10/08/2010
Warbirdfare
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British combat aircraft that excelled in versatility during the Second World War. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder" or "The Timber Terror" as the bulk of the aircraft was made of laminated plywood. It saw service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and many other air forces in the European theatre, the Pacific theatre of Operations and the Mediterranean Theatre, as well as during the postwar period.
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, and fast photo reconnaissance aircraft carrying out aerial reconnaissance. It was even used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a transport. It was also the basis for a single-seat heavy fighter, the de Havilland Hornet.
Upon the Air Ministry's decision to enter the Mosquito into production in 1941, it was the fastest operational aircraft in the world. Entering widespread service in 1942, the Mosquito supported RAF strategic night fighter defence forces in the United Kingdom from Luftwaffe raids, most notably defeating the German aerial offensive Operation Steinbock in 1944. Offensively, the Mosquito units also conducted night time fighter sweeps in indirect and direct protection of RAF Bomber Command's bomber fleets to reduce RAF bomber losses in 1944 and 1945. The Mosquito increased German night fighter losses to such an extent the Germans were said to have awarded two victories for shooting one down. As a bomber it took part in "special raids", such as pinpoint attacks on prisoner-of-war camp, Gestapo or German intelligence and security force bases as well as tactical strikes in support of the British Army in the Normandy Campaign. Some Mosquitos also saw action in RAF Coastal Command during the Battle of the Atlantic, attacking Kriegsmarine U-Boat and transport ship concentrations, particularly in the Bay of Biscay offensive in 1943 in which significant numbers of U-Boats were sunk or damaged.
General Characteristics Fighter Specifications
- Crew: 2: pilot, navigator/radar operator
- Length: 41 ft 2 in (13.57 m)
- Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in (16.52 m)
- Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.3 m)
- Wing area: 454 ft² (42.18 m²)
- Empty weight: 13,356 lb (6,058 kg)
- Loaded weight: 17,700 lb (8,028 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 18,649 lb (8,549 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Merlin 21/21 or 23/23 (left/right) liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,480 hp (21 & 23) (1,103 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 318 kn (366 mph, 610 km/h) at 21,400 ft (8,500 m)
- Range: 782 nmi (900 mi, 1,500 km) with 410 gal (1,864 litre) fuel load at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,839 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,740 ft/min (8.8 m/s)
- Wing loading: 39.9 lb/ft² (195 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.189 hp/lb (311 W/kg)
Armament
- 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk II cannon (fuselage)
- 4 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns (nose)
Avionics
- AI Mk IV or Mk V radar (NF variants)
General Characteristics Bomber Specifications
- Crew: 2: pilot, bombardier/navigator
- Length: 44 ft 6 in (13.57 m)
- Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in (16.52 m)
- Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.3 m)
- Wing area: 454 ft² (42.18 m²)
- Empty weight: 14,300 lb (6,490 kg)
- Loaded weight: 18,100 lb (8,210 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 25,000 lb (11,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Merlin 76/77 (left/right) liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,710 hp (1,280 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 361 kn (415 mph, 668 km/h) at 28,000 ft (8,500 m)
- Range: 1,300 nmi (1,500 mi, 2,400 km) with full weapons load
- Service ceiling: 37,000 ft (11,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,850 ft/min (14.5 m/s)
- Wing loading: 39.9 lb/ft² (195 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.189 hp/lb (311 W/kg)
Armament
- 4,000 lb (1 800 kg) Bombs
Avionics
- GEE radio-navigation
** De Havilland Mosquito - Warbird Fare
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