Last Sunday,

I watched a real British Boys Own film, 

set in the Second World War, Mosquito Squadron, as it happens the Mosquito was a genuinely famous aircraft design, so much so I thought I would make a post about it, the De Havilland Aircraft Company designed and built it, amazingly there was no government funding, the project was financed as a 'private venture', only finally receiving official backing with the eventual release of Specification B.1/40 (1st March 1940), calling for 50 bomber / reconnaissance variants. This was then supplemented during May 1940 by Specification F.21/40, calling for a fully-armed, long-range fighter. As a result, De Havilland were authorised to build a fighter version of the DH98 Mosquito, known as “Mossie” or the “Wooden Wonder,” the de Havilland Mosquito was one of the more unique combat aircraft to see service during the Second World War. Developed originally as a two-seater, unarmed fast bomber, the aircraft was subsequently utilized as a fighter, fighter-bomber, night fighter, U-Boat hunter, and even reconnaissance aircraft. As a result, the Mosquito became one of the first true multi-role combat airplanes, 

illustration, BAE Systems (Copyright © 2021 BAE Systems. All rights reserved), was the aircraft a success? As it happens it was, the above film is based on the fact that Operation Jericho on 18th February 1944 really did take place, nine DH98 Mosquito FB Mk VI Bombers, operating out of RAF Hunsdon in Hertfordshire, attacked the German-held prison at Amiens on the edge of the Somme Valley.  Their skillful airmanship delivered low-level waves of bombs, first destroying the outer and inner prison walls, quickly followed by the Guard House itself.  A total of 255 allied prisoners escaped through the breaches in the buildings and walls although sadly 182 were soon recaptured, on another occasion, a DH98 Mosquito daylight attack famously knocked out the main Berlin Broadcasting Station on the very day Herman Göring (German Commander in Chief) was giving a speech to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Nazis’ seizing of power, Göring often chastised German aircraft manufacturers after the attack and at one address he is said to have commented,

‘In 1940 I could at least fly as far as Glasgow in most of my aircraft, but not now! It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again'.

'What do you make of that? There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops. After the war is over I'm going to buy a British radio set – then at least I'll own something that has always worked!’. 

the total number of DH98 Mosquito aircraft built was 7,781, being made of wood most just rotted away due to lack of maintenance, but if you do want to buy one in 2019, Mosquito Aircraft Restoration Limited, which had restored at least four of the aircraft to airworthiness, offered a Mosquito for sale. The asking price at the time was $7.25 million, what an amazing aircraft.