
Mosquito Intruder Pilot
A Young Pilot s WW2 Experiences in Europe and the Far East
Jeremy Walsh(Author)
Air World (Publisher)
Published on 6. May 2022
Book
Hardback
248 pages
978-1-3990-8477-2 (ISBN)
Description
Ben Walsh lied about his age to join the RAF, determined to play his part in the Second World War. He volunteered to be an intruder pilot, flying low level operations in the dark. Initially flying ops in Douglas Boston Intruder IIs, he then converted to the legendary de Havilland Mosquito FB VI. Ben flew ops for three years, starting in the skies over with Europe with 418 (RCAF) Squadron, then ferrying one of the first Mosquito FB VIs to India before flying in the Burma campaign with 27 Squadron (under Wing Commander Nicolson VC) and finally with 45 Squadron.
The Mosquito developed problems in the severe climate it encountered in the Far East which resulted in the aircraft being temporarily grounded in November 1944. This saw Ben undertaking thirteen operational sorties in venerable Tiger Moths in the Arakan.
Although Ben survived belly landings, crashes, enemy fire and engine failures, the strain of combat operations took its toll on the still-young pilot. He and his navigator asked to be removed from operations, but their request was denied, both being threatened with court martial.
By the end of the war when still only 21 years old, Ben was suffering from a nervous condition known as the twitch'. His confidence and health were restored by the young woman who had been his pen friend through the war, who became his wife and the mother of the man who has compiled this dramatic and moving story - Jeremy Walsh.
Throughout the war, Ben maintained a Roll of Honour' in his photograph album, memorializing his friends and colleagues who lost their lives. That album forms the backdrop to this important biography, which is based on Ben's own recollections, his logbook and the notes he kept through the war. Mosquito Intruder Pilot is Ben's story.
The Mosquito developed problems in the severe climate it encountered in the Far East which resulted in the aircraft being temporarily grounded in November 1944. This saw Ben undertaking thirteen operational sorties in venerable Tiger Moths in the Arakan.
Although Ben survived belly landings, crashes, enemy fire and engine failures, the strain of combat operations took its toll on the still-young pilot. He and his navigator asked to be removed from operations, but their request was denied, both being threatened with court martial.
By the end of the war when still only 21 years old, Ben was suffering from a nervous condition known as the twitch'. His confidence and health were restored by the young woman who had been his pen friend through the war, who became his wife and the mother of the man who has compiled this dramatic and moving story - Jeremy Walsh.
Throughout the war, Ben maintained a Roll of Honour' in his photograph album, memorializing his friends and colleagues who lost their lives. That album forms the backdrop to this important biography, which is based on Ben's own recollections, his logbook and the notes he kept through the war. Mosquito Intruder Pilot is Ben's story.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Barnsley
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Illustrations
32 mono
Dimensions
Height: 166 mm
Width: 241 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
756 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3990-8477-2 (9781399084772)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
07/2023
Air World
€23.53
Available for download
Person
This story of a young intruder pilot's war is revealed by JEREMY WALSH through his father's own words. Jeremy was commissioned as an officer in the RAF, studied aeronautical engineering at university and trained to be a pilot.