Customer Reviews

Mosquito Aces of World War 2 (Aircraft of the Aces)

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The exploits of the 50-odd aces who scored with the Mosquito fighter bomber are chronicled by author Andy Thomas in this Osprey Aircraft of the Aces volume.

Whether operating as a nightfighter, day intruder or Coastal Command strike aircraft, DeHavilland's elegant but lethal wooden wonder racked up kills over Ju 88s, Bf 110s, He 111s, V-1s, Ki-46s and assorted Axis aircraft in the ETO, Pacific and Mediterranean theaters. Thomas succintly covers these kills, scored by such Mossie aces as John Cunningham, Bob Kipp, Branse Burbridge, Roger Bannock, Bob Braham and others. Ten pages of color profiles by Chris Davey and dozens of photos of aircraft and crews complement the text.

As always, good value at a modest price. Recommended.

Andrew Thomas' Mosquito Aces Of World War II focuses on the all-wooden Mosquito aircraft, which entered service in early 1942 and was an effective fighter in Britain. It went on to counter the V-1 flying bombs in 1944 and made a name for itself with its ability to locate the enemy at night and develop hard blows with four cannons. Vintage black and white photos are packed throughout but it's the written history of the Mosquito and its 59 pilot fighters which is the meat of Mosquito Aces Of World War II, which will delight any avid scholar or WWII student.

Osprey books are great photo albums but they aren't the story telling kind of book I was expecting. That was my mistake. They do have a small amount of storie relating to each pilot but very short in nature.

If your looking for storie's about missions throughout a pilot's tour or the war these are not for you. They tend to follow an aircraft's war career instead of the pilots.

But again nice photo's.

Flying the Beaufighter and Blenheim as night fighters early in the war, Britain needed a more effective night fighter, and what better to do the job than the Mosquito? With radar, speed, heavy armament, maneuverability and range, the Mosquito was thee plane for the night fighter role. Pilots loved the fighter. Many pilots scored heavily against Germanys Me-410s, Do-217s, Ju-88, Bf-110s and other night fighter/bombers. Many pilots flew the old Beaufighter, Blenheim and Defiant, but pilots really added to their scores using the `Wooden Wonder'.

Andrew Thomas has published quite a few books in the past years, but Mosquito aces is one of the best I have read! Excellent information on the fighter pilots who flew the best night fighter, not to mention a good day fighter also. Color plates of various Mosquitoes, information on aces of both day and night fighters, and lots of pictures on aces.
James Luma, Michael Constable-Maxwell, Peter Wykeham-Barnes and more are in this book.
If you are looking for a book about the aces who flew the Mosquito in combat against the Germans, then this the book for you!