The De Havilland Mosquito

This first of two volumes on de Havilland's "Wooden Wonder" covers the night-fighter and fighter-bomber variants of the deadly Mosquito. The development of the multirole Mosquito, from its original bomber and photoreconnaissance operational function to that of a night-fighter and fighter-bomber configuration, was initiated by the latent threat of a renewal of the 1940-41 "Blitz." Over the ensuing years of WWII, the Mosquito attacked the enemy with sorties across a 24-hour time span, challenging the German Nachtjagd with aerial interceptions, as well as attacks on Luftwaffe airfields. Pinpoint assaults on specialist targets was another aspect of Mosquito fighter-bomber operations, whose destructive effect on the Axis was constantly felt. Also covered are the Mosquito's operations with the Fleet Air Arm, as well as postwar use. Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

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

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.

Previously unpublished accounts from the designers, builders and aircrew of the de Havilland MosquitoMany contemporary and previously unpublished photographsComprehensive details on the conversation of surviving aircraft De Havilland Mosquito: The Original Multirole Combat Aircraft covers the creation,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 history of the high-speed wooden aircraft—from bomber to fighter, to photographic and weather reconnaissance—from the author of B-17 Memphis Belle. During the history of aviation there have been very few aircraft that have achieved immediate success when entering front-line service. The de Havilland Mosquito was one such aircraft. It was not designed to an RAF requirement, but was the result of an initiative of the designers and builders to utilize the skills of woodworkers and the relative abundance of wood in the crisis years of World War II. The result was an airplane that could be built quickly, was extremely fast and extremely versatile. The pilots loved it. This book describes how it was built and utilizes many hitherto unpublished photographs from the design studio and production lines. It illustrates and explains the many different roles that the aircraft took as the war progressed. Fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, night fighter there were few tasks that this brilliant design could not adopt. “To most Britain at War readers, the de Havilland Mosquito needs little introduction. Dramatic as such low-level attacks were, there is, as Graham Simons reveals in this latest insight into a remarkable aircraft, far more to the wartime service of the ‘mossy.’”—Britain at War

"Revolutionary in its wood construction, the de Havilland Mosquito played a vital role in the war combining the manoeuvrability of a fighter with the payload of a medium bomber. It contributed to the war as a fighter, an unarmed bomber, a reconnaissance aircraft and its different versions included the Sea Mosquito, the first British twin-engined aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier. In this volume, Stuart Howe ... traces the fascinating development of the Mosquito from its first flight in November 1940 through to its production and many variants. He also outlines the Mosquito's varied uses in post-war days in roles ranging from oil prospecting and air racing to aerial survey"--Back cover

A private venture aircraft, the much-loved Mosquito was possibly the most versatile of all British aircraft of World War II. Revolutionary in its wood construction, the de Havilland Mosquito played a vital role in the war combining the maneuverability of a fighter with the payload of a medium bomber. It contributed to the war as a fighter; an unarmed bomber, a reconnaissance aircraft and its different variants included the Sea Mosquito, the first British twin-engined aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier. De Havilland Mosquito An Illustrated History Volume 2 traces the fascinating development of the Mosquito from its construction through to operational fighter and bomber in frontline, Operational Training, Ferry and Maintenance Units. Human stories of RAF aircrew, ground crew and Commonwealth Air Forces are detailed in addition to coverage of the Mosquito operated by the Russians and that captured by the Luftwaffe. This volume is a comprehensive pictorial record of the Mosquito aircraft and the people who worked with and flew in her. Extended captions include performance tables, nose-art, advertising and a summary of preserved Mosquitoes. Aircraft numbers, specifications, dates, personalities, and background information coupled with over 500 black and white photographs, many previously unpublished and a color section, make this and its best selling companion Mosquito An Illustrated History Volume 1 a must for researchers and historians alike.