Mosquito Intruders - Target Europe; Jeremy Walsh's latest book.

One of the great excitements for me is when a new book is published and I receive my first copies. At that stage, maybe two or three year's work is suddenly crystalised. For the first time I see what my readers will actually see. It is hugely fulfilling and then I await my readers' reactions!

The day the first copies arrive!

Jacky Reid, RAF Pilot, 605 Squadron

‘It has been an interesting course and I have quite enjoyed it – dying to get on to the next stage now! However, for about a year now I have wanted to get on this particular type of ops. It’s as safe as houses and a lot of fun! We have ideal machines, fastest in the world (not a bit like last time) and armament like the 8th Army’s.’

Letter home after finishing intruder training in Autumn 1943, prior to joining No. 605 Squadron

Phil Russell, RAF Pilot, No. 23 Squadron

‘After we had shot down the JU 88 (he still had his lights on after taking off from Tunis airfield!) we lost an engine. It was a very hot night and we were flying in shorts. Whilst a Mosquito will fly happily on one engine, extra power is called for on the good engine and it runs hotter than normal. If the coolant boils the engine ceases to function. We flew the two-hundred miles back to Malta with our eyes glued to the temperature gauge willing it to stay below boiling. It did – just.’

Recalling an intruder operation from Malta in January 1943

'Jas' Jasper, an American pilot in the RCAF, No. 418 Squadron

‘These missions were difficult for the navigators because they were trying to determine our position from an altitude of below 20 feet. We would cross rivers and railroad tracks and, of course, never fly along them, or we'd run into a flak tower sooner or later. When we crossed a river or a track at such low altitudes, we were never sure of where we were. And flying so low, we nearly always flew under power lines and bridges.’

Explaining an attack in southern France in March 1944