de Havilland Mosquito | |
|---|---|
| Country | UK |
| Role | Light bomber Fighter-bomber Night fighter |
| First flight | 25 November 1940 |
| Built | 7781 |
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft. The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side. It served during and after the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era constructed almost entirely of wood and was nicknamed The Wooden Wonder. The Mosquito was also known affectionately as the “Mossie” to its crews. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito was adapted to roles 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. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small high-value cargoes to, and from, neutral countries, through enemy-controlled airspace. A single passenger could ride in the aircraft’s bomb bay when it was adapted for the purpose.
| DeHavilland DH-98 Mosquito Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | The National Museum of the USAF |
| Photos | 50 |
| De Havilland Mosquito NF.XIX | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Andrei Zinchuk |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 39 |
| Mosquito FB.VI (T.3) Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Randy Malmstrom |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 106 |
| Mosquito PR.XVI (TT.35) Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Michael Benolkin |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 15 |
See also:
| De Havilland Mosquito B.35 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Max Otten |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 75 |
The Unarmed Speedster
The De Havilland Mosquito was one of the most remarkable aircraft of World War II. While other manufacturers were competing for scarce aluminum, De Havilland proposed a bomber made almost entirely of wood. Initially dismissed by the Air Ministry, the Mosquito proved that by removing defensive turrets and relying on pure speed, it could outrun almost any fighter of its day. It evolved from a fast bomber into a lethal night fighter, a precision strike aircraft, and the ultimate reconnaissance platform.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (FB Mk VI) |
|---|---|
| Role | Fighter-Bomber / Night Fighter / Reconnaissance |
| Crew | 2 (Pilot and Navigator/Radio Operator) |
| First Flight | November 25, 1940 |
| Powerplant | 2 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 25 liquid-cooled V12s |
| Horsepower | 1,620 hp per engine |
| Maximum Speed | 415 mph (668 km/h) at 28,000 ft |
| Construction | Plywood, Balsa, and Spruce Sandwich |
| Armament | 4 × 20mm Hispano cannons; 4 × .303 Browning machine guns |
Engineering the “Wooden Wonder”
- The Balsa Sandwich: The fuselage was constructed in two halves (left and right) using a sandwich of Ecuadorian balsa wood between layers of birch plywood. This allowed for internal equipment to be installed easily before the halves were glued together.
- Radiators in the Wings: Unlike most aircraft that had radiators hanging below the engines (creating drag), the Mosquito’s radiators were buried in the leading edges of the wing roots, further cleaning up the airflow.
- The Merlin Harmony: Powered by the same engines as the Spitfire and Mustang, the twin Merlins gave the Mosquito a power-to-weight ratio that allowed it to carry a 4,000 lb “Cookie” bomb—the same load as a four-engine B-17 Flying Fortress early in the war.
- Stealth Ancestry: Because of its wooden construction, the Mosquito had a significantly lower radar cross-section than metal aircraft, making it an accidental pioneer in stealth technology for night-time operations.
Operational Excellence
- Operation Jericho: In 1944, Mosquitos performed a legendary low-level precision strike on Amiens Prison in France, breaching the walls to allow French Resistance members to escape just before their scheduled executions.
- The Pathfinders: Mosquitos served as the “Pathfinders” for the RAF Bomber Command, using high-speed navigation and the Oboe radio system to mark targets with flares for the heavy bombers following behind.
- The “Tsetse” Variant: The Mk XVIII variant was equipped with a massive 57mm Molins anti-tank gun in the nose, used with devastating effect against German U-boats and shipping.
- A Global Legacy: Over 7,700 were built in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Today, they are among the most prized warbirds in the world, with only a tiny handful remaining in airworthy condition due to the difficulty of preserving 80-year-old glue and wood.
Views : 4751
You can see also :
de Havilland Dragon Rapide – Photos & Videos
de Havilland Canada DHC-2 – Photos & Videos
de Havilland DH.60 Moth – Photos & Videos
de Havilland DH112 Venom – Photos & Videos
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou – Photos & Video
de Havilland Dragon – Photos & Video
de Havilland DH.88 Comet – Photos & Video
de Havilland Vampire – Photos & Video
de Havilland DH112 Venom – Photos & Video
de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth – Photos & Video