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Family Tree

"A good read and a valuable insight into an aspect of the Burma campaign – the ‘Forgotten War’."

RAF Historical Society Journal

Readers curious about the CBI, or specialists in that theater of war, will find this read worth the time.

Air & Space Power History

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RAF News - December 16 2022

This is a truly absorbing and enjoyable read. I would have like to see a larger text size as I struggled a little to read it with my old blinkers. The content draws you in as it is if listening to Ben Walsh tell you his story rather than reading it, and it is this presentation that I must commend Jeremy Walsh getting right in telling his father’s Story.

Armorama

An excellent read and I love these books where you get the actual story from someone in the know. Excellent adventures, photographs and very well told, I would recommend this book.

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The History Fella

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Scramble 1940 - Official Newsletter of the Battle of Britain Historical Society, Autumn/Winter 2022, Issue 166

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The de Havilland Aeronautical Technical School Association Newsletter No. 83, Summer 2022

In summary this is an interesting work and the author has worked hard in the cause of accuracy. The book is printed to Pen and Sword’s usual high standard with good quality glossy photographs.

ARRSE (Army Rumour Service)

Mosquito Intruder Pilot is written by Jeremy Walsh. This book focuses on Ben Walsh. He was not completely honest about his age when he joined the war effort. This story is carefully crafted through personal research, oral family remembrances, and sifting through war records. I always love learning about those who have fought in our wars. They all have a story to tell. Ben saw a lot in his war action especially being so young. We get to see the adventures through his son's eyes and official records.

NetGalley, Connie Carpenter

This is the story of a brave man, Ben Walsh, who lied about his age so he could join the war effort. Like so many others who felt they must fight for their country but we're ‘officially’ too young. Born and brought up in Lancashire he had no experience of life outside the county. Joining the RAF seemed a great adventure.
The story is told by his son and who has done a tremendous amount of research using personal records, official documents, and his father's experiences. The text is enhanced by a series of maps to help follow the aircrew's missions.
It describes, in detail, the life in which these young men lived with loss and death at an alarming rate. It's well put together and an interesting read for those of us interested in this period of history.

NetGalley, Steve Cripwell

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is a fascinating tale of a young boy who lied about his age in order to join the RAF in 1941 getting his wings 8 weeks after turning 18 and about a year before he first drove a car.. Ben Walsh's story is told by his son Jeremy who has done an excellent job bringing together official records, personal documents and recollections from his father before his death in 2008. Unfortunately it probably represent a large number of those unsung heros who were motivated to volunteer by a strong sense of duty, served their country well and honorably but without proper recognition and were left at the end of the war with the scars of what we now recognise as PTSD. Ben was certainly one of these specialising in low level missions into enemy territory often under the cover of darkness. Starting with flights from the south of England into France using Boston Intruders graduating to the De Haviland Mosquito one of which he then ferries to India as he moved into the Burma campaign. As if life was not hazardous enough flying at tree top height through mountainous jungle with the threat of enemy fire we then learn of the structural problems which beset the wooden air frame of the Mosquito operating in the Far East heat and humidity. Catastrophic failure of critical glued joints were attributed to many aircraft breaking up in flight with the loss of all aboard.
Jeremy Walsh has done a masterful job chronicling his fathers wartime career weaving together the technical details of both aircraft and the mission logistics as well as the human story of a young boy a long way from home living in difficult circumstances trying to cope with the stresses of an unbelievably hazardous job. Ben kept a "Roll of Honour" in his photo album which was his tally of friends and colleagues doing a similar job but whose luck ran out. It is hard to imagine the thoughts and feelings of a young 19 or 20 year old constantly updating this roster with the certainty his time would be just round the corner.
I would certainly recommend this book not just for those interested in WW2 tales but for any reader who wants an insight into what war really means for those brave enough to become combatants.

NetGalley, Michael Neill

A interesting read on the life of an RAF pilot during WW2. The trials and dangers he faced and overcame on a daily basis was truly inspiring. His recovery following the end of the war was truly making.

NetGalley, Ron Baumer