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Britain's De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito1,2,3

De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito:
United Kingdom's De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito:
United Kingdom's De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito:
United Kingdom's De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito:
United Kingdom's De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito:
United Kingdom's De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito:
United Kingdom's De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
De Havilland Sea Mosquito:
United Kingdom's De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
 

Design

The de Havilland Mosquito was a private venture that was made primarily of wood that was conceived in 1938.2,3

The outer skin was made of two plywood skins with spruce blocks between.1 The wing was made out of wood with a fabric cover.1

The bomber and reconnaissance versions had glazed noses.1

The propellers rotated in the same direction which caused the plane to have a swing on take-off.1

Prototype

Officials weren't thrilled by the plane but eventually it's performance sold it.1

The first DH.98 / B3 prototype flew on November 25, 1940.1,2,3,4 The F prototype flew in May 1941.3 The PR prototype (WR40504) first flew in June 1941.3

In December 1940 the prototype was able to go 255 mph with the single stage supercharged Merlin 21 engines.4 Then on January 16, 1941 the WR4050 was able to fly faster than a Spitfire at 6,000'.4 The prototype then had Merlin 61 engines installed and it was able to go 433 mph at an altitude of 28,500'.4

Production

On December 30, 1940 a contract for 150 Mosquitos (fighters and photo reconnaissance planes) was given.4

Initially an order of 50 Mosquito bombers was given.4 De Havilland was instructed that the last 10, from the initial order of 150, should be made into unarmed bombers.4 These were to become the B IV Series I and the first prototype was designated the W4072 and first flew on September 8, 1941.4

On November 28, 1950, the very last Mosquito, a night fighter, was built.1

Variants

Usage

Twelve allied nations flew the Mosquito.1

Out of all Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers, the Mosquito had the lowest loss rate.3

The Royal Air Force (RAF) accepted the Mk I photo reconnaissance version in the middle of 1941.2

First Use

The 105 Squadron used Mosquitos to attack Cologne in May 1942 / May 31, 19424 in the daytime.3,4 Four Mk IVs flew over the city after the first Thousand Bomber raid to drop their bombs and to photograph the results of the previous raid.4 Two of the Mosquitos were shot down by antiaircraft fire over Cologne.4 The next day, from high altitude, two Mosquitos bombed Cologne.4 Later a single Mosquito, at low altitude, overflew the city to take photos.4 That evening two more Mosquitos were sent and one failed to return.4

Main Night Fighter

In January 1942 the Mosquito started to replace the Beaufighter night fighters in defense of Britain.3 The Mosquito night fighters ended the war with 600 claimed kills.3

Against the Gestapo

The Mosquito FB.VIs were used in a precision bombing mission against the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo, Norway.1,3 Unfortunately the bombs were duds.1

Found the V-1

A Mosquito of the 540 Squadron flew a mission in October 1943 over Peenemünde which lead to the discovery of the V-1.3

Air Craft Carrier Use

On March 25, 1944, a Mosquito became the first twin-engine plane to land on a carrier, the HMS Indefatigable.1

United States

The PR Mosquitos were designated the F-8.3

  De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito1 de Havilland B Mosquito3 de Havilland B.IV Mosquito3 de Havilland B.XVI Mosquito3
Type Light bomber1 Light bomber3    
Crew   23    
Engine (Type) 2: Rolls-Royce Merlin 21 Piston1   2: Rolls-Royce Merlin 213 2: Rolls-Royce Merlin 72/733
OR       2: Rolls-Royce Merlin 76/773
Cylinders Inline1   V 123  
Cooling        
HP 1,230 each1   1,480 each3 72/73: 1,680 each3
76/77: 1,710 each3
Propeller blades 3 each1   3 each3 3 each3
Dimensions        
Span 54'1
16.51 m1
54' 2"3
16.51 m3
   
Length 41'1
12.43 m1
40' 11"3
12.47 m3
   
Height 15'1
4.65 m1
15' 3"3
4.65 m3
   
Wing area 454 ft2 1
42.18 m2 1
     
Weight        
Empty 14,080 lb1
6,400 kg1
  14,900 lb3
6,759 kg3
15,500 lb3
7,031 kg3
Loaded 22,440 lb1
10,200 kg1
  22,380 lb3
10,151 kg3
25,917 lb3
11,756 kg3
Performance        
Speed @ 20,000' /
6,096 m
    341 mph3
549 kph3
 
Speed @ 21,000' /
6,400 m
379 mph1
612 kph1
     
Speed @ 28,000' /
8,534 m
      415 mph3
668 kph3
Speed @ 30,500' /
9,295 m
       
Cruising speed     305 mph3
491 kph3
250 - 358 mph3
402 - 576 kph3
Climb to 15,000' /
4,570 m
       
Service ceiling 34,450'1
10,500 m1
  27,000'3
8,230 m3
36,000'3
10,973 m3
Range 1,860 miles1
3,000 km1
  2,040 miles3
3,283 km3
 
Range with 2,000 lb /
907 kg bombs
      1,795 miles3
2,888 km3
Armament        
Bombs 4: 500 lb1
4: 227 kg1
     
Bombs - internal normal load     2,000 lb3
907 kg3
2,000 lb3
907 kg3
Bombs - internal maximum load       1: 4,000 lb3
1: 1,814 kg3
Bombs - under wing       2: 500 lb3
2: 227 kg3

Sources:

  1. Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
  2. Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
  3. Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
  4. Mosquito Bomber / Fighter - Bomber Units 1942 - 45, Martin Bowman, 1998
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