The End of the Third Reich!

I am delighted to announce that on 21 May 2026 I signed the contract with the Air World imprint of Pen and Sword Books to write a new book. This book will be will be titled Mosquito Intruders and the End of the Third Reich. It will be the fourth and final book in my quadrilogy about RAF Intruder operations during the Second World War. With it, I will complete the story of the RAF Intruders told through the histories of the aircrew and operations of Nos. 23, 418 (RCAF) and 605 (County of Warwick) Squadrons in Europe and Nos. 27, 45, 47, 82 and 110 Squadrons in the Far East. In general terms they were tightly-knit and highly skilled, revelling in friendly rivalry.

Due to be published later this year, Douglas Boston - Night Raiders shows how the operations evolved from an initial concept adapted from the Germans. Between early 1941 through to mid-1943 Nos. 23, 418 (RCAF) and 605 Squadrons operated the Douglas DB-7 Boston. Whilst they honed their skills, sadly there were frequent periods of high casualty rates.

 No. 418 (RCAF) Squadron (DND Photo PL-7297 from RCAF History and Heritage)

Staring with No. 23 Squadron in Summer 1942, the Intruders started re-equipping with the de Havilland Mosquito. Initially they were given the NF.II (Special) which had the radar removed. When in Malta in 1943, they and the other two squadrons all re-equipped with the iconic Intruder version, the Mosquito FB VI. Their evolution expanding intruding to encompass Day Rangers, Flowers and Divers is covered in Mosquito Intruders - Target Europe. As well as roaming across Europe, they were the first line of defence against the V-1 terror weapon. The squadrons continued as part of Fighter Command until late 1944, when No. 23 Squadron was transferred to Bomber Command and Nos. 418 (City of Edmonton) RCAF and 605 (County of Warwick) Squadrons were transferred to Second Tactical Air Force.

No. 605 Squadron (Piper Collection)

From September 1943 onwards, Mosquito FB VIs started arriving in India to supress the Japanese fighters and strike at the communications across Burma. The first aircraft were ferried out by operationally experienced intruder crews to train and reinforce the converting squadrons. The initial operational evaluation with No. 27 Squadron started on Christmas Day 1943 and by April it was decided to rest the squadron from operations. The Mosquitos and the experienced intruder crews were transferred to No. 45 Squadron which was converting from the brutal Vultee Vengeance dive bomber to operate Mosquitos at low-level both night and day. It is well known that manufacturing issues, compounded by the hot and humid conditions in India, caused and unacceptable number of structural failures in the Mosquitos. Even so, after several groundings, first 45 and 82 Squadrons, followed by 47 and 110 Squadrons, accepted the risks and dominated the airspace, played havoc with the Japanese supply lines, and played an important role in their retreat. Their story is covered in Mosquito Intruders - Target Burma.

Jack Nankervis, 45 Squadron, RAF Kumbhrigram, Assam (Internet)

The final instalment starts in mid-1944 for No. 23 Squadron and later 1944 for Nos. 418 (City of Edmonton) RCAF and 605 (County of Warwick) Squadrons, when the adopt their modified roles after D-Day, supporting Bomber Command in their final operations and Allied ground forces with their push to the Rhine and beyond. Each evolved their tactics, building on their expertise for accuracy at low-level, in the dark and in all weathers. Mosquito Intruders and the End of the Third Reich tells their story, including their roles in Operation Clarion as well as roaming Day Rangers, addressing the threats of the German jets.

One of 605 Squadron's Mosquitos in Belgium, at Vokel in May 1945 (Piper Collection)

I hope that this final instalment, Mosquito Intruders and the End of the Third Reich, will be published in late 2027.