Martin...know this mossie book coming up???

Mosquito Pathfinder

Albert and Ian Smith
ISBN: 0 947554 95 5

Publication Date: July 2003

On the left, slightly higher than my head and facing forward, the pilot peers into the black night. I flick the switch on the nozzle of my oxygen mask, and he turns his head in my direction. A nasal humid sound "Alter course to one-six-four degrees. We’ll be over Aachen in two minutes." The intercom crackles back "OK." Suddenly there is a jolt, and I glance sharply to the left. Out of the window beyond Johnny’s head I see, for an instant, the grotesque black belly of an aircraft sliding by. Nothing happens for a moment, the drone persists - the course holds. Then with a sickening lurch, the plane cartwheels through the sky. I’m calm. I’m going to die. But I can’t do anything about it. It’ll be quick. And it won’t hurt. I feel so calm. Then my legs slam the floor and the plane is no longer spinning - diving steeply but no longer spinning. I might live. My body quivers, and I feel the most intense fear.

Having suffered the devastating effects of the Manchester blitz, sixteen year old Salford lad Albert Smith signed up to join the RAF never thinking he would be lucky enough to complete 90 operations. Never having travelled far, his horizons were immediately widened as he completed his training and began a first tour of 38 operations as a Wellington navigator over Germany and North Africa. Germany was full of flak whilst Africa was full of scorpions, all new and fearful experiences for a naïve young northerner. Following a brief respite at an operational training unit in Warboys, Smith volunteered for Pathfinder Mosquitoes with 109 squadron at Little Soughton.

The Oboe navigation system was in its infancy and as one of only two Oboe squadrons, Smith was soon in the air illuminating bombing targets. Over 50 operations, Smith relives successes and failures with the new target marking system; triumphs and disappointments, mission aborts and successes, and all the fears and nervousness entailed in being the first aircraft over a heavily defended target. His narrative, interspersed with extracts from official Bomber Command records combine to give both the official and, possibly more importantly, the human stories of the air war over Germany and beyond.

http://www.crecy.co.uk/

If you don't know it yet, check out this site. Got quite a few titles on the Night Air War.

[ 02. April 2003, 04:30 AM: Message edited by: Stevin Oudshoorn ]

 

Thanks, Stevin - I hadn't heard about this one !

I'm already saving my pennies for Crecy's 'Unexpurgated' edition of Guy Gibson's book, coming next month.

 

Martin :

have you heard of this ? :

Mosquito day and night fighters in RAF service 1941-1945, colours # 6 by Scale aviation modeling. Text, photos and profiles throughout. Do not have the author.
Arpound $20.00 US

 

Haven't seen it yet, Erich. This is quite a nice little series of pamphlets aimed at modellers. The RAF Museum shop usually has stocks so I'll take a look next time I'm there....

 

Bought a copy of 'Mosquito Pathfinder' at the RAF Museum last week.

It's a fascinating memoir and very well-written. The impressions of serving with 109 Squadron's 'Oboe'-equipped Mosquitoes flying from Little Staughton are valuable indeed. Albert Smith's son, Ian, persuaded him to return to his diary and logbooks ; helping him to complete this book just before Albert passed away.

It's a paperback 'original', never having appeared in hardback, and must be a bargain at £7.99. Recommended for airwar buffs !

 

Martin could you please acquire a copy for me and send me a private with your mailing addy so I can send some funds your way ?

thanks mate !

~E

 

http://www.northpole.com/Mailroom/