Victoria, Australia: Publishing Solutions, 2008. The prototype DK 324 was converted from a PR.VIII and first flew on 24 March 1943. At the same time, the design team had to fight conservative Air Ministry views on defensive armament. [46] In late October 1941, it returned to the factory to be fitted with Merlin 61s, the first production Merlins fitted with a two-speed, two-stage supercharger. As part of 100 Group, it was flown as a night fighter and as an intruder supporting Bomber Command heavy bombers that reduced losses during 1944 and 1945. The report by Beech Aircraft summed up the general view: "It appears as though this airplane has sacrificed serviceability, structural strength, ease of construction and flying characteristics in an attempt to use construction material which is not suitable for the manufacture of efficient airplanes. Faith, then from 29 September, RAF Marham, undertook daylight low-level and shallow dive attacks. [27] Work on the DH.98 prototype stopped. Entering service in late 1937, the Hurricane was the brainchild of designer Sydney Camm and represented an evolution of the earlier Hawker Fury. The type could carry 4,000lb (1,800kg) of bombs. The low pressure cabin retained a bomber canopy structure and a two-piece windscreen. The conclusion was that the airflow separating from the rear section of the inner engine nacelles was disturbed, leading to a localised stall and the disturbed airflow was striking the tailplane, causing buffeting. The airframe was lightened by removing armour plating, some fuel tanks and other fitments. Both types of moulds were used, at certain times and in different factories. During the 1950s, the RAF replaced the Mosquito with the jet-powered English Electric Canberra. DH had always recognised that casein assembly adhesive was unsuitable for Mosquitoes entering Far East service. [101] The Dunlop-Marstrand anti-shimmy tailwheel was also retractable. [7] It ordered 19 photo-reconnaissance (PR) models and 176 fighters. It could be fitted with American or British AI radars; 220 were built. Screwed inserts into the inner skins that would be under stress in service were reinforced using round shear plates made from a fabric-Bakelite composite. An investigating team led by Major Hereward de Havilland travelled to India and produced a report in early December 1944 stating, "the accidents were not caused by the deterioration of the glue, but by shrinkage of the airframe during the wet monsoon season". Little difference was noted above 15,000ft (4,600m). [35] Nevertheless, work on the prototype went ahead quickly at Salisbury Hall since E-0234 was completed by November 1940. But the restoration community in New Zealand had always mused about the legendary, nearly extinct de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito, a former RAF WWII plane made almost entirely from wood. [23], On 12 November, at a meeting considering fast-bomber ideas put forward by de Havilland, Blackburn, and Bristol, Air Marshal 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. [44], During its trials on 16 January 1941, W4050 outpaced a Spitfire at 6,000ft (1,800m). First flown in August 1944, only five were built and all were conversions from PR.XVIs. [141] The first operational sortie by a Mosquito was made by a PR Mk.I, W4055, on 17 September 1941; during this sortie the unarmed Mosquito PR.I evaded three Messerschmitt Bf 109s at 23,000ft (7,000m). [3] At least a single de Havilland Mosquito was delivered to the Soviet Union marked 'DK 296'.[218]. Sometimes a K-17 camera was used for air surveys. This was made possible by cropping, or shortening the tail of the 500lb (230kg) bomb so that these four heavier weapons could be carried (or a 2,000lb (920kg) total load). W4051 later flew operationally with 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (1 PRU). Located on the starboard side of the cockpit, the switches would operate automatically in the event of a crash. [90], The fuel systems gave the Mosquito good range and endurance, using up to nine fuel tanks. 157 Squadron in January 1942, replacing the Douglas Havoc. [106] Throughout 1942, 105 Squadron, based next at RAF Horsham St. [185] The maximum fuel load was 719.5impgal (3,271L) distributed between 453impgal (2,060L) internal fuel tanks, plus two overload tanks, each of 66.5impgal (302L) capacity, which could be fitted in the bomb bay, and two 100impgal (450L) drop tanks. The aircraft was listed on the order of battle of Versuchsverband OKL's, 2 Staffel, Stab Gruppe on 10 November and 31 December 1944. 2829. The typical fixed armament for an FB Mk. [200] Fuselages, wings and tailplanes were made at furniture companies such as Ronson, E. Gomme, Parker Knoll, Austinsuite and Styles & Mealing. The nose sections also had to be changed from a design with a clear perspex bomb-aimer's position, to one with a solid nose housing four .303 machine guns and their ammunition. [169][171] The Fighter Interception Unit at RAF Ford carried out service trials, March 1943, and then these five aircraft went to 85 Squadron, Hunsdon, where they were flown from April until August of that year. Production was to increase to fifty per month by early 1942. [188], Another fighter-bomber variant was the Mosquito FB Mk. [45] On 24 February, as W4050 taxied across the rough airfield, the tailwheel jammed leading to the fuselage fracturing. Two laminated wooden clamps were used in the after portion of the fuselage to provide supports during this complex gluing work. Germany still controlled continental airspace and the Fw 190s were often already airborne and at an advantageous altitude. It flew 213 sorties during the war, only to crash at Calgary airport during the Eighth Victory Loan Bond Drive on 10 May 1945, two days after Victory in Europe Day, killing both the pilot, Flt. This was to continue even if Germany invaded Great Britain. B. Heath and Dancer & Hearne. [201] [nb 25] Later on, paper birch was logged in large quantities from the interior of British Columbia along the Fraser and Quesnel Rivers and processed in Quesnel and New Westminster by the Pacific Veneer Company. As it transpired, only 20 aircraft were built in 1941, but the other 30 were delivered by mid-March 1942. [28] Having the fighter variant kept the Mosquito project alive, as doubts remained within the government and Air Ministry regarding the usefulness of an unarmed bomber, even after the prototype had shown its capabilities. However, the fuselage fracture in W4050 meant that W4051's fuselage was used as a replacement; W4051 was then rebuilt using a production standard fuselage and first flew on 10 June 1941. Price, Nigel (ed.). From Supply Committee. Two outer wing tanks each contained 58impgal (70USgal; 260L) of fuel. Initially they were engaged in moderately high altitude (about 10,000ft (3,000m)) night bombing, with 67 trips during that summer, mainly to Berlin. In addition to MP469, four more B Mk.IVs were converted into NF MK XVs. The second and third, both turret armed, were later disarmed, to become the prototypes for the T.III trainer. Many sources repeat the account of the change from casein adhesive to urea formaldehyde adhesive. [49] Fitted with high-altitude-rated, two-stage, two-speed Merlin77s, it reached 439mph (707km/h) in December 1943. [citation needed], The NF Mk.XIX was an improved version of the NF XIII. [121] In the corresponding period, crews gained three Mentions in Despatches, two DFMs and three DFCs. LONUS 13, National Archives. The next variant, the B Mk.XX, was powered by Packard Merlins 31 and 33s. Meanwhile, a Russian military aircraft crashed off the country's Pacific coast, with the fate of its two crew members unknown. De Havilland believed that a compromise, including eliminating surplus equipment, would improve matters. A second sortie in the afternoon inconvenienced another speech, by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. [173], The first production night fighter Mosquitoes minus turrets were designated NF Mk.II. On 27 March 1944, the MK XVIIIs of 248 Squadron were formed into the "Special Detachment" unit, which continued through to January 1945. [85], The wing contained metal-framed and -skinned ailerons, but the flaps were made of wood and were hydraulically controlled. Ninety-seven NF Mk.IIs were upgraded with 3.3GHz frequency, low-SHF-band AI Mk.VIII radar and these were designated NF Mk.XII. [23], The DH.98 was too radical for the ministry, which wanted a heavily armed, multirole aircraft, combining medium bomber, reconnaissance, and general-purpose roles, that was also capable of carrying torpedoes. However, on both lists, the Mosquito is listed as unserviceable. After debate, it was decided that this prototype, given the military serial number W4052, was to carry airborne interception (AI) MkIV equipment as a day and night fighter. Collisions within the formations also caused casualties. The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet is a rocket-powered interceptor aircraft primarily designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt.It is the only operational rocket-powered fighter aircraft in history as well as the first piloted aircraft of any type to exceed 1,000 kilometres per hour (620 mph) in level flight.. Development of what would become the Me 163 can be traced . VI could have larger fuselage tanks, increasing the capacity to 63impgal (76USgal; 290L). London. [145] The PR Mk.XVI had a maximum speed of 415mph (668km/h), a cruise speed of 250mph (400km/h), ceiling of 38,500ft (11,700m), a range of 2,450nmi (4,540km), and a climb rate of 2,900 feet per minute (884 m). The Mosquito made a series of flights, including one rolling climb on one engine. de Havilland Mosquito - Wikipedia The FB Mk. [116] The main objective was to prepare for the invasion of occupied Europe a year later. [7] Soon after these flights, W4050 was grounded and scheduled to be scrapped, but instead served as an instructional airframe at Hatfield. For some time, RAF 109 Squadron had been working as an R&D unit for trials on radar and radio counter-measures, using Anson and Wellington aircraft. [citation needed], Designs based on the Mk.VI were the FB Mk. Hence the RAF Coastal Command Mosquitoes were moved to Scotland to counter this threat. + 2 afterwards) Mosquitoes were built by De Havilland Canada at Downsview Airfield in Downsview Ontario (now Downsview Park in Toronto Ontario). In Operation Overlord three Mosquito FB Mk. [5] Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, nicknamed it "Freeman's Folly", alluding to Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfrid Freeman, who defended Geoffrey de Havilland and his design concept against orders to scrap the project. London: 1943. ft., since this species is highly variable and the cores comprised a significant proportion of the total weight. Freeman supported it for RAF service, ordering a single prototype for an unarmed bomber to specification B.1/40/dh, which called for a light bomber/reconnaissance aircraft powered by two 1,280hp (950kW) Rolls-Royce RM3SM (an early designation for the Merlin 21) with ducted radiators, capable of carrying a 1,000lb (450kg) bomb load. While less heralded than the famed Supermarine . Though Heinkel was most famous in World War II for its He 111 bombers, the firm had in fact built the first operational jet plane ever, the He 178, as well as an unsuccessful competitor to the. Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka 11 [85] The main tail unit was all wood built. While on approach to land, the vulnerable jet fighter was shot down by another RAF fighter. Initially, the Canadian production was for bomber variants; later, fighters, fighter-bombers and training aircraft were also made. [123] Post-war German histories also indicate that there was a belief within the Luftwaffe that Mosquito aircraft "gave only a weak radar signal.". The RAF's Wooden Wonder Plane No aircraft was more versatile during World War II than the Royal Air Force's de Havilland Mosquito. Cypher dated 2 October 1941: To British Supply Council in North America. The nose drooped gently and recovery was easy. [citation needed], The investigators concluded that construction defects occurred at the two plants. The wing did not drop unless the control column was pulled back. [20] On 7 October 1939, a month into the war, the nucleus of a design team under Eric Bishop moved to the security and secrecy of Salisbury Hall to work on what was later known as the DH.98. The largest collection of Mosquitoes is at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum in the United Kingdom, which owns three aircraft, including the first prototype, W4050, the only initial prototype of a Second World War British aircraft design still in existence in the 21st century. [143], The Mosquito PR Mk.32 was a long-range, high-altitude, pressurised photo-reconnaissance version. [25] To appease the ministry, de Havilland built mock-ups with a gun turret just aft of the cockpit, but apart from this compromise, de Havilland made no changes. [101] The radiator shutters, supercharger gear change, gun camera, bomb bay, bomb/rocket release and all the other crew controlled instruments were powered by a 24 V battery. A number of Mosquito IVs were modified by Vickers-Armstrongs to carry Highball "bouncing bombs" and were allocated Vickers Type numbers: About 5,000 of the total of 7,781 Mosquitoes built had major structural components fabricated from wood in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England. [12], In May 1937, as a comparison to P.13/36, George Volkert, the chief designer of Handley Page, put forward the concept of a fast, unarmed bomber. "Mosquito Wars on U-Boats With 6-pound Shells. [7] 4055 flew the first operational Mosquito flight on 17 September 1941. This prototype continued to use the short engine nacelles, single-piece trailing-edge flaps, and the 19ft 5.5in (5.931m) "No. ", This page was last edited on 26 May 2023, at 17:00. - developed rapidly. DZ540 first flew on 1 January 1944. [59], On 20 April 1941, W4050 was demonstrated to Lord Beaverbrook, the Minister of Aircraft Production. [202], As the supply of Ecuadorean balsa was threatened by the U-boats in the Atlantic Ocean,[74][203] the Ministry of Aircraft Production approved a research effort to supplant the balsa with calcium alginate foam, made from local brown algae. VI, which first flew on 1 June 1942, was powered by two, single-stage two-speed, 1,460hp (1,090kW) Merlin 21s or 1,635hp (1,219kW) Merlin 25s, and introduced a re-stressed and reinforced "basic" wing structure capable of carrying single 250-or-500lb (110-or-230kg) bombs on racks housed in streamlined fairings under each wing, or up to eight RP-3 25lb or 60 lb rockets. Beaverbrook told Air Vice-Marshal Freeman that work on the project should stop, but he did not issue a specific instruction, and Freeman ignored the request. [161] The Merlin 31 powered B Mk.VII was built by de Havilland Canada and first flown on 24 September 1942. A total of 181 were built, including 50 built by Percival Aircraft Company at Luton. Because of the combination of dihedral with the forward sweep of the trailing edges of the wings, this rear spar was one of the most complex units to laminate and to finish machining after the bonding and curing. On April 19, the He 162 scored its first kill when Feldwebel Gnther Kirchner shot down an RAF fighter. The NF Mk.XIII, of which 270 were built, was the production equivalent of the Mk.XII conversions. [nb 8] In spite of this setback, the Initial Handling Report 767 issued by the AAEE stated, "The aeroplane is pleasant to fly aileron control light and effective" The maximum speed reached was 388mph (624km/h) at 22,000ft (6,700m), with an estimated maximum ceiling of 34,000ft (10,000m) and a maximum rate of climb of 2,880ft/min (880m/min) at 11,500ft (3,500m). VI HJ.679 Brief performance trials, A. W4052 was to be the prototype and flew for the first time on 8 September 1941. Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet - Wikipedia The casein glue, it was said, cracked when exposed to extreme heat and/or monsoon conditions. [24] and suggested the incorporation of two forward- and two rear-firing machine guns for defence. The control wheel was replaced with a fighter control stick. 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 20mph (30km/h) faster. The de Havilland Mosquito operated in many roles, performing medium bomber, reconnaissance, tactical strike, anti-submarine warfare, shipping attacks and night fighter duties, until the end of the war. A significant number never went into service due to deterioration on the voyage and to crashes during Chinese pilot training; however, five were captured by the People's Liberation Army during the Chinese Civil War;[217] 19 FB.VIs to Czechoslovakia in 1948; 6 FB.VIs to Dominica; a few B.IVs, 57 FB.VIs, 29 PR.XVIs and 23 NF.30s to France. [21][27] The aircraft was to have a speed of 400mph (640km/h) at 24,000ft (7,300m) and a cruising speed of 325mph (525km/h) at 26,500ft (8,100m) with a range of 1,500mi (2,400km) at 25,000ft (7,600m) on full tanks. The first flight with the new engines was on 20 June 1942. [156] The B Mk.IV entered service in May 1942 with 105 Squadron. 105 Squadron RAF at war 1942-5." "[61][pageneeded] The Americans did not pursue the proposal for licensed production, the consensus arguing that the Lockheed P-38 Lightning could fulfill the same duties. [108] The crews faced deadly flak and fighters, particularly Focke-Wulf Fw 190s, which they called snappers. This accident occurred because the tailwheel unit was unable to. Two Merlin 21 two-speed, single-stage supercharged engines were installed, driving three-bladed de Havilland Hydromatic constant-speed controllable-pitch propellers. The electric generators also powered the fire extinguishers. This was specially graded for density to a mean of 9 lb. [157], In April 1943 it was decided to convert a B Mk.IV to carry a 4,000lb (1,800kg) Blockbuster bomb (nicknamed a Cookie). [163] The B Mk.IX had a maximum speed of 408mph (657km/h), an economical cruise speed of 295mph (475km/h) at 20,000ft, and 350mph (560km/h) at 30,000ft,[147] ceiling of 36,000ft (11,000m), a range of 2,450nmi (4,540km), and a climb rate of 2,850 feet per minute (14.5m/s). [149] The PR.34's maximum speed (TAS) was 335mph (539km/h) at sea level, 405mph (652km/h) at 17,000ft (5,200m) and 425mph (684km/h) at 30,000ft (9,100m). The NF Mk.36 was similar to the Mosquito NF Mk.30, but fitted with the American-built AI.Mk.X radar. [65], Early on in the Mosquito's operational life, the intake shrouds that were to cool the exhausts on production aircraft overheated. Cole, Roger. [118] Lecturing a group of German aircraft manufacturers, Gring said: In 1940 I could at least fly as far as Glasgow in most of my aircraft, but not now! The speed could be reduced to an acceptable 150mph (240km/h) for low-speed flying. VI was built in two sub-series, differentiated by the weight of offensive stores able to be carried: Series i aircraft could only carry 250lb (110kg) bombs, while Series ii could carry the 500lb (230kg) bombs. First published in 1944, it is a valuable contemporary first-hand account of the daylight low-level, pinpoint raiding phase of the Mosquito operations. [nb 22], Unlike the F Mk.II, the ventral bay doors were split into two pairs, with the forward pair being used to access the cannon, while the rear pair acted as bomb bay doors. [175] 23 Squadron was then deployed to Malta on 20 December 1942, and operated against targets in Italy.[176]. The final 100 were: RS series 25; TK series 35; VP series 25; and VR series 15. Developed under the Emergency Fighter Program, it was designed and built quickly and made primarily of wood as metals were in very short supply and prioritised for other aircraft. [149], The Air Ministry initially suspected that this variant would not work, but tests proved otherwise. Apparently, the project shut down when the design team were denied materials for the prototype. Two ex-RAF FB.6s were converted to TT.6 standard at Manchester (Ringway) Airport by Fairey Aviation in 19531954, and delivered to the Belgian Air Force for use as towing aircraft from the Sylt firing ranges. "[212][213][nb 28] Considerable efforts were made by de Havilland Canada to resolve problems with engine and oil systems and an additional five hours of flight testing were introduced before the ferry flight, but the actual cause of some of the losses was unknown. Additional fuel was carried in a bulged bomb bay: 1,192 gallonsthe equivalent of 5,419mi (8,721km). Initially, the concept was for the crew to be enclosed in the fuselage behind a transparent nose (similar to the Bristol Blenheim or Heinkel He 111H), but this was quickly altered to a more solid nose with a conventional canopy. Also, it was designed and made to taper from the wing roots towards the wingtips. The oil tanks themselves had no separate coolant controlling systems. Its top speed was then tested and found to be 384mph (618km/h), in line with expectations. [nb 20] A further 100 were delivered from 1946 for a grand total of 274, 65 of which were built by Airspeed Ltd.[nb 21][151], Developed during 1940, the first prototype of the Mosquito F Mk.II was completed on 15 May 1941. [182] According to the Pilot's Notes and Air Ministry 'Special Flying Instruction TF/487', which posted limits on the Mosquito's maximum speeds, the NF Mk.38 had a VNE of 370 knots (425mph), without under-wing stores, and within the altitude range of sea level to 10,000ft (3,000m). Pilot Kevin Moorhouse and Engineer Steve Watson were both killed in the crash. [220] At the time, this was the last airworthy Mosquito T.III. de Havilland Australia built 11 T Mk.43 trainers, similar to the Mk.III. Some heavy-duty ribs contained pieces of ash and walnut, as well as the special five ply that included veneers laid up at 45. The Roll of Honour shows 51 aircrew deaths from the end of May 1942 to April 1943. The five VIIIs were converted from B Mk.IVs and became the first operational Mosquito version to be powered by two-stage, two-speed supercharged engines, using 1,565hp (1,167kW) Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 engines in place of Merlin 21/22s.
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