Mosquito Squadron (Yeoman, #5) by Robert Jackson

Mosquito Squadron (Yeoman, #5) Reviews

• 
  Nicki

  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.
• 
  Tony Hisgett

  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.
  
• 
  Les

  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.
• 
  Ron Camp

  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

  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.
• 
  Steve Collins

  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.
• 
  Robin Halvorson

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

  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.