I had the sad privilege in 1963 to see 4 Mosquitos from No 3 CAACU at RAF Exeter at RAF Chivenor during their farewell flypast of the stations they served as target tugs. What a magnificent sight!
Pete, e-mail, 22.02.2017 23:47
Just saw the movie Mosquito Squadron with David McCallum, about using Barnes Wallis's Highball,a smaller version of the Dambusting Upkeep bomb to destroy a secret Nazi V rocket testing facility in France. Quite well done with a lot of Mosquitos in flying sequences. BTW A*****e, it's I before e, except after c.
Rod, e-mail, 31.08.2016 05:45
There is no doubt one of the short comings of the mosquito was that it was made out of wood, but it was built for a purpose and speed was an important factor. If it was a metal aircraft it would have been much slower. It was built to do a job and it did it exceptionally well. To call a piece of shit just shows total ignorance of the aircraft.
Norman Hume, e-mail, 15.10.2015 13:03
My father, being a carpenter, but wanting to be a pilot, worked on repairing the Mosquitos when they returned from their sorties in the far east.
Jack, e-mail, 11.04.2015 03:50
I'm with "shel" ~ why didn't we use the faster, more elusive Mosquito as a major bomber in ETO? Even if it carried less ordnance than the B-17, it was a lot more accurate. Why was it just used in bombing missions as a pathfinder?
Dave, e-mail, 21.08.2014 11:22
A superb beautiful multi role combat aircraft. Went recently to the museum Potters bar & was in awe to be able to stand next to such a machine - wonderful day
Paull Scott, e-mail, 22.05.2014 02:49
One of the finest, beautiful, versatile aircraft ever to fly. Shame about the glue in the Far East, until they sorted it, but a great 'plane nonetheless.
Rod Goddard, e-mail, 07.02.2014 16:10
My father flew the first Mosquito attack on the Japanese in the South Pacific. Was sent up to Borneo to test a new cluster bomb. After he arrived they were informed the bomb would explode to close to the aircraft so he was no longer required to test it. So they decided while he was there he should pitch in and give the Japs a taste of the Mosquito. he did say by the 3rd pass the Japs had worked out his speed. Said the war ended just in time, because the tropics were causing the glue to give way and the wood to delaminate. Six months longer and they would have been falling out of the sky. Said it was sad to hear that the air force put a bulldozer through the aircraft when they got home.
Stewart Green, e-mail, 21.10.2013 23:56
My Dad flew 40-odd missions in his Mosquito(s) in WW2, and wrote 30 pages of memoires if anyone is interested in reading them. Some really good/interesting stuff.
joe dockstader, e-mail, 30.01.2013 02:27
my all-time favorite plane. just something about its ability to do anything and everything imaginable, from dogfighting to precision bombing, with such ability and grace that it outdid most of the planes that were specifically designed for that mission... I love it.
John Joss, e-mail, 14.01.2013 19:25
My uncle Joe Cooper was a Squadron Leader flying night-fighter Mosquitos out of Little Snoring, Norfolk (parts of the base still stand). The squadron 'kill' ladder may be seen to this day in the local church, and Joe Cooper is the first name--he nailed an Me-110 over its base in Germany. Highly recommended: the book AIRBORNE, by the late Neil Williams, which includes a chapter on flying the Mosquito--his sense of humour is strongly evident. Copies can still be found on the Web. Williams' comments on flying many different types, and various flying adventures, are excellent. His book on aerobatics (he was a world-championship competitor) is also excellent.
Mike, 31.12.2012 20:18
Shame we have people like A*****E making such unintelligent ill informed and crude comments on this site but at least he chose a totally appropriate name for himself.
Sven, 05.12.2012 15:48
Oh dear! Where does all this come from? Wood shows up on radar,so did the Horten wings. Stealth was not the reason for the chosen structure or shape. Got that peeps?
Jim, e-mail, 05.12.2012 11:51
Its wooden construction made it invisible on German radar. Probably the first stealth aircraft?
asshole, 11.11.2012 23:30
this plane is a peice of shit it was wood
Dave Tustin, e-mail, 24.09.2012 07:49
There were two photo-reconnaissance companies operating Mosquitos in the 1950's and used Winnipeg as a base when I was a Tower Controller. I remember the pilots were very wary of loosing an engine on final and would fly the downwind at 2000'agl as a precaution. One day we had a Trans Canada Airlines Viscount with a u/s airspeed indicator inbound for landing. We had a Mosquito flying local and we arranged with the pilot to fly the Viscount down final approach at the appropriate airspeed. Neat operation - Beautiful aircraft!!
Paul Scott, e-mail, 13.07.2012 16:09
Amazing aircraft for its day, world-beating and versatile!
Gabriel, e-mail, 05.05.2012 08:39
I agree with exactly SHELL opinion. "Mossie" could be a fighter, a strategic bomber, fly recon missions, be a night fighter, a pathfinder, a tactical fighter bomber.....great speed, range, firepower, durability, bomb load, everything needed in a war winning plane. It probably was the most complete, efective, versatile, multirole and BEAUTIFUL warbird on WW2. Mr.Goefrey DeHavilland..was a genius designer.
Gabriel, e-mail, 05.05.2012 08:39
I agree with exactly SHELL opinion. "Mossie" could be a fighter, a strategic bomber, fly recon missions, be a night fighter, a pathfinder, a tactical fighter bomber.....great speed, range, firepower, durability, bomb load, everything needed in a war winning plane. It probably was the most complete, efective, versatile, multirole and BEAUTIFUL warbird on WW2. Mr.Goefrey DeHavilland..was a genius designer.
Gabriel, e-mail, 05.05.2012 08:39
I agree with exactly SHELL opinion. "Mossie" could be a fighter, a strategic bomber, fly recon missions, be a night fighter, a pathfinder, a tactical fighter bomber.....great speed, range, firepower, durability, bomb load, everything needed in a war winning plane. It probably was the most complete, efective, versatile, multirole and BEAUTIFUL warbird on WW2. Mr.Goefrey DeHavilland..was a genius designer.
Rod, e-mail, 04.05.2012 10:03
My father flew the first Mosquito against the Japanese in WW2, He continued to fly after the war with a total of close to 27,000 hrs. He said it was much faster than anything else at the time so you could always get out of trouble by out running it if needed. There is now a flying reconstructed Mossie in NZ.
Keith, e-mail, 18.01.2012 21:25
Would like to know that after the countries finished with training in a WW2 aircraft what became of them? I know that some may have went to the recycle bin, but maybe some are just sitting in a hangar or field some where, any input?
Jack P. Weiss, e-mail, 06.01.2012 00:58
My father, Paul Weiss, was a pilot in WW2, training in Montgomery, Al, USA. HE stayed to train other pilots, then returned to England. He flew the Mosquito, as well as some other planes. I was wondering if anyone here knew him then.
shel, e-mail, 26.12.2011 13:24
If I were a WWII Allied Air Commander and I was allowed only 1 plane type, my choice would be the Mosquito.
The "mossie" could be a fighter, a strategic bomber, fly recon missions, be a night fighter, a pathfinder, a tactical fighter bomber...
It had great speed, range, firepower, durability, bomb load, everything needed in a war winning plane.
In the B-17 comments, Sean says that the Mosquito could have flow the bombing missions over Germany with better results and far lower losses than the B-17. I think Sean is right.
rick, e-mail, 04.09.2011 04:02
recently flew a P-51 TF. Does anyone know of any Mosquitos available to go up in, any where? Wii be in England Scotland in October. Appreciate a resoponse.
Mark, e-mail, 15.04.2011 12:42
A beautiful aircraft and a credit to the designer. We were to have a mosquito flying at an airshow here in New Zealand at easter weekend but unfortunatly it is not quite restored.
Albert Webb, e-mail, 07.04.2011 03:59
I was stationed at Gib. 1954-57 as an aerofireman. I was most fortunate to fly in one of the 2 Mosquitos on station flight. Flying along the North African coast and Straits past Tanger, back and forth so the navy could practice with their radar. What a shame when one of the Mosquitos burned to nothing along with an Anson and Dakota DC3 in a disasterous hanger fire January 1956. As far as I remember, the other Mossie never flew again. Passing of an era. What a great life it was.
Anne Carter, e-mail, 03.04.2011 06:27
A comment about George E Stewart. I remember him as a young pilot in Hankow and I was a 12 year old (Anne Berthet) with pigtails.Reading about him brought back memories of a very happy childhood in Hankow. That you Mr Stewart.
Jim McCorkle, e-mail, 01.04.2011 12:17
I instructed on Mossies at Swinderby for a couple of years after the war. A great kite to fly once one recognised the tendency to swing left if the throttles were not handled properly at start of take-off run. A sweetheart in the air.
Kenneth Ball, e-mail, 18.02.2011 03:54
I was an apprentice at De Havilland Aircraft Co in 1949-54.We began training at Astwick Manor across Hatfield areodrome from the Factory. I made my first toolbox from 1/16th thick birch plywood left over from making the prototype Mosquito. I believe I am correct in saying that it could carry a heavier bomb load than the B17 Fortress
Ian Burrow, e-mail, 02.02.2011 03:21
My dad was a radar-operator/air gunner on NF II Mosquitos with 25 Squadron in 1943. He flew on night intruder missions over Germany and Holland. He says it was a wonderful aircraft: very fast and agile (although not fast enough to escape FW190's). On his last mission they were attempting to imitate a German night fighter but were spotted and shot down. He was a POW for the rest of the War.
John Hatfield, e-mail, 30.01.2011 14:29
I joined deHavillands as an apprentice/student at the time the Mosquito was starting service. Had a few flights in it with the TestPilots when I was working on the test line.??Campbell, Pat Fillingham and others were the pilots. Early morning going to work the planes were roaring around the skies over the hangars leaving vortices. Exciting times.
Doug Dykeman, e-mail, 25.01.2011 20:43
I remember as a youngster in 1970, hitchhiking from a small town in Alberta to Namao A.F. base. They had a Mossie under restoration sitting out on the ramp. Snuck in through a gap in the fence and spent the afternoon sitting in the cockpit watching and waving at Hercs taxiing by. It was a small piece of heaven. No M.P.s or other military personnel showed up to find out what I was doing. Simpler times.
GIBBY GIBSON, e-mail, 23.01.2011 21:07
I SEEM TO REMEMBER READING SOMEWHERE --THAT THE CANADIAN BUILT MOSQUITO HELD THE SPEED RECORD FROM CANADA TO SCOTLAND--AROUND 6 HOURS WITH A TAILWIND THAT WAS UNBROKEN --UNTIL THE ADVENT OF THE JETS --
GORDO -GIBBY-GIBSON, e-mail, 23.01.2011 21:04
MY DAD FLEW N.F MOSQUITOS WITH 68 SQDN--HAD SEVERAL V1 KILLS--SAID IT WAS A 19 YR OLDS DREAM--POWER SPEED AND FIREPOWER TO MATCH--ONE OF HIS KILLS HEAD ON V1 AT NIGHT WITH F/O LACK IN MID 1944--SHOWS WHAT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE CAN DO WHEN THE POLITICIANS STAY OUT OF THE ROOM. THE MOSQUITO LEFT A RICH HERITAGE AND LEGACY
Cliff Sweeting, e-mail, 31.12.2010 21:24
Iconic. One of those designs which just seemed to get it right the first time, every time; a true multi-role combat plane. Beautifully proportioned and aesthetically pleasing. Only thing to criticise about it, was the disastrous effect of humidity on the plywood sections in the tropics. The airframe fitters had a hard time in the Far East because of this. In Europe, where it did most of its fighting, it was superb.
Harold, e-mail, 09.12.2010 08:42
The city of Calgary has one at the museum going on the block this week, city council is going to decide what do do with it, its in parts but all together--too bad \\I think it will be sold over seas. Fantastic sound and was the definition of speed with grace
ROBERT SYMONS, e-mail, 08.12.2010 15:30
I first saw the mossie in 1953 when, as a small boy I travelled by train to Somerset. Somewhere along the coast the RAF Regiment gunners were firing at a target towing mossie, flying at low altitude. What a thrill for a 9 year old boy.
Brian Howard, e-mail, 02.12.2010 18:13
While a member of the ATC I attended a "Radio" course at an RAF School near Weston Super Mare, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting in a deHavilland Mosquitoe, model and reg long forgotten, can anyone provide information
a.casais, e-mail, 11.11.2010 21:20
To me one of the best british aircrafts with the spitfire and hurricane.This one went with the lancasters in some night raids over Dresde throughing flares to the targets and at the same time like a good escort, very cool machine.
Ray Enter, e-mail, 05.10.2010 07:08
Aviation Export Co.Ltd.Inc.purchased a Mosquito from Diana Bixby that was in New Zealand and we flew it back to Burbank.We did a Joint Venture with Flying Tigers to modify it for Aerial Photography.Lots of problems but what an Aircraft.When we Tested it all the Tiger and Slick Employee's hit the Flight Line to watch..WHAT A SIGHT TO SEE on the Take Off !!
Ali Duncan, e-mail, 21.09.2010 17:23
Mr (Sqn Ldr?) Stewart, Sir, I confess extreme envy of your aviation exploits. Aircraft, for me, have always seemed to posess personalities related to their crews beyond but still implicit in their design brief. The mosquitos is one of skill,swiftness,audacity, and great daring. What admirably brilliant memories to have, actually part of, one of those bio mechanical marvels.
George E Stewart, e-mail, 05.09.2010 17:36
With over 1000 hours on the Mosquito, I can only say that it fulfilled every flying dreakm I ever had since I followed its developement and awesome performance and versatility from its birth. I flew the MK VI with 23 Sqdn RAF in 1944, doing 50 night intruder trips. following a few months as an instructor, on them at Greenwood N.S. returned to civilian life, and back to school. The Chinese AirForce purchased about 200 war surplus Mosquitos late in 1947, and with W/C Carl Funerton. and F/L Jack Turnbull, we trained 3 Squadrons of CAF pilots at Hankow China, in 1948, before being 'run out of town' by the Communists, Our guys flew off to Formosa, and in 1949 stopped an invasion attempt, thereby saving Chian Kai Shek's regime. A notable credit to the Chinese pilots and our lovely Mosquito. I flew to UK in 1987, and with George Aird, helped fly a Mosquito over to Canada for a noted collector Kermit Weeks. A nice way to round out my flying activities,since 1943. The Mosquito was my 'dream' aircraft, and I was lucky to have had so many opportunities to fly her.
Tom Gilliland, e-mail, 31.08.2010 15:34
Just on a lighter note - heard about a mosquito that landed in Darwin during the war. They filled it with 10.000 gallons of avgas before they realized it wasn't an aircraft!
mark lyons, e-mail, 22.08.2010 21:38
THE MOSQUITO WAS PROBERLY THE FINEST AIRCRAFT OF WW2 DEFENTLY THE FORUNNER OF THE MULTI ROLE COMBAT AIRCRAFT, BUT OFTEN OVER LOOKED IS THE BRISTOL BEUFIGHTER THE LATER MK'S WHERE VERY CAPABLE ESPECIALY IN THE HANDS OF COASTAL COMMAND ARMED WITH UNDER WIND ROCKETS & CANNONS & 303 MACHINE GUNS IN THE NOSE & THE ABILITY TO CARRY A TORPEDO. COASTAL COMMAND MOSQUITO & BEUFIGHTERS OPERATED TOGETHER AT THE BANF STRKE WING ON ANTI SHIP OPERATIONS
mark lyons, e-mail, 22.08.2010 21:37
THE MOSQUITO WAS PROBERLY THE FINEST AIRCRAFT OF WW2 DEFENTLY THE FORUNNER OF THE MULTI ROLE COMBAT AIRCRAFT, BUT OFTEN OVER LOOKED IS THE BRISTOL BEUFIGHTER THE LATER MK'S WHERE VERY CAPABLE ESPECIALY IN THE HANDS OF COASTAL COMMAND ARMED WITH UNDER WIND ROCKETS & CANNONS & 303 MACHINE GUNS IN THE NOSE & THE ABILITY TO CARRY A TORPEDO. COASTAL COMMAND MOSQUITO & BEUFIGHTERS OPERATED TOGETHER AT THE BANF STRKE WING ON ANTI SHIP OPERATIONS
Jackie, 08.08.2010 11:54
The D.H. 98 Mosquito is a very successful aircraft, it has great durability, powerful arnament and fast speed. It can be used both as a heavy fighter or bomber. It was used in nighttime intruder missions too.
Angus C. M. Condy II, e-mail, 30.06.2010 14:52
I have always thought that the " Mossie " was the most beautiful war-plane ever designed,and flown . And the deadliest ! With just a tiny bit of hindsight,it is obvious that many thousands of young men (R.A.F.,U.S.A.A.F.,etc.,need not have died had "The Top Brass" had the sense to concentrate on "THE WOODEN WONDER!"
Graeme, e-mail, 28.04.2010 09:49
I have this beautiful Fighter/Bomber as a Simulator,and oh boy WHAT a fantastic aeroplane to fly.Also I went to this military museum and they had a the cockpit of an actual mosquito with all the controls.And your can fly it, and have a battle its is just "wonderful" having done a lot of flying I was buzzing.....
Gaeme, e-mail, 28.04.2010 09:47
I have this beautiful Fighter/Bomber as a Simulator,and oh boy WHAT a fantastic aeroplane to fly.Also I went to this military museum and they had a the cockpit of an actual mosquito with all the controls.And your can fly it, and have a battle its is just "wonderful" having done a lot of flying I was buzzing.....
John Dighton, e-mail, 23.04.2010 16:31
The Mosquito was the most the most versatile and underated aircraft of WWII. It had speed, range, manouvreability, strike power wether bomber or fighter and flew at altitudes when required where it could not be shot down. Not detectable by radar and thus could not be caught as it had long departed before fighters could attain altitude. It was also devastating at low levels in bombing/ground attack role.
Simply the best twin engined bomber of WWII by a country mile and the best twin engined fighter to boot. Perhaps it was the best aircraft of WWII, it was simply the best all rounder.
Richard Taylor, e-mail, 16.04.2010 04:25
My father worked at Standard Motors in Coventry (1942 - 1945)where FBVI Mosquitos were made. He made final adjustments under instructions from the airframe inspectors before the aircraft were made operational. He passed his enthusiasm for this aircraft onto me - and consequently my resulting interest in all WW II combat aircraft.
Bruce Adams, e-mail, 31.03.2010 18:22
Most effective and successful aircraft of the Second World War? One plane loss in 1000 sorties, or is it 2000, not sure. This is a quote from Herrman Goering about the plane in 1943 - 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's over I'm going to buy a British radio set - then at least I'll own something that has always worked.
Alan, e-mail, 04.03.2010 02:57
Great plane. If you want to see some beatiful footage of the mosquito flying, check out the movie "633 Squadron" WWII flick with Cliff Robertson made in the early 60's. You will love it.
Stan, e-mail, 02.02.2010 16:55
I worked on the mosquito, in the raf 1951/1953 as an instrument mechanic. 139 squadron, do you have any other person who had contact with this squadron.
Myles Butner, e-mail, 26.01.2010 02:27
In about 1959, there was an intact Mosquito at Whiteman Air Park in San Fernando CA. Unfortunately, it was unprotected and was being vandalized. Beautiful plane!
jim mc guire, e-mail, 11.12.2009 01:00
The Mosquito. The least shot down plane of WWII. Same bomb load as the B-17, from England to Germany and back. The best-looking warplane ever. Period.
Paul C. Meeks, e-mail, 12.11.2009 23:29
what can I say about the Mossie? has to be one of my favorite aircraft of all time, past and present. a great warbird.
len, e-mail, 07.10.2009 11:58
One of these aircraft flattened my bungalow in February 1945 killing the pilot and navigator plus three civilians on the ground. The other day I dug up part of a 20 mm cannon shell.
d.jay, 19.09.2009 09:12
You missed out night fighter.
paul scott, e-mail, 10.09.2009 23:18
Wooden wonder indeed, clean lines, high speed, good armament, bombload and whatever you needed from it the 'mossie' was the best twin-engined bomber/fighter-bomber of WW2!
d.jay, 11.07.2009 12:12
The "wooden wonder" the best combat aircraft of WWII could do any type of mission bomb rece fight often overlooked is its nightfighting missions over the heart of nazi Germany. The Mustang was not the only fighter shooting down luftwaffe fighters over Berlin.
Henry, e-mail, 25.02.2009 23:13
I just found an old print made from a painting showing this aircraft flying over what must have been Burma in World War ll. It is flying over one of the ancient gilded monuments.
Robert.F.Churchill, e-mail, 27.09.2008 19:28
A truly wonderfull aircraft, I first came into contact with the night fighter version's of 25 squadron at RAF. Westmalling. Kent as a young sprog airman, aircraft electrician group1.trade and flew as often as I could as a passenger sitting in the navigator/radar op[erators seat. Finaly finishing my aircraft maintenance carreer on the " Concord's of British Airways
adam, e-mail, 27.08.2008 02:50
i heard that the mosquito could carry the same amount of bombs as a b-17,
Bruce, e-mail, 01.06.2008 03:45
[sorry for the bogus email, but I already get too much spam! Real deal is b b r o d n a x (at) h o t m a i l (dot) c o m]
Just wanted to point out that the Merlin engines used were "V" plan form, not inline [a straight 12cyl? That would hardly have fit in the bomb bay, let alone the wing nacelles! ;) ]
Pat , e-mail, 14.05.2008 16:09
I love the mosquito it fucken rocks
TJ, e-mail, 11.06.2007 22:11
Where would one find detailed drawings for this aircraft?
gary mackinder, e-mail, 29.04.2007 21:21
can u please send email showing mosquito on bombing run please
