de Havilland Mosquito Book Review
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | November 2005 | Title | de Havilland Mosquito |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Edward Shacklady | Publisher | Cerberus Publishing Ltd. |
| Published | 2003 | ISBN | 1-84145-108-8 |
| Format | 160 pages, hardbound | MSRP (USD) | $29.95 |
Review
Here is an interesting title from Cerberus Publishing out of Bristol, UK. This is Volume 6 from their Classic WWII Aviation series that also includes the Hurricane, Bf 109, B-24 Liberator, P-47 Thunderbolt, Bf 110, and P-38 Lightning. Written by Edward Shacklady, this volume provides a concise history of the de Havilland Mosquito from initial concept through combat operations.
Originally published in 2003, this is the second edition and is nicely printed on quality paper and binding.
Coverage of the subject includes:
- Introduction - 'A Good Bomber With Merlins'
- Chapter One - Jack of All Trades
- Chapter Two - Into Service
- Chapter Three - The Mosquito Night Fighters
- Chapter Four - The Sabre Engined Projects
- Chapter Five - The Mosquito Goes Overseas
- Chapter Six - Bomber Support and Night Strike Force
- Chapter Seven - The Fighter-Bomber Mk.VI
- Chapter Eight - Camouflage and Markings
- Appendix A - Mosquito Variants
- Appendix B - Mosquitoes in RAF Squadron Service
The author has compiled a great selection of period black and white photos to illustrate the history. In addition, there are 31 color profiles, some with four-to-five views, others with a single profile of a unique subject.
If you're looking for a solid overview of the Mosquito, this is just what you've been looking for. While there are other books on the subject, many are oriented to in-depth operational histories or detailed variant descriptions. The author has provided a solid foundation of knowledge on the subject without "getting into the weeds". This is a good read!
My sincere thanks to Motorbooks International for this review sample!