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Preview
  • Mosquito

  • The RAF's Legendary Wooden Wonder and Its Most Extraordinary Mission
  • By: Rowland White
  • Narrated by: Roy McMillan
  • Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (205 ratings)

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Mosquito

By: Rowland White
Narrated by: Roy McMillan
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Built of lightweight wood, powered by two growling Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, impossibly aerodynamic, headspinningly fast and armed to the teeth, the de Havilland Mosquito was the war-winning wonder that should never have existed: the aircraft the RAF didn't think it wanted then couldn't do without.

Flying on operations barely eighteen months after a single prototype was ordered off the drawing board, it was the answer to its pilots' prayers: a stunningly versatile warplane capable of leaving the Luftwaffe in its wake to attack when and where the enemy was least expecting it.

Excelling as a spyplane, night-fighter and pathfinder for Bomber Command's heavies the Mossie's reputation was cemented by a series of daredevil bombing raids across occupied Europe, including on Berlin itself, where only surprise, speed and precision could ensure success.

So when Churchill's top secret Special Operations Executive needed to destroy the Gestapo HQ in the centre of downtown Copenhagen to prevent a devastating Nazi last stand that might prolong the war for many months, there was only one machine for the job - the Mosquito.

This is the story of that legendary aircraft told through that one impossible mission.

Like Rowland White's previous books, Mosquito is an unputdownable mix of utterly compelling storytelling, incredible human stories and fascinating technological detail, which sheds never-before-told light on a pivotal mission that helped bring the war to its bloody and brutal close.

©2023 Rowland White (P)2023 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

'Exciting and breathtakingly pacy.' (Andy McNab)

'A masterwork of narrative history.' (Clive Cussler)

What listeners say about Mosquito

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A fascinating and moving story.

I enjoyed the depth and breadth of this fascinating story. The challenges of flying low-level pinpoint air attacks were well described, as wear the effects of the raid on various protagonists. A moving and thought-provoking book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

50ft no taller than a block of flats in London.

the sizes of these lads undergarge must be so big they would need a wheelbarrow to go anywhere. I didn't realise just how much Denmark had gone through before. the narrator was on the mark no over the top accents or dull no excitement reading.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding!

A truly outstanding book which takes you on an amazing journey through the development of the Mosquito to the daring daylight raids and tells the story of the amazing individuals involved, thank you!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

About more than just the machine

I enjoyed the stories of the multiple participants in this audio book. The narrator was excellent. I learned so much more than I imagined. Told with a beautifully balanced perspective.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Rowland hits the mark again

Once again Rowland White hits the mark with a story that whilst moving at pace involves so much detail that you feel like you’re living it. 100% recommend! Also the narration is spot on great work!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Excellent narration

Narration was really good. It brought life to the book and enhanced the main character in remarkable way.

The stories were generally interesting, but not exceptional.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Yet another brilliant and emotional read by Rowland White

Enjoyed e very moment, a lovely story in which Rowland has once again knitted together the human and mechanical stories together into a wonderful account of wartime heroism and suffering.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Reaches 5 stars in many ways for me. The Subject, been fascinated by the Mosquito since a boy, I now live in Denmark and to get well researched, put together and linked details of the way this little country had to deal with the German invasion is fascinating.
Narrator is will in tune with the content and a pleasure to listen to.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Is the title wrong

Let me start by saying up-front that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. well read, obviously well researched and well put together into a logical narrative.

Why not 5 stars then?

Well, when you're listening to a book entitled Mosquito, you'd expect it to have more about the plane than the occupation of Denmark. it was about 70-30 background to plane, with huge swathes needing some serious thought to join the dots to link it back to this superlative aircraft. Worth a listen for sure but don't expect about 10 hours of the duration to be about the lead character: the Mosquito.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Mosquito in detailed context

This book is very revealing in the details of how the Mosquito came to fruition and how it was used successfully. In particular low level and extremely accurate bombing, especially attacking individual buildings. Also, the various uses in which it was put. Too many to go into detail here. Al I can say is what an amazing aircraft and how well it was used. I strongly recommend this book for aircraft and Second World War enthusiasts alike. Well written and very well read👍

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