Low Attack: The Story of Two Mosquito Squadrons in World War Two

John Wooldridge was a commanding officer of 105 Squadron during World War Two and his book recounts how he and his fellow pilots of 105 and 139 Squadrons utilised the Mosquito plane to sting Nazi defences with daring low-level attacks.

The de Havilland Mosquito was developed at a time when metal was at a premium for Britain’s hard-pressed aircraft industry and it was constructed out of wood by a range of unlikely firms, from coachbuilders to furniture makers. Able to carry two thousand pounds of bombs, it had a range of 1,200 miles and a top speed of 380mph which meant that the Mosquito was the perfect plane for low-level daylight assaults on pinpoint targets.

Low Attack provides personal insights into the activities of the men of both 105 and 139 Squadrons, highlighting some of their most courageous attacks, including the raid on the Gestapo H.Q. in Oslo, during September 1942, the engine works in Copenhagen and the main broadcasting station in Berlin both in January 1943. The latter being the first daylight attack made by the R.A.F. on Berlin.

John Wooldridge interviewed many of his fellow pilots to gain a thorough and varied view of what it was like flying these little ‘Wooden Wonders’. This book should be essential reading for all interested how one wooden plane and few brave pilots changed the course of the battle of the skies in Allies’ favour.