SAM COMBAT
COLOURS 6 De HAVILLAND DH MOSQUITO WW2 RAF FIGHTER NIGHTFIGHTER SEAC
SCALE
AIRCRAFT MODELLING SOFTBOUND BOOK in ENGLISH by PAUL LUCAS. ARTWORK by DAVID HOWLEY.
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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.
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Additional Information from Internet Encyclopedia
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role
combat aircraft, with a two-man crew, that served during the Second World War
and the postwar era. The Mosquito was one of the few operational, front-line
aircraft of the World War II era to be constructed almost entirely of wood and,
as such, was nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder". The Mosquito was also
known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews Originally
conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito was adapted to many other
roles during the air war, including: low- to medium-altitude daytime tactical
bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter,
fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike aircraft, and fast
photo-reconnaissance aircraft. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways
Corporation (BOAC) as a transport.
When the Mosquito entered production in 1941, it was one
of the fastest operational aircraft in the world. Entering widespread service
in 1942, the Mosquito first operated as a high-speed, high-altitude
photo-reconnaissance aircraft, and continued to operate in this role throughout
the war. From mid-1942 to mid-1943 Mosquito bombers were used in high-speed,
medium- or low-altitude missions, attacking factories, railways and other
pinpoint targets within Germany and German-occupied Europe. From late 1943,
Mosquito bomber units were formed into the Light Night Strike Force and used as
pathfinders for RAF Bomber Command's heavy-bomber raids. They were also used as
"nuisance" bombers, often dropping 4,000 lb (1,812 kg)
"cookies", in high-altitude, high-speed raids that German night
fighters were almost powerless to intercept.
As a night fighter, from mid-1942, the Mosquito was used
to intercept Luftwaffe raids on the United Kingdom, most notably defeating the
German aerial offensive, Operation Steinbock, in 1944. Offensively, starting in
July 1942, some Mosquito night-fighter units conducted intruder raids over
Luftwaffe airfields and, as part of 100 Group, the Mosquito was used as a night
fighter and intruder in support of RAF Bomber Command's heavy bombers, and
played an important role in reducing bomber losses during 1944 and 1945. As a
fighter-bomber in the Second Tactical Air Force, the Mosquito took part in
"special raids", such as the attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944,
and in other precision attacks against Gestapo or German intelligence and
security forces. Second Tactical Air Force Mosquitos also played an important
role operating in tactical support of the British Army during the 1944 Normandy
Campaign. From 1943 Mosquitos were used by RAF Coastal Command strike
squadrons, attacking Kriegsmarine U-boats (particularly in the 1943 Bay of
Biscay offensive, where significant numbers of U-boats were sunk or damaged)
and intercepting transport ship concentrations.
The Mosquito saw service with the Royal Air Force (RAF)
and many other air forces in the European theatre, and the Mediterranean and
Italian theatres. The Mosquito was also used by the RAF in the South East Asian
theatre, and by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) based in the Halmaheras
and Borneo during the Pacific War.
In August 1942 Britain experienced several incursions of
high-altitude Luftwaffe bombers, including the Junkers Ju-86P. As a result of
these raids, starting in September 1942, five Mosquito B Mk IV bombers were
quickly converted into F Mk XV high-altitude, pressurised fighters, powered by
two-stage Merlin 73s and 77s fitted with four-bladed propellers.
The first production night fighter Mosquitos were
designated NF Mk II. A total of 466 were built with the first entering service
with No. 157 Squadron in January 1942, replacing the Douglas Havoc. These
aircraft were similar to the F Mk II, but were fitted with the AI Mk IV metric
wavelength radar. The herring-bone transmitting antenna was mounted on the nose
and the dipole receiving antennae were carried under the outer wings.
Ninety-seven NF Mk IIs were upgraded with centimetric AI
Mk VIII radar and these were designated NF Mk XII. The NF Mk XIII, of which 270
were built, was the production equivalent of the Mk XII conversions. The
centimetric radar sets were mounted in a solid "thimble" (Mk XII /
XIII) or universal "bull nose" (Mk XVII / XIX) radome, which required
the machine guns to be dispensed with.
Four F Mk XVs were converted to the NF Mk XV. These were
fitted with AI Mk VIII in a "thimble" radome, and the .303 Brownings
were moved into a gun pack fitted under the forward fuselage.
NF Mk XVII was the designation for 99 NF Mk II
conversions, with single-stage Merlin 21, 22, or 23 engines, but British AI.X
(US SCR-720) radar.
The NF Mk XIX was an improved version of the NF XIII. It
could be fitted with American or British AI radars; 220 were built.
The NF Mk 30 was the final wartime variant and was a
high-altitude version, powered by two 1,710 hp (1,280 kW) Roll-Royce Merlin
76s.
The NF Mk 36 was similar to the Mosquito NF Mk 30, but
fitted with the American-built AI.Mk X radar. Powered by two 1,690 hp (1,260
kW) Roll-Royce Merlin 113/114 piston engines; 266 built.
The NF Mk 38, 101 of which were built, was also similar
to the Mosquito NF Mk 30, but fitted with the British-built AI Mk IX radar.
This variant suffered from stability problems and did not enter RAF service: 60
were eventually sold to Yugoslavia.
The FB Mk VI, which first flew on 1 June 1942, was powered
by two 1,460 hp (1,090 kW) Merlin 21s or 1,635 hp (1,219 kW) Merlin 25s, and
introduced a re-stressed and reinforced "basic" wing structure
capable of carrying single 250-pound (110 kg) or 500-pound (230 kg) bombs on
racks housed in streamlined fairings under each wing, or up to eight RP-3 25lb
or 60 lb rockets. In addition fuel lines were added to the wings to enable
single 50 imp gal (230 l) or 100 imp gal (450 l) drop tanks to be carried under
each wing. The usual fixed armament was four 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannon and
four .303 (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns, while two 250-pound (110 kg) or
500-pound (230 kg) bombs could be carried in the bomb bay.
Mosquito FB Mk XVIII (sometimes known as the Tsetse) of
which 18 were purpose-built and 27 converted from Mk VIs. The Mk XVIII was
armed with a Molins "6-pounder Class M" cannon: this was a modified
QF 6-pounder (57 mm) anti-tank gun fitted with an auto-loader to allow both
semi- or fully automatic fire.
Designs based on the Mk VI were the FB Mk 26, built in
Canada, and the FB Mk 40, built in Australia, powered by Packard Merlins.
The Mosquito was also built as the Mosquito T Mk III
two-seat trainer. This version, powered by two Rolls-Royce Merlin 21s, was
unarmed and had a modified cockpit fitted with dual control arrangements. A
total of 348 of the T Mk III were built for the RAF and Fleet Air Arm. de
Havilland Australia built 11 T Mk 43 trainers, similar to the Mk III.
