Early one evening, a couple of cargo ships were caught leaving port a bit before dusk and ops were called so six of us made the fast trip across the North Sea. To our surprise one of the ships was heavily armed with the result a fair bit of flack was received. After the rocket attack was completed the aircraft, including ours, which still had 20 mm cannon ammunition left circled around to make another pass at the target. Just as I was about to press the firing button, another Beau slid across my gunsight. He and I didn't realize how close he came to being shot down until we saw the films of the action the following day. In a Beau, when the cannon safety switch is turned on the automatic cameras also were activated.

In early March 1945 the squadron took delivery of several Mark 18 Mosquito aircraft, which were especially designed for attacks against German ships and submarines, as well as to provide cover for the Beau's against enemy aircraft. I was parked on my bike at the end of the runway when they made their initial approach to North Coates. When the pilot cut the throttle on landing, the Merlin Rolls Royce engines would back fire with bangs so loud I thought the aircraft were going to explode. They were a joy to fly though, and it wasn't long until we were checked out to fly them operationally. The "Mossies” as they were called were faster than the Beaus, much more maneuverable, but more vulnerable to enemy attack. In contrast to the Beau, the observer sat to the right and slightly behind the pilot. 

The Mossy could fly on one engine almost as well as on two. Early some mornings when Lancaster aircraft of bomber command were straggling back home to their base in Yorkshire after a night raid over Germany and we were up practicing, we would fly alongside a Lanc, feather the inside propeller and then do a slow roll around the Lanc. Needless to say we weren't too popular with the crew of that aircraft.