|
| Most aviation enthusiasts will know the usual stories of de Havilland's "wooden wonder", the all-wood bomber which was first planned by the company in 1938. It was to carry no defensive armament, relying upon superior speed to evade enemy aircraft. However realisation of a prototype was delayed for one reason and another until the beginning of 1940. This first prototype, of quite unorthodox construction, flew for the first time on 25 November 1940. When demonstrated to official guests at Hatfield, they were astounded to see its fighter-like manoeuvrability and its amazing performance with one engine feathered.
Key to this performance was the lightweight wooden construction: a plywood-balsa-plywood sandwich producing a resilient but light fuselage structure which could accept an enormous amount of punishment, and yet retain its integrity. Power plant comprised two Rolls-Royce Merlin in-line engines, driving constant-speed and fully feathering propellers.
The second and third prototypes were fighter and reconnaissance variants respectively. The Mosquito was to prove that it was more than capable of performing any task, and in the process is remembered as a truly outstanding British aircraft of World War II. There had, of course, been some official misgivings that such an unorthodox aircraft could carry out its combat task and survive in the war skies over Europe. In fact later versions capable of higher performance showed that the original de Havilland concept of an aircraft too fast to be intercepted was correct. Towards the end of the war Mosquito units were averaging one aircraft loss per 2,000 sorties - by far the lowest figure recorded by Bomber Command.
Many Mosquito variants were built within the three bomber/fighter/reconnaissance categories the first into service being PR aircraft which made their initial daylight sorties over Paris on 20 September 1941. PR Mosquitoes also had the distinction of being the last in RAF front-line service,
being withdrawn in December 1955. Mosquito bombers, which had entered service carrying a 907kg bomb load, were later to carry a 1800kg block-buster in a bulged bomb bay. Mosquito fighters were to distinguish themselves in fighter-bomber, anti-shipping and night-fighter roles, and were to destroy some 600 V-1 flying-bombs in the defence of Britain. For reconnaissance duties the Mosquito was the RAF's major long-range aircraft in this category, serving in Europe, Burma and the South Pacific. Including 1,342 Mosquitoes built in Australia and Canada, total construction was 7,781 aircraft when production ended in November 1950
| MODEL | Mosquito FB. Mk VI |
| CREW | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 x Rolls-Royce Merlin 25, 1208kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 10115 kg | 22300 lb |
| Empty weight | 6486 kg | 14299 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 16.51 m | 54 ft 2 in |
| Length | 12.47 m | 41 ft 11 in |
| Height | 4.65 m | 15 ft 3 in |
| Wing area | 42.18 m2 | 454.02 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 583 km/h | 362 mph |
| Cruise speed | 523 km/h | 325 mph |
| Ceiling | 10060 m | 33000 ft |
| Range | 2655 km | 1650 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 4 x 20mm cannon, 4 x 7.7mm machine guns, 900kg of bombs |
 | A three-view drawing (678 x 630) |
| Rod, e-mail, 04.05.2012 10:03 My father flew the first Mosquito against the Japanese in WW2, He continued to fly after the war with a total of close to 27,000 hrs. He said it was much faster than anything else at the time so you could always get out of trouble by out running it if needed. There is now a flying reconstructed Mossie in NZ. reply | | Keith, e-mail, 18.01.2012 21:25 Would like to know that after the countries finished with training in a WW2 aircraft what became of them? I know that some may have went to the recycle bin, but maybe some are just sitting in a hangar or field some where, any input? reply | | Jack P. Weiss, e-mail, 06.01.2012 00:58 My father, Paul Weiss, was a pilot in WW2, training in Montgomery, Al, USA. HE stayed to train other pilots, then returned to England. He flew the Mosquito, as well as some other planes. I was wondering if anyone here knew him then. reply | | shel, e-mail, 26.12.2011 13:24 If I were a WWII Allied Air Commander and I was allowed only 1 plane type, my choice would be the Mosquito.
The "mossie" could be a fighter, a strategic bomber, fly recon missions, be a night fighter, a pathfinder, a tactical fighter bomber...
It had great speed, range, firepower, durability, bomb load, everything needed in a war winning plane.
In the B-17 comments, Sean says that the Mosquito could have flow the bombing missions over Germany with better results and far lower losses than the B-17. I think Sean is right. reply | |
| | rick, e-mail, 04.09.2011 04:02 recently flew a P-51 TF. Does anyone know of any Mosquitos available to go up in, any where? Wii be in England
Scotland in October. Appreciate a resoponse. reply | | Mark, e-mail, 15.04.2011 12:42 A beautiful aircraft and a credit to the designer. We were to have a mosquito flying at an airshow here in New Zealand at easter weekend but unfortunatly it is not quite restored. reply | | Albert Webb, e-mail, 07.04.2011 03:59 I was stationed at Gib. 1954-57 as an aerofireman. I was most fortunate to fly in one of the 2 Mosquitos on station flight. Flying along the North African coast and Straits past Tanger, back and forth so the navy could practice with their radar.
What a shame when one of the Mosquitos burned to nothing along with an Anson and Dakota DC3 in a disasterous hanger fire January 1956.
As far as I remember, the other Mossie never flew again.
Passing of an era.
What a great life it was. reply | | Anne Carter, e-mail, 03.04.2011 06:27 A comment about George E Stewart. I remember him as a young pilot in Hankow and I was a 12 year old (Anne Berthet) with pigtails.Reading about him brought back memories of a very happy childhood in Hankow. That you Mr Stewart. reply | | Jim McCorkle, e-mail, 01.04.2011 12:17 I instructed on Mossies at Swinderby for a couple of years after the war. A great kite to fly once one recognised the tendency to swing left if the throttles were not handled properly at start of take-off run. A sweetheart in the air. reply | | Kenneth Ball, e-mail, 18.02.2011 03:54 I was an apprentice at De Havilland Aircraft Co in 1949-54.We began training at Astwick Manor across Hatfield areodrome from the Factory. I made my first toolbox from 1 /16th thick birch plywood left over from making the prototype Mosquito. I believe I am correct in saying that it could carry a heavier bomb load than the B17 Fortress reply | | Ian Burrow, e-mail, 02.02.2011 03:21 My dad was a radar-operator /air gunner on NF II Mosquitos with 25 Squadron in 1943. He flew on night intruder missions over Germany and Holland. He says it was a wonderful aircraft: very fast and agile (although not fast enough to escape FW190's). On his last mission they were attempting to imitate a German night fighter but were spotted and shot down. He was a POW for the rest of the War. reply | | John Hatfield, e-mail, 30.01.2011 14:29 I joined deHavillands as an apprentice /student at the time the Mosquito was starting service. Had a few flights in it with the TestPilots when I was working on the test line.??Campbell, Pat Fillingham and others were the pilots.
Early morning going to work the planes were roaring around the skies over the hangars leaving vortices. Exciting times. reply | | Doug Dykeman, e-mail, 25.01.2011 20:43 I remember as a youngster in 1970, hitchhiking from a small town in Alberta to Namao A.F. base. They had a Mossie under restoration sitting out on the ramp. Snuck in through a gap in the fence and spent the afternoon sitting in the cockpit watching and waving at Hercs taxiing by. It was a small piece of heaven. No M.P.s or other military personnel showed up to find out what I was doing. Simpler times. reply | | GIBBY GIBSON, e-mail, 23.01.2011 21:07 I SEEM TO REMEMBER READING SOMEWHERE --THAT THE CANADIAN BUILT MOSQUITO HELD THE SPEED RECORD FROM CANADA TO SCOTLAND--AROUND 6 HOURS WITH A TAILWIND THAT WAS UNBROKEN --UNTIL THE ADVENT OF THE JETS -- reply | |
| | GORDO -GIBBY-GIBSON, e-mail, 23.01.2011 21:04 MY DAD FLEW N.F MOSQUITOS WITH 68 SQDN--HAD SEVERAL V1 KILLS--SAID IT WAS A 19 YR OLDS DREAM--POWER SPEED AND FIREPOWER TO MATCH--ONE OF HIS KILLS HEAD ON V1 AT NIGHT
WITH F /O LACK IN MID 1944--SHOWS WHAT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE CAN DO WHEN THE POLITICIANS STAY OUT OF THE ROOM.
THE MOSQUITO LEFT A RICH HERITAGE AND LEGACY reply | | Cliff Sweeting, e-mail, 31.12.2010 21:24 Iconic. One of those designs which just seemed to get it right the first time, every time; a true multi-role combat plane. Beautifully proportioned and aesthetically pleasing. Only thing to criticise about it, was the disastrous effect of humidity on the plywood sections in the tropics. The airframe fitters had a hard time in the Far East because of this. In Europe, where it did most of its fighting, it was superb. reply | | Harold, e-mail, 09.12.2010 08:42 The city of Calgary has one at the museum going on the block this week, city council is going to decide what do do with it, its in parts but all together--too bad \\I think it will be sold over seas. Fantastic sound and was the definition of speed with grace reply | | ROBERT SYMONS, e-mail, 08.12.2010 15:30 I first saw the mossie in 1953 when, as a small boy I travelled by train to Somerset. Somewhere along the coast the RAF Regiment gunners were firing at a target towing mossie, flying at low altitude. What a thrill for a 9 year old boy. reply | | Brian Howard, e-mail, 02.12.2010 18:13 While a member of the ATC I attended a "Radio" course at an RAF School near Weston Super Mare, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting in a deHavilland Mosquitoe, model and reg long forgotten, can anyone provide information reply | | a.casais, e-mail, 11.11.2010 21:20 To me one of the best british aircrafts with the spitfire and hurricane.This one went with the lancasters in some night raids over Dresde throughing flares to the targets and at the same time like a good escort, very cool machine. reply |
|
Do you have any comments?
|
| 
COMPANY
PROFILE
All the World's Rotorcraft
|
