Before release these were spun at 700 to 900rpm by a ram air turbine in the bomb bay, fed by an air scoop. Pilot's Notes For Mosquito, Marks VIII and IX, Mark XVI. He was appointed as an honorary RAF Squadron Leader on 22 September 1939 and tasked to head up a new RAF 1 Photographic Development Unit at Heston Aerodrome. It could be fitted with American or British AI radars; 220 were built. 141 Squadron was already experienced in the use of Serrate, since they had flown intensive trials with it, mounted in, Some members of Bomber Command's Nos. At a loaded weight of 16,200lb (7,300kg) the Mk XV was 2,300lb (1,000kg) lighter than a standard Mk II, and reached an altitude of 45,000 feet (14,000m). Additionally, although inferior torsionally, the strength to weight ratio of wood was as good as that of duralumin or steel, and, given such considerations, a different approach to designing a high-speed bomber was possible. Together the top and bottom skins multiplied the strength of the internal spars and ribs. [17][23] The aircraft was to have a speed of 397 miles per hour (639km/h) at 23,700 feet (7,200m) and a cruising speed of 327 miles per hour (526km/h) at 26,600 feet (8,100m) with a range of 1,480 miles (2,380km) at 24,900 feet (7,600m) on full tanks. The Mosquito had a frame of wood and a skin of plywood, and it was glued and screwed together in England, Canada, and Australia. Slate blue upper surface with black underside; red, white, and blue rondels on upper wing tips and side fuselage; clear plexiglass nose; Summary [91], The B.35 was powered by Merlin 113 and 114As. B.IV, serial no. The unit was disbanded at RAAF Narromine in July 1946. Lt. Maurice Briggs, DSO, DFC, DFM and navigator Fl. [54], Early on in the Mosquito's operational life, the cooling intake shrouds that were to cool the exhausts on production aircraft overheated after a while. [156], One Mosquito is listed as belonging to German secret operations unit Kampfgeschwader 200, which tested, evaluated and sometimes clandestinely operated captured enemy aircraft during the war. Off. Hamilton Roddis had teams of young women ironing the (unusually thin) strong wood veneer before shipping to the UK. The de Havilland Mosquito was a British twin-engine, multirole combat aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other Allied air forces during the Second World War. In 1934, de Havilland decided to construct a new airplane to compete in the England-Australia Air Race. In later models, to save liquids and engine clean up time in case of belly landing, the fire extinguisher was changed to semi-automatic triggers. [60], The fuselage construction joints were made from balsa wood and plywood strips with the spruce multi-ply being connected by a balsa V joint, along with the interior frame. For me in the Navigators seat I had to jettison the side door and dive out head first, right into the propeller, so it was first necessary to feather the prop, an action that took several seconds that seemed like an age! One of the higher-risk uses of the fighter-bomber Mosquito FB VI was by 21 Sqn., 464 (RAAF) Squadron and 487 (NZ) Squadron of No. The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British multi-role combat aircraft with a two-man crew which served during and after the Second World War. This system was extended to include field modifications of the fuel tank system. [81], Electrical power came from a 24 volt DC generator on the starboard (No. 206 Squadron. [39] In February 1941, the buffeting was eliminated by incorporating triangular fillets on the trailing edge of the wings and lengthening the nacelles, the trailing edge of which curved up to fair into the fillet some 10in (250mm) behind the wing's trailing edge: this meant the flaps had to be divided into inboard and outboard sections. The latter, both turret armed, were later disarmed, to become the prototypes for the T.III trainer. [96] A total of 435 of the PR Mk XVI were built. [1] This squadron, named "Hyderabad," had been the first to raid Germany in WWII, bombing enemy warships near Wilhelmshaven. Miracle, Daniel B. and Steven L. Donaldson. The story of the development, introduction and deployment of the De Havilland DH98 Mosquito in this official De Havilland documentary. Here are 10 facts you never knew about the fastest operational aircraft in the world right at the start of World War 2. The Mosquito increased German night-fighter losses to such an extent the Germans were said to have awarded two victories for shooting one down. South Africa received two F.II and 14 PR.XVI/XIs and Sweden received 46 NF.XIXs. Over the complete war, No. [139][141] U-251 and U-2359 followed on 19 April and 2 May 1945.[142]. 2 Group, 2nd Tactical Air Force in Operation Jericho, a mission to destroy the walls and guards' quarters of Amiens prison to allow members of the French Resistance to escape. [5] For nearly a year, in 1942 and 1943, 105 Sdn., based next at RAF Horsham St. This required modifications to the rear fuselage to accommodate an intelligence service linguist to talk to agents on the ground through a VHF radio. In only ten months, the firm designed and built three D.H. 88 Comet racers. Located on the starboard side of the cockpit, the switches would operate automatically in the event of a crash. [nb 15], The Air Ministry initially suspected that this variant would not work, but tests proved otherwise. The original estimates were that as the Mosquito prototype had twice the surface area and over twice the weight of the Spitfire Mk II, but also with twice its power, the Mosquito would end up being 20 miles per hour (32km/h) faster. (NF 38 Notes), Measured with smooth black finish rather than standard matte finish, Articles needing page number citations from January 2015, Articles needing page number citations from February 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, File:DE HAVILLAND 1943 Advertisement s.jpg, Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, 4,000lb (1,812kg), thin-cased high explosive bomb, de Havilland Mosquito operational history, List of aircraft of the United Kingdom in World War II, Time-lapse footage of restoration work on, http://www.avialogs.com/index.php/en/aircraft/uk/dehavilland/dh-98mosquito/dh-98-de-havilland-mosquito-mks-viii-ix-and-xvi-operational-performance-notes.html, http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%201611.html, "Mosquito FB. On August 17, 1962, TH 998 was transported to the United States. Soon after, some of the 105 Squadron aircraft were equipped with Oboe. First published in 1944, it is a valuable contemporary first-hand account of the daylight low-level, pinpoint raiding phase of the Mosquito operations. The Americans did not pursue their interest. A 2014 documentary tells the story of Canadian efforts to put one back in the sky. DH Mosquito, Internal Detail". A move during the dive could jam the gun. [24] Having the fighter variant helped keep the Mosquito project alive because there was still plenty of criticism over the usefulness of an unarmed bomber within the government and Air Ministry, even after the first prototype had flown and shown its capabilities. Mark 35 standards. In the first few years of Mosquito service, most of the dedicated Luftwaffe night fighter groups were equipped with aircraft such as the Bf 110 or Junkers Ju 88, both of lower performance. Pilots raced all three against sixty-four entrants from thirteen countries. The next variant, the B Mk XX, was powered by Packard Merlins 31 and 33s. It could carry either two 50 imperial gallons (230L), two 100 imperial gallons (450L) or two 200 imperial gallons (910L) droppable fuel tanks. The fuselage was strengthened internally by seven bulkheads made up of two plywood skins parted by spruce blocks, which formed the basis on each half for the outer shell. Curious Droid 1.07M subscribers Subscribe 462K views 2 years ago Get MagellanTV here:. It was sensitive to sidewards movement; an attack required a dive from 5,000ft (1,500m) at a 30 angle with the turn and bank indicator on centre. These were built in Canada. [139] On 9 April, German U-boats U-804, U-843 and U-1065 were spotted in formation heading for Norway. [4] Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito was adapted to many other roles during the air war, including low- to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike aircraft, and fast photo-reconnaissance aircraft. [145] In Canada, fuselages were built in the Oshawa, Ontario plant of General Motors of Canada Limited. [91] A Mosquito B Mk IX holds the record for the most combat operations flown by an Allied bomber in the Second World War. 1. [19], On 12 November, at a meeting considering fast bomber ideas put forward by de Havilland, Blackburn, and Bristol, Marshal W. Freeman directed de Havilland to produce a fast aircraft, powered initially by Merlin engines, with options of using progressively more powerful engines, including the Rolls-Royce Griffon and the Napier Sabre. In an attempt to smooth the air flow and deflect it from striking the tailplane with such force, the company experimented with non-retractable slots, fitted to the inner engine nacelles and to the leading edge of the tailplane. [154] Gring himself had strong views about the Mosquito, lecturing a group of German aircraft manufacturers in 1943 that he could "go berserk" when faced with the Mosquito, which made him "green and yellow with envy. 2829. [19] Initially they were engaged in moderately high level (about 10 000ft.) night bombing, diversionary raids and dropping Window. The Mosquito flew its last official European war mission on 21 May 1945, when Mosquitos of 143 Squadron and 248 Squadron RAF were ordered to continue to hunt German submarines that might be tempted to continue the fight; instead of submarines all the Mosquitos encountered were passive E-boats. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. It also has quite the history. 35 bomber version in 1945 under Contract number 555/C.23(a). It was constructed primarily of wood, earning it the nickname, " Wooden Wonder .". He would have died had not the pilot, surmising from Bohr's lack of response to intercom communication that he had lost consciousness, descended to a lower altitude for the remainder of the flight. The first PR Mk VIII, DK324 first flew on 20 October 1942. 627 Squadron RAF was one of the first new bomber squadron to be added to the PFF. John Baker, DFC and Bar. For two years, de Havilland and the Air Ministry argued over several different designs and government specifications for the new airplane. The 100 Group squadrons used progressively better marks of Mosquito according to their roles: NF XIXs and NF 30s were used for dedicated night fighter operations, providing escorts for the bomber streams; F Mk IIs and FB Mk VIs were used for "Flower" operations (patrolling enemy airfields ahead of the main stream and bombing to keep enemy night fighters on the ground as well as attacking night fighters in the landing pattern) and "Mahmoud" operations, in which, operating independently of bomber stream activity, the squadrons flew to assembly points for German night fighters and attacked them there. 35 Mosquito; Twin-engine, two-seat, monoplane fighter, bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft. Rickard, J. De Havilland finally won a contract to build a prototype five months after Hitler invaded Poland but the Air Ministry, and many people in the British aircraft industry, remained skeptical right up until March 3, 1941. 2. The flight almost ended in tragedy since Bohr did not don his oxygen equipment as instructed, and passed out. [37] These were fitted with the Serrate radar detector to allow them to track down German night fighters by emissions from their own Lichtenstein B/C, C-1, or SN-2 radar, as well as a device codenamed Perfectos that tracked emissions from German IFF systems. The bomber prototype led to the B Mk IV, of which 273 were built: apart from the 10 Series 1s, all of the rest were built as Series 2s with extended nacelles, revised exhaust manifolds, with integrated flame dampers, and larger tailplanes. He initially thought that adapting the Albatross airliner to meet the RAF's requirements was a time-saving possibility. [81] The radio communication devices included VHF and HF communications, GEE navigation, and IFF and G.P. A BBC news broadcast that followed this raid marked the first official confirmation that the Mosquito existed. In the central fuselage were twin fuel tanks mounted between bulkhead number two and three aft of the cockpit. Air Ministry. Later up-engined versions could carry 500lb (230kg) bombs. The German fighter made six passes at the Mosquito MM 273, crewed by F/L A.E. [93] 18 built by Airspeed Ltd were eventually modified to become FB.XVIIIs. The AOC-in-C still would not accept an unarmed bomber, but insisted it would be suitable for reconnaissance missions with either F8 or F24 cameras. The first two aircraft dropped high explosive bombs, to "open up" the building, their bombs going in through the doors and windows. De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito. MB-24 survives on display in the aviation museum in Brussels. The first Axis warplane to fall victim to the night-fighter variant of "Mossie" was a Dornier Do-217 downed on May 30, 1942. Media related to De Havilland Mosquito in USAAF service at Wikimedia Commons, The USAAF 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance) was constituted in the days after D-Day and activated at RAF Watton in August 1944 to carry out photographic and mapping missions over mainland Europe, as the Allied armies pushed east. To meet specification N.15/44 for a navalised Mosquito for Royal Navy use as a torpedo bomber, de Havilland produced a carrier-borne variant. [77] In the FB.VI, these tanks contained 25 imperial gallons (110L) each,[76] while in the B.IV and other unarmed Mosquitos each of the two centre tanks contained 68 imperial gallons (310L). At first, it was thought these were as a result of wing structure failures. John Baker, DFC and Bar. 105 RAF squadrons. 34A conducted a reconnaissance mission above suspected communist strongholds hidden in the jungles of Malaya. [46] Initially he experimented with the squadron's Lancaster bombers, but then he wished to use Mosquitos for precision target marking by a Master Bomber. & A.E.E. [137] On 10 June, U-821 was abandoned in the face of intense air attack from No. [41], W4050 continued to be used for long and varied testing programs, being essentially the experimental "workhorse" for the Mosquito family. They became the main element of the Light Night Striking Force (LNSF) and from early in 1943, they were used for target marking, particularly in the initial phases of the raid, when their pyrotechnics would be followed up by additions from the heavy Pathfinder bombers. The Mosquito was also built as the Mosquito T Mk III two-seat trainer. Mosquito fighters from all units accounted for 487 German aircraft during the war, the vast majority were night fighters. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a transport.[5]. ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Type 463 - Prototype Highball conversion of Mosquito IV. [42] In late October 1941, it was taken back to the factory to be fitted with Merlin 61s, the first production Merlins fitted with a two-speed, two-stage supercharger. Bohr's comment was that he had slept like a baby for the entire flight. Traveling at up to 392 mph, it could outrun virtually all piston-engined . All were sunk. [2], The de Havilland Mosquito operated in many roles during the Second World War, being tasked to perform medium bomber, reconnaissance, tactical strike, anti-submarine warfare and shipping attack and night fighter duties, both defensive and offensive, until the end of the war. The first flight with the new engines was on 20 June 1942. Trials with this configuration were made with W4057 which had the wings strengthened and an addition of two fuel tanks, or alternatively two 500 pounds (230kg) bombs. Via Pinterest This series was followed by six Sea Mosquito TR Mk 37s, which differed in having ASV Mk XIII radar instead of the TR.33's AN/APS-6. As a night fighter, the Mosquito downed more than 600 Luftwaffe planes over Germany and as many V-1 missiles (buzz bombs) over England and the English Channel. Not long after, No. Mosquito-equipped squadrons performed medium bomber, reconnaissance, tactical strike, anti-submarine warfare and shipping attack and night fighter duties, both defensive and offensive. The de Havilland Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft with a two-man crew that served d They used this tactic to minimize exposure to anti-aircraft defenses and to insure precise accuracy during bombing and strafing attacks. Some 150 to 200+ (sources differ) Canadian-built Mosquitos and spare engines were purchased by the Republic of China Air Force in 1947. [58], The oval-section fuselage was a frameless monocoque shell built in two halves being formed to shape by band clamps over a mahogany or concrete mould, each holding one half of the fuselage, split vertically. ", "Realfilm" WWII propaganda film detailing Operation Oyster, http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/article/20131023/MNH01/310230453/Marshfield-women-recall-building-engineering-marvels-skies?nclick_check=1, "De Havilland DH98 Mosquito T3, G-ASKH: AAIB Bulletin No: 6/97 Ref: EW/C96/7/9Category: 1.1. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [97], Mosquito FB Mk XVIII serial NT225 of 248 Squadron Special Detachment showing the 57mm Molins gun and the streamlined blister used to make room for the automatic loading mechanism. Via Britannica Overcoming early concerns over wooden constriction combined with a lack of defensive armament meant De Havilland needed the Mosquito to be quick. Late in WWII, Mosquitos undertook a wide range of courier duties, often overflying and sometimes landing in neutral countries such as Sweden. HQ 8th AF forced OSS project transfer to 492nd BG, Harrington in March 1945. The Mosquito was one of the few operational front-line aircraft of the World War II era to be constructed almost entirely of wood and, as such, was nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder". [117], The first of these conversions was MP469, which was wheeled into the experimental shop on 7 September and first flew on 14 September. First flight: November 15th, 1940 Official introduction: November 15th, 1941 Retired: May 1963 Since there are many variants of the Mosquito, we'll provide the specifications for the most common,. [76] In addition, the FB Mk VI could have larger fuselage tanks, increasing the capacity to 63 imperial gallons (290L). The main landing gear shock absorbers were de Havilland manufactured and used a system of rubber in compression, rather than hydraulic oleos, with twin pneumatic brakes for each wheel. The 25th BG flew 3,246 sorties (including B-17, B-24, B-25, B-26, A-26 and Mosquito flights) and lost 29 PR Mk XVIs on operations (including takeoff accidents). When analysed, the photographs showed rows of people lined up, plus chimneys and all the other characteristics of a death camp. [150] The Mosquito was first announced publicly on 26 September 1942 after the Oslo Mosquito raid of 25 September. Turkey received 96 FB.VIs and several T.IIIs, and Yugoslavia had 60 NF.38s, 80 FB.VIs and three T.IIIs delivered. There were, however, counter-arguments that, although such a design had merit, it would not necessarily maintain a speed advantage over enemy fighters for long. Twenty Mosquitoes were involved, split into three attack waves. reconnaissance missions were defended by accompanying USAAF P38 Lightnings from the same base. In 1943 Luftwaffe night fighters were causing serious losses by attacking the bomber streams over Germany. One particular Mosquito is noteworthy because it completed more combat missions than any other Allied aircraft. Powered by two 1,690hp (1,260kW) Merlin 114s first used in the PR.32. [57], The PR Mk 34 was the final wartime photo reconnaissance version of the Mosquito, designed for long range reconnaissance in the Pacific. The original all-wood design was intended as a light bomber but quickly proved highly versatile with reconnaissance, fighter-bomber, night fighter, and intruder variants being developed. On 27 March 1944, the MK XVIIIs of 248 Squadron were formed into the "Special Detachment" unit, which continued through to January 1945. At extreme speeds, Mosquitoes carried heavy loads great distances because of two key design features: a lightweight, streamlined, wooden airframe propelled by powerful, reliable engines. [5] It was my belief that this shudder allowed the metal undercarriage doors to slightly open (they were held shut only by strong springs) and then be whipped off by the air stream and smash into the tail unit demolishing the elevators, thus making it impossible to pull out of the dive. They carried small, high value cargoes such as precision ball bearings and machine-tool steel, as well as Diplomatic Bags. They took part in many bombing operations as pathfinders, marking targets with flares for the massed formations of heavy bombers. The prototype was converted from a IV (402 built). These aircraft, designated NF II (Special) were first used by 23 Squadron in operations over Europe in 1942. [110] The two-stage powerplants were added along with a pressurised cabin. [138] On 5 April 1945 Mosquitos with Molins attacked five German surface ships in the Kattegat and again demonstrated their value by setting them all on fire and sinking them. In short, the Mosquito was an outstanding warplane on every count. The frill was opened by bellows and venturi effect to provide rapid deceleration during interceptions and was tested between January - August 1942, but was also abandoned when it was discovered that lowering the undercarriage had the same effect with less buffeting. Offensively, starting in July 1942, some Mosquito night-fighter units conducted intruder raids over Luftwaffe airfields and, as part of 100 Group, the Mosquito was used as a night fighter and intruder in support of RAF Bomber Command's heavy bombers, and played an important role in reducing bomber losses during 1944 and 1945. During the long daylight hours of the Northern summer, the Mosquito was the safer alternative. Boscombe Down ", "Mosquito Aircraft Production at Downview. On 4 July 1941, in a Blenheim Mk.IV, Edwards had led a daylight attack on the Port of Bremen by. Omissions? Post war, the RAF found that when finally applied to bombing, in terms of useful damage done, the Mosquito had proved 4.95 times cheaper than the Lancaster. Also known as: de Havilland DH-98 Mosquito. A few hours later he was joined by John Walker, the engine installation designer, for a 30-minute flight that reached a speed of 220 miles per hour. However, from 10,000 to 15,000ft (4,600m) the maximum speed was 348 knots (400mph). [101], On 21 June 1941 the Air Ministry ordered that the last 10 Mosquitoes, ordered as photo-reconnaissance aircraft, should be converted to bombers. Page 16. [citation needed] Swedish Air Force General Bjrn Bjuggren wrote in his memoirs that mechanical problems in the swivelling nose-mounted radar antenna caused destructive vibrations that broke apart one or two J 30s in the air. This prototype continued to use the short engine nacelles, single-piece trailing edge flaps and the 19ft 5.5in (5.931m) "No. [94] The PR Mk IX was based on the Mosquito B Mk IX bomber and was powered by two 1,680hp (1,250kW) Merlin 72/73 or 76/77 engines. Including production on the three continents where it was made, there were 42 marks, or versions, of the 7,780 Mosquitos that were built. There are approximately 30 non-flying Mosquitos around the world with only one airworthy example. NF Mk XVII was the designation for 99 NF Mk II conversions, with single-stage Merlin 21, 22, or 23 engines, but British AI.X (US SCR-720) radar. [94] The PR Mk VIII had a maximum speed of 436mph (702km/h), an economical cruise speed of 295mph (475km/h) at 20,000ft, and 350mph (560km/h) at 30,000ft,[95] a ceiling of 38,000ft (12,000m), a range of 2,550nmi (4,720km), and a climb rate of 2,500ft per minute (760 m). Following Operation Chastise (the famous "Dambusters raid"), Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, CO of RAF 617 squadron (Dambusters), developed a low-level dive-bombing method of target marking, expecting the main bombers to strike from a higher altitude. 105 Squadron. The bottom skin was also reinforced with stringers. With every act of terror, Geoffrey de Havilland (founder and head of the firm) and his design staff became more convinced that they could create an exceptional warplane based on the Comet and Albatross. The maximum fuel load which could be carried was 719.5 imperial gallons (3,271l) distributed between 453 imperial gallons (2,060l) internal fuel tanks, plus two overload tanks, each of 66.5 imperial gallons (302l) capacity, which could be fitted in the bomb bay, and two 100 imperial gallons (450l) drop tanks. The wing was installed into the roots by means of four large attachment points. [48] Cotton rapidly improved photo reconnaissance capabilities, working at first with a Bristol Blenheim (too slow), but soon acquiring a couple of Supermarine Spitfires that were rapidly adapted. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth flights were watched by several thousand spectators at a special air show at Ardmore on 29 September. [40] This variant also operated over Malta, Italy, Sicily and North Africa from late 1942 on. During the months from mid-1942 to the end of May 1943, they participated in the low-level daylight attack phase described by Wooldridge,[6] including the first day of Berlin raids. It contains a commendation of the skill and high courage of the aircrews by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, referring to attacks on targets of first importance to the German war effort. (1942). Other bomber variants of the Mosquito included the Merlin 21 powered B Mk V high-altitude version. [100], After the end of World War II Spartan Air Services used ten ex-RAF Mosquitoes, mostly B.35's plus one of only six PR.35's built, for high-altitude photographic survey work in Canada. De Havilland Mosquito. This version was equipped with three overload fuel tanks, totalling 760 imperial gallons (3,500L) in the bomb bay, and could also carry two 50 imperial gallons (230L) or 100 imperial gallons (450L) drop tanks. 157 Squadron in January 1942, replacing the Douglas Havoc. The other crews then dropped incendiary bombs, and the records were destroyed. Hence 618 Squadron was formed on 1 April 1943 under Coastal Command. The prototype took to the air on November 25, 1940, with Geoffrey de Havilland, Jr., the firm's test pilot since 1937, taking a short flight. Copyright 2000, David van Vlymen, Portland, Oregon, e-mail: [email protected], fax: 413-383-3877, from The Mosquito Page website at http://www.mossie.org/mosquito.html. under restoration. This enabled more distant reconnaissance missions, to Poland, for example. Pressed home the attack and with flak damage to tail, flew home 400 miles with irreparable damage. [29] In promising Beaverbrook 50 Mosquitoes by the end of 1941, de Havilland was taking a gamble, because it was unlikely that 50 Mosquitos could be built in such a limited time; as it transpired only 20 Mosquitos were built in 1941, but the other 30 were delivered by mid-March 1942. Specifications: Crew: 2 Max Speed: 370mph* Service Ceiling: 34,000 feet Range: 1,600 miles Engines: 2 x Rolls Royce Merlin engines Length: 41 ft 2 inches* Wingspan: 54 ft 2 inches Height: 17 ft 5 inches Weight: 20,000lbs loaded * Later Mosquitos broke 400mph. [10] On 4 October 1938, for example, de Havilland projected the performance of another design based on the D.H. 91 Albatross, powered by two Merlin Xs, with a three-man crew and armed with six or eight forward firing guns, plus one or two manually operated guns and a tail turret. "[155], The Mosquito also proved a very capable night fighter. Without armament, the crew could be reduced to a pilot and a navigator. Boiten, Theo. He was greatly impressed by the "lightness of the controls and generally pleasant handling characteristics". First flown in August 1944, only five were built and all were conversions from PR.XVIs. The spruce would be reinforced by plywood strips at the point where the two halves joined to form the V-joint. Bridgman, Leonard, ed. This variant suffered from stability problems and did not enter RAF service: 60 were eventually sold to Yugoslavia. Two outer wing tanks each contained 58 imperial gallons (260L) of fuel. [43], On 11 April 1944, after a request by Dutch resistance workers, six Mosquito FB VIs of No. In 1954, the Belgian Air Force also received three Mosquito FB 6s which had been converted to the target tug role.[66]. [nb 21]. [48], Construction of the fighter prototype, W4052 was also carried out at the secret Salisbury Hall facility. [46][47], W4051, which was designed from the outset to be the prototype for the photo-reconnaissance versions of the Mosquito, was slated to make its first flight in early 1941. [62] Each bulkhead was a repeat of the spruce design for the fuselage halves; a balsa sheet sandwich between two plywood sheets/skins.

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