Nicknamed the ‘wooden wonder’ , the de Havilland Mosquito was one of the most versatile and successful combat aircraft of the Second World War. Offering insights into the design, construction and operational career of the iconic Mossie, this manual gets under the aircraft’s birch and balsa skin to examine its anatomy and describe the painstaking restoration to flight by Avspecs (New Zealand) of Jerry Yagen’s FB26 KA114 and of Victoria Air Maintenance’s B35 VR796 in British Columbia, Canada.

The inside pilot's story of one of the most remarkable aircraft of the Second World War

Previously unpublished accounts from the designers, builders and aircrew of the de Havilland MosquitoMany contemporary and previously unpublished photographsComprehensive details on the conversation of surviving aircraft De Havilland Mosquito: The Original Multirole Combat Aircraft covers the creation, design and development of this beloved aircraft. Built in Britain, Canada and Australia, the Mosquito saw extensive service in Britain, Europe and Asia throughout the Second World War. It was initially designed as a twin-Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered unarmed bomber (with a two-man crew), but the aircraft’s versatility allowed it to carry out many more functions. The additional roles of the Mosquito included path finding and photo reconnaissance; acting as a night fighter, an intruder, or a fighter bomber; electronic counter measures and naval operations; and high-speed courier missions. This book is essential for those seeking to study this iconic British aircraft, featuring the experiences of Mosquito designers, construction workers and aircrew. It also contains many original, contemporary and previously unpublished photographs, which cover the aircraft’s service with RAF squadrons and overseas air forces in its many varied roles. For reference, there are detailed appendices describing production, the specifications of each variant, the RAF and RN units equipped with the type, and details of Mosquitos that survive today.

A World War II forerunner of the modern, multi-role combat aircraft, the De Havilland Mosquito was conceived as a fast, light warplane that could out run and out climb enemy aircraft, and therefore could dispense with heavy armament. Known as the Wooden Wonder, the Mosquito was constructed almost entirely of wood and, when it entered production in 1941, was one of the fastest aircraft in the world. The Mosquito made its debut in its first widespread role as a fast, high-altitude photo reconnaissance (PR) aircraft, a job it continued to perform until the end of WWII. American General Hap Arnold requested and received a number of Mosquitos for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces. Meanwhile, the versatility of the Mosquito led the Light Night Strike Force (LNSF) to begin employing the wooden craft alongside heavy bombers for raids over the Reich. Mosquitos dropped 4,000-pound Cookie bombs in lightning raids inside the German homeland, in a de-facto pay back for the German Blitz, and Mosquito Fighter Bombers (FB) carried out strikes on German security points and U-Boats. In addition to operations over Nazi-occupied Europe. Meanwhile, British RAF and Australian RAAF crews took the multi-role Mosquito into combat against the Japanese in the South East Asian theatre. Get an up-close but comprehensive look at the De Havilland Mosquito with this new title, illustrated with more than 180 photographs, two dozen of them in color, plus a table, color profiles, and detailed line drawings

First entering service in 1941 the legendary 'all-wooden' Mosquito was one of the best twin-engined aircraft of its size to see action in World War II. The addition of radar turned the Mosquito into the RAF's premier night fighter, and it achieved great success in the defence of Britain, with some 600 raiders and 600 V1 rockets falling to its guns between 1942 and 1945. The design's superb performance, and ability to escape interception by enemy fighters also made the Mosquito the ideal choice for the RAF's photographic reconnaissance force. This wide range of roles across multiple theatres and air forces are all reflected in the variety of kits built and colour schemes shown throughout this book.

On 20 April 1941, a group of distinguished Americans headed by the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom, John Winant, and which included Major General Henry 'Hap' Arnold, Chief of the US Army Air Corps, visited the de Havilland Aircraft Company's airfield at Hatfield, England. The party was there ostensibly to gain an insight into how various US aircraft supplied to Britain were performing, as well as to observe some of the latest British products being put through their paces. The eighteen types on display included both US and British bombers and fighters. But the star of the day was undoubtedly the de Havilland Mosquito. Having first flown only a few months earlier, on 25 November 1940, the aircraft that was put through its paces was flown by none other than Geoffrey de Havilland. Striving to impress the trans-Atlantic visitors, de Havilland provided an outstanding display of speed and manoeuvrability. It was a routine that impressed the Americans and left them in no doubt as to the Mosquito's abilities. Though the visitors harboured doubts about an aircraft made of wood, they returned to the United States with full details of the design. The Mosquito had also caught the eye of Elliott Roosevelt, son of the US President and a serving officer in the USAAC. An early specialist in military aerial mapping and reconnaissance, 'ER' swiftly realized the value of the Mosquito in the reconnaissance role and began lobbying vigorously for its acquisition. The Air Ministry duly noted 'ER's' interest and influence. Following America's entry into the war, formal requests for Mosquitoes began in earnest in 1942. Initial deliveries for evaluation purposes in the United States soon followed in June 1943, the aircraft initially being supplied by de Havilland Canada. From February 1944 a steady flow of the photographic reconnaissance version, from Hatfield, were provided to what would become the USAAF's 25th Bomb Group at Watton, England. There they served with distinction in a variety of specialist roles, including day and night photography, weather reconnaissance, 'chaff' (Window) dropping, scouting for the bomber force, raid assessment, and filming of special weapons projects. A number of these Mosquitoes, serving with the 492nd Bomb Group at Harrington, were involved in the so-called 'Joan-Eleanor' project, working with OSS secret agents on the Continent. Finally, in 1945, the USAAF received much-anticipated night fighter Mosquitoes which enjoyed combat success with the 416th Night Fighter Squadron in Italy. In this highly illustrated work, the author explores the full story of why the Americans wanted Mosquitoes, how they went about obtaining them, and their noted success and popularity with USAAF units.

Filled with the Mosquitos operational record and supplemented with tables, drawings, maps and charts. Describes every operational sortie, verifying battle claims wherever possible against Luftwaffe records. Sharp and Bowyer combine their talents to produce this exceptional record of de Havillands legendary Wooden Wonder. Foreword by Sir Geoffrey de Havilland. Fully revised and up-dated.