Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: earl1937 on August 25, 2013, 08:42:52 AM
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:airplane: One of the truly great stories of the second world war was that of the Mosquito fighter-bombers, there contribution to saving Britain from Germany and their unique method of construction and manufacturing.
Role
Fast bomber
Fighter-bomber
Night fighter
Maritime strike aircraft
Fast photo-reconnaissance aircraft
Manufacturer
de Havilland Aircraft Company
First flight
25 November 1940
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.
(http://i1346.photobucket.com/albums/p684/earl1937/Mosquito_zpsd29db12e.jpg)
The oval-section fuselage was a frameless monocoque shell built in two halves being formed to shape by band clamps over a mahogany or concrete mould, each holding one half of the fuselage, split vertically. The shell halves were made of sheets of Ecuadorean balsawood sandwiched between sheets of Canadian birch, but in areas needing extra strength— such as along cut-outs— stronger woods replaced the balsa filler; the overall thickness of the birch and balsa sandwich skin was only 7⁄16 inches (11 mm). This sandwich skin was so stiff that no internal reinforcement was necessary from the wing's rear spar to the tail bearing bulkhead. The join was along the vertical centre line. This split construction greatly aided the assembly of the internal equipment as it allowed the technicians easy access to the fuselage interior. While the glue in the plywood skin dried, carpenters cut a sawtooth joint into the edges of the fuselage shells, while other workers installed the controls and cabling on the inside wall. When the glue completely dried, the two halves were glued and screwed together. The fuselage was strengthened internally by seven bulkheads made up of two plywood skins parted by spruce blocks, which formed the basis on each half for the outer shell. Each bulkhead was a repeat of the spruce design for the fuselage halves; a balsa sheet sandwich between two plywood sheets/skins. Bulkhead number seven carried the fittings and loads for the tailplane and rudder, The type of glue originally used was Casein resin, which was later replaced by "Aerolite", a synthetic urea-formaldehyde, which was more durable. Many other types of screws and flanges (made of various woods) also held the structure together.
The fuselage construction joints were made from balsa wood and plywood strips with the spruce multi-ply being connected by a balsa V joint, along with the interior frame. The spruce would be reinforced by plywood strips at the point where the two halves joined to form the V-joint. Located on top of the joint the plywood formed the outer skin. During the joining of the two halves ("boxing up"), two laminated wooden clamps would be used in the after portion of the fuselage to act as support. A covering of doped Madapolam (a fine plain woven cotton) fabric was stretched tightly over the shell and a coat of silver dope was applied, after which the exterior camouflage was applied. The fuselage had a large ventral section cut-out, which was braced during construction, to allow it to be lowered onto the wing centre-section. Once the wing was secured the lower panels were replaced, and the bomb bay or armament doors fitted.
The all-wood wing was built as a one-piece structure and was not divided into separate construction sections. It was made up of two main spars, spruce and plywood compression ribs, stringers, and a plywood covering. The outer plywood skin was covered and doped like the fuselage. The wing was installed into the roots by means of four large attachment points. The engine radiators were fitted in the inner wing, just outboard of the fuselage on either side. These gave less drag. The radiators themselves were split into three sections: an oil cooler section outboard, the middle section forming the coolant radiator and the inboard section serving the cabin heater. The wing contained metal framed and skinned ailerons, but the flaps were made of wood and were hydraulically controlled. The nacelles were mostly wood, although, for strength, the engine mounts were all metal as were the undercarriage parts. Engine mounts of welded steel tube were added, along with simple landing gear oleos filled with rubber blocks. Wood was used to carry only in-plane loads, with metal fittings used for all triaxially loaded components such as landing gear, engine mounts, control surface mounting brackets, and the wing-to-fuselage junction. The outer leading wing edge had to be brought 22 inches (56 cm) further forward to accommodate this design.The main tail unit was all wood built. The control surfaces, the rudder and elevator were aluminium framed and fabric covered. The total weight of metal castings and forgings used in the aircraft was only 280 lb (130 kg).
Would or could the world ever see another aircraft developed and built such as the Mosquitos? I doubt it, but it just goes to show you what skilled craftsman can do when given the tools and design concepts to work with!
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Earl,
I have a close connection with the mossie,not only is it a fav of mine but I had an uncle who worked for DH in Canada and built a couple of the wooden wonders!
Not bad for a canoe maker.... :devil
:salute
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Hermann Goering:
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.
:t
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Mosquito production at Downsview
http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/histoires_de_chez_nous-community_memories/pm_v2.php?id=thumbnail_gallery&fl=0&lg=English&ex=00000430&pos=1
morf, maybe you will see your uncle in a photo.
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While the mosquito was conceived and later hailed as the unarmed bomber, more armed mosquitoes were built than unarmed variants - and quite heavily armed at that.
The first mosquitoes were not bombers, but PR and night fighter (F.II) variants. At the time, Britain was still on the defense and the LW was running a night bombing campaign, so night fighters were needed more than bombers. PR mosquitoes were in extremely high demand and in north Africa, the command was practically begging for them. Only after a few batches of these variants were delivered, DH started to produce the B.IV bombers. The most produced variants were the fighter-bombers. So labeling the mossie as mainly a "bomber" is a bit misleading. I'd dare say that out of all its roles, the pure bomber role had the least impact on the war compared to PR, night fighter and fighter-bomber (with all its derived roles).
DH did a preliminary study and design of a day-time fighter variant, but the RAF did not show interest. They were quite happy with their spitfires and did not need a twin, long rage, day time fighter - bomber command was operating at night and did not need day time escorts like the Americans were using. Much later the DH fighter was redesigned as a new plane and produced under the name DH Hornet.
It was said that the only problem with the mosquitoes was that there never seem to be enough of them.
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It's a beautiful, beautiful machine.
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VVVVVRRRRUUUUMMMM!!!!!
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yz8vJoC8Oqc/T9ajdJQmKcI/AAAAAAAADas/gjHrcjUzCyg/s320/DeHavillandMosquito.jpg)
ANGRY MOSQUITOES! LOOK OUT, THEY BITE!
(http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/mosquito_dalsfjord.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/150438_581252025219580_210678195_n.jpg)
FRIGGIN' LASER BEAMS!
(http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/mosquito_FB_VI_test_fire.jpg)
A night fighter whose hangar has been bombed by the bish horde:
Don't exit dude! just rearm!
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/De_Havilland_DH-98_Mosquito_2_ExCC.jpg)
Annnddd... some Israeli mosquitoes:
(http://www.iaf.org.il/Sip_Storage/FILES/3/448X0/16983.jpg)
And this is where my mossie fascination started - My aunt has several IAF photo albums, the kind that were popular as gifts on independence days, especially after the 6-days war. One of them had on its cover a picture of a pilot with a hard-man expression, hands on his hips, looking above the horizon. Towering above him was a large twin engine plane, guns sticking out in front, looking as mean as the pilot. That picture left a lasting impression on me and I knew what a Mossie was since I was 8. The original album is tucked away somewhere in storage, but I found the picture on the net, on the cover of a hebrew modeling magazine:
(http://www.kiwimodeller.com/~kmodel/media/kunena/attachments/103/k15c.jpg)
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I am pretty sure the 1st photo is taken from the movie 633 Squadron.
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During the war, and beyond, the Brit Aerospace Industry was a world beater. I dont think it gets enough credit. Neither in design of air frames or the skill of its airmen. America didnt win the air war alone.
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While the mosquito was conceived and later hailed as the unarmed bomber, more armed mosquitoes were built than unarmed variants - and quite heavily armed at that.
The first mosquitoes were not bombers, but PR and night fighter (F.II) variants. At the time, Britain was still on the defense and the LW was running a night bombing campaign, so night fighters were needed more than bombers. PR mosquitoes were in extremely high demand and in north Africa, the command was practically begging for them. Only after a few batches of these variants were delivered, DH started to produce the B.IV bombers. The most produced variants were the fighter-bombers. So labeling the mossie as mainly a "bomber" is a bit misleading. I'd dare say that out of all its roles, the pure bomber role had the least impact on the war compared to PR, night fighter and fighter-bomber (with all its derived roles).
DH did a preliminary study and design of a day-time fighter variant, but the RAF did not show interest. They were quite happy with their spitfires and did not need a twin, long rage, day time fighter - bomber command was operating at night and did not need day time escorts like the Americans were using. Much later the DH fighter was redesigned as a new plane and produced under the name DH Hornet.
It was said that the only problem with the mosquitoes was that there never seem to be enough of them.
:airplane: I really didn't intend to include the fighter variant, as evidenced by the title "The Furniture Bomber". But your point is well taken and not sure if the Brit's would have prevailed without the aid of this great aircraft and the brave young men who flew them in all kinds of weather and into the unknown, just over the horizon!
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During the war, and beyond, the Brit Aerospace Industry was a world beater. I dont think it gets enough credit. Neither in design of air frames or the skill of its airmen. America didnt win the air war alone.
:airplane: You sir are correct! Without the Brits attitude of never quit, the war might have had a different outcome!
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Earl,
I have a close connection with the mossie,not only is it a fav of mine but I had an uncle who worked for DH in Canada and built a couple of the wooden wonders!
Not bad for a canoe maker.... :devil
:salute
:airplane: Would sure like to hear his stories concerning the construction. Someone who actually worked on these aircraft is usually a little different than the history writers version of events!
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VVVVVRRRRUUUUMMMM!!!!!
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yz8vJoC8Oqc/T9ajdJQmKcI/AAAAAAAADas/gjHrcjUzCyg/s320/DeHavillandMosquito.jpg)
ANGRY MOSQUITOES! LOOK OUT, THEY BITE!
(http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/mosquito_dalsfjord.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p480x480/150438_581252025219580_210678195_n.jpg)
FRIGGIN' LASER BEAMS!
(http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/mosquito_FB_VI_test_fire.jpg)
A night fighter whose hangar has been bombed by the bish horde:
Don't exit dude! just rearm!
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/De_Havilland_DH-98_Mosquito_2_ExCC.jpg)
Annnddd... some Israeli mosquitoes:
(http://www.iaf.org.il/Sip_Storage/FILES/3/448X0/16983.jpg)
And this is where my mossie fascination started - My aunt has several IAF photo albums, the kind that were popular as gifts on independence days, especially after the 6-days war. One of them had on its cover a picture of a pilot with a hard-man expression, hands on his hips, looking above the horizon. Towering above him was a large twin engine plane, guns sticking out in front, looking as mean as the pilot. That picture left a lasting impression on me and I knew what a Mossie was since I was 8. The original album is tucked away somewhere in storage, but I found the picture on the net, on the cover of a hebrew modeling magazine:
(http://www.kiwimodeller.com/~kmodel/media/kunena/attachments/103/k15c.jpg)
:airplane: Great pic's and thanks for sharing them with us!
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Mosquito production at Downsview
http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/histoires_de_chez_nous-community_memories/pm_v2.php?id=thumbnail_gallery&fl=0&lg=English&ex=00000430&pos=1
morf, maybe you will see your uncle in a photo.
Thx Milo,I've been to that site a few times,havent seen every pic but I did look to see if I could find him. I'm not sure I would recognize him anyways,he was pretty young at the time.
:salute
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:airplane: Would sure like to hear his stories concerning the construction. Someone who actually worked on these aircraft is usually a little different than the history writers version of events!
As would I Earl but sadly he passed quite some time ago. As a youngster he told me some stories but 1 always stuck in my head,he said they used hand saws,ya hand saws to cut the fuselage to set it ontop of the wings. Oh and the Canuks used Robertson screws,a square drive screw that wouldn't fall off the screwdriver and it greatly sped up production.
I'm not sure if the "Robertsons" made it across the pond or not as they were another Canuk invention.
:salute
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As would I Earl but sadly he passed quite some time ago. As a youngster he told me some stories but 1 always stuck in my head,he said they used hand saws,ya hand saws to cut the fuselage to set it ontop of the wings. Oh and the Canuks used Robertson screws,a square drive screw that wouldn't fall off the screwdriver and it greatly sped up production.
I'm not sure if the "Robertsons" made it across the pond or not as they were another Canuk invention.
:salute
:airplane: Well, that certainly adds to the ever growing story of the Mosquito bomber construction in Canada! Its always those little tid bits of info which make historical facts more interesting to me.
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Lots of photos of KA114 here earl, http://www.mosquitorestoration.com/gallery.shtml
This is the Mossie that was recently restored and is now in the USA.
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Lots of photos of KA114 here earl, http://www.mosquitorestoration.com/gallery.shtml
This is the Mossie that was recently restored and is now in the USA.
:airplane: Gooood stuff!
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DESIGN ANALYSIS NO 6
DeHavilland Mosquito
By Chester S Ricker, Detroit Editor, Aviation
http://legendsintheirowntime.com/Mosquito/Mosquito_Av_4405-06_DA.html
Be sure to check out the pdf file at the end.
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I seem to remember a story about mosquitos, flying tree top level into Belgium or France (can't remember) to in point bomb a prison at lunch time
to free Allied prisoners from being executed. As I recall (memory lousy) they had to take out a wall and a building where the Prison Guards ate
without killing the prisoners. No other aircraft could have pulled this off but the Mosquito and of course the fantastic Pilots who flew them.
(sorry...memory is lousy....this mission really did occur) Someone maybe can recall this mission and verify I didn't dream this one up :airplane:
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Yeah it happened. I think it was French resistance prisoners. A bunch were killed by the raid, a bunch escaped, most were recaptured. Still a pretty remarkable operation. The Brits were always up for that kind of TS stuff.
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That would be the Amiens prison. There was also Shell House (Gestapo HQ).
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DESIGN ANALYSIS NO 6
DeHavilland Mosquito
By Chester S Ricker, Detroit Editor, Aviation
http://legendsintheirowntime.com/Mosquito/Mosquito_Av_4405-06_DA.html
Be sure to check out the pdf file at the end.
Many thanks for that link Milo - I looked for that article some years back but failed to find it. Lots of drawings in there I'd not seen before.
As Milo says, the raid being discussed was on the prison at Amiens, on 18 February 1944, by 487, 464 and 21 Squadron FB.VIs of 2nd TAF (21 Squadron were in reserve, and didn't bomb).
There's a relatively new and very detailed book on the raid by J.P. Ducellier, who IIRC was born in Amiens and has made something of a lifelong work of the raid. Challenges the received wisdom on a number of fronts.
In any case, my all-time favourite Mossie pic appears in the book, with an informative caption:
(http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad212/mhuxt/SparksPhoto_zpse7b1cb1a.jpg) (http://s937.photobucket.com/user/mhuxt/media/SparksPhoto_zpse7b1cb1a.jpg.html)
(http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad212/mhuxt/SparksPhoto2_zpsa070d0cc.jpg) (http://s937.photobucket.com/user/mhuxt/media/SparksPhoto2_zpsa070d0cc.jpg.html)
The aircraft flown by Max Sparks (yes, that's his real name, another reason to love the photo) was HX982, coded EG-T (not the EG-T so often seen on model kits).
The default AH skin for the FB.VI is another aircraft which was on the Amiens raid, that one being with 464 Squadron.
The raid is better knows as "Operation Jericho", though apparently it wasn't referred to as such until after the war, the operation orders referring simply to a numbered "Ramrod" op.
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My lovely bride is in the air force, and works on base Downsview, where the Canadian Mossies were built. When we first came to Toronto we lived right across the road from the factory, very neat.
Somewhat related, one day she and some colleagues were moving some old, dusty furniture and found an ancient roll of undeveloped film. On developing, they found it contained original footage of the Avro Arrow. Quite something to see this futuristic plane taxing past 1950s cars...
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That is an awesome pic Scherf!
The Amien raid was in the end mostly a propaganda victory. The most odd thing about it is that it is not know who ordered the raid. The two special services that could have, claim they didn't and there were no official documents found. How did the French resistance managed to pass a request to the RAF and get a squadron to send its planes without leaving bureaucracy traces along the way?
Mosquitoes did all kind of crazy bombings, like lobbing bombs through the doors of large HQ buildings, into railway tunnels in order to block them, at the walls of a narrow fjord to make them fall on the ships below, and probably more that I do not know or remember reading about.
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Heya Bozon,
I think you've hit the nail on the head with the story of who ordered the raid and how. I believe the book I mentioned above basically says the raid was a part of the plan to deceive the Germans re: where the invasion would happen. By attacking a prison in northern France, it led the Germans to believe that the resistance guys they had there were more important than was actually the case. (I stress I don't have the book, so may be talking out of my ass...)
Crazy is probably a good word for a lot of what the Mossie did, even crazier that it got away with it, too. A sort of "you name it, we can do it". Dropping mines into canals, spiriting scientists out of the reach of the Germans in converted bomb-bays, sinking subs with a field gun, driving Goering off the airwaves, the list goes on and on.
Stellaris - is the aviation museum at Downsview still there? They were restoring a Lanc there at one point, had a lifesize replica of the Arrow... That film you mention is a real treasure.
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During the war, and beyond, the Brit Aerospace Industry was a world beater. I dont think it gets enough credit. Neither in design of air frames or the skill of its airmen. America didnt win the air war alone.
Britain handed radar and some islands in return for 50 Town class destroyers and supplies.
Britain was probably leading the industry in the 30's and 40's in some respects, e.g. Frank Whittle of Gloster Aviation and the Mosquito is the perfect example of thinking outside the box that the Brits are so good at. It's the Japanese who are so good at improving things and the Americans who are so good with things like lightbulbs, telephones, inventions like the microchip processor, but it was the Brits who had crazy ideas like unarmed bombers, bouncing bombs and Hobart's "funnies".
Chicken/egg situation, but one of the reasons the Mossie was developed, was because it harnessed an otherwise redundant force of furniture and piano makers, who otherwise had little contribution to the war effort. It was a good way to squeeze extra juice from the workforce and in Canada, there were plenty of trees in supply.
I always imagine Hitler ranting furiously, as he decided to award 2 kills to anyone who could shoot one down.
The twist in the story was the bombing of the factory during the Battle of Britain in 1940 which massively delayed the development of the Mossie, which didn't become operational until the following year. It would have had a devastating effect on the Luftwaffe over England I am sure.
I love to see the US skins in the game, it's a nice inclusion and the 105 squadron skin is worth the $14.95 alone, as I've not really flown British bombers before, except perhaps in Warbirds, so the mossie skins and the B24 1674 HCU skin are a real pleasure to use.
My uncle worked for DH when Mossies were still operational, but once Boeing learned from the Comet airliner tragedies, Britain lost it's usefulness perhaps as aerodynamic leader and Dh's only memorable contribution was the Hawker Harrier, which US Marines used a lot as well. My uncle worked on this aircraft too, solving maths problems.
The mossie is the sexiest thing on legs, unarmed, low, fast. Leaving people standing is fun.
Check out the DH Hornet, basically a naval "development of the Mossie"-ish which didn't see service.
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Check out the DH Hornet, basically a naval "development of the Mossie"-ish which didn't see service.
Hornet wasn't a naval development of the Mossie. Sea Mosquito was that.
Hornet was a new aircraft, land based fighter designed with the lessons learned from the Mosquito. Sea Hornet was the naval version. The Hornet saw action post war, but it did miss WWII.
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In case you want to build your own Mossie, this site makes it look easy.
http://www.mosquitorestoration.com/gallery.shtml
:O
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Hornet wasn't a naval development of the Mossie. Sea Mosquito was that.
Hornet was a new aircraft, land based fighter designed with the lessons learned from the Mosquito. Sea Hornet was the naval version. The Hornet saw action post war, but it did miss WWII.
Sexy beast she was... Looks like a streamlined Me 410.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/De_Havilland_Hornet_F1.jpg/798px-De_Havilland_Hornet_F1.jpg)
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I should have been more clear that it was a development FROM the Mossie, which influenced most or all of the design. Thanks for correcting me. A bit like saying the Typh was a development of the Hurr, or the Tempest was a development of the Typh, you can see the hallmark signatures in the design, it's the ultimate development of the mossie concept, is what I meant to say, but it's not a wooden wonder.
I would pay serious bucks to get 30 mins in that Mossie co-pilot seat for sure.