making it a tad underwhelming to read and left me a bit flat after finishing it. If that "bigger picture" was more complete I probably would've given it a full five stars. In a nutshell it's a good piece of war fiction that an enthusiast of good yarns will probably enjoy.

[Stewart Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

The courage of such men should not be forgotten - the book certainly gives a vivid account of the courage undertaken both by the Mosquito crew's and the supporting services /planes and crew's who enabled the operations to take place with accurate information.

[L. R. Hintonl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Very Enjoyable Read

This is my fourth book by Mr Jackson and another enjoyable book about his main character, George Yoeman of the RAF from the outbreak in 1939 thru 1943 of this book. Each book is as good period WWII Novel, but even better as part of his series. I recommend this book and the others for the excitement, excellent technology of the time, and believable situations and time of WWII!

[Ron Camp · Rating 4 out of 5]

The battle for air power is still on and both sides seem on the edge of victory. The Germans have a new jet plane that they are trying to develop and get into production to turn the tide. The British and Americans have another plan.
The book is an above average historical story with writing that will make you feel that your in the cockpit .. Well done.

[Eileen Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A run of the mill story of the dogfights over Germany between British, German and sometimes American planes during the latter part of the second world war.
All the while reading this I thought of the waste of lives on all sides. No heros in this story.
Biggles it wasn't.
I was given a digital copy of this story by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[Holly Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short story

Good reading well supported plot and slight final twist. Would have preferred it to be lo her hence the 4 stars. Lead character is a good combination of daring and intrigue.

[Steve Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable RAF tale from WWII

Yet another enjoyable military adventure from Robert Jackson, he has an eye for the finer details of military aircraft from both opposing sides of the WWII theatre.

[Warren Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the insight into the Mosquito aircraft.

Enjoy the back and forth showing what was happening with the Germans and the English. Enjoyed the constant thrust and counter from both sides.

[Margie K Moschetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Enjoyed the first hand accounts. A well written book about WWII mosquitos. Would recommend the book as a good read.

[Robin Halvorson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book in the series -- Entertaining -- not world class but entertaining.

[leslie barwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Really good read

An excellent story told from both sides of the conflict. It is the sort of story you can see in your mind's eye as you read.