This skin was a request for the upcoming scenario, although I'll submit it to the MA too.
This Mosquito Mk VI was flown by Squadron Leader Peter Wykeham Barnes, CO of 23 Squadron while based at Malta in 1943. The squadron's role was to fly intruder missions at night to attack enemy airfields and railways in Italy and Sicily. As such their Mosquitos' undersides were given a coat of black paint and the squadron codes painted in red to reduce glare when lit by searchlights. This aircraft also had the Wykeham family's coat of arms painted on the nose.
Wykeham Barnes had an eventful flying career. He joined the RAF in 1932 and during the war first served in the desert scoring 14 kills flying Gladiators and then Hurricanes with 274 Squadron and 73 Squadron. A spell as CO of fighters at HQ Desert Air Force was followed by an air combat instructor in the USA, He then returned to the Med to lead first 257 and then 23 Squadrons. In April 1943 he was badly injured and returned to Britain to recuperate but later lead 140 Wing's Mosquitos flying intruder missions over Northern Europe from Kenley. Post war he served as a test pilot. As a result of his experience in 1950 was loaned to the US 5th Air Force in Korea where for a month he flew Invaders in the night intruder role. He later rose to the rank of Air Marshal before retiring in 1969.
