de Havilland Mosquito TT.35 (TA639) [@ RAF Cosford]
It was the Mosquito NF.2 that provided the basis for the FB.6 fighter-bomber, of which 2718 were built during and after the war and it remained in service with the RAF in occupied Germany until 1950. The first FB.6 was a converted NF.2, HJ662, and this flew for the first time on 1st June 1942. The FB.6 also equipped some of Coastal Command’s strike wings and also some squadrons of No 2 Group specializing in low-level precision attacks. The FB.6 carried four 250 lb bombs (series 1) in addition to the eight gun armament or four 500 lb bombs (series 2). Alternatively extra fuel could be carried in 50 gallon jettisonable wing tanks or extra tankage in the fuselage behind the cannon. Series 2 aircraft also featured the Merlin 25 engine. 418 Squadron was the first to be equipped with this variant during May 1943. Provision was made in 1944 to carry four 60lb rockets under each wing in place of the wing tanks or bombs for attacks on shipping.
de Havilland Mosquito TT.35 (TA639) [@ RAF Cosford]
TA639 at RAF Cosford was built at Hatfield as a bomber variant before conversion to a target tug. It served with 3 CAACU (Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit) at Exeter and its operational career ended on 31st May 1963. Used in the film '633 Squadron' it now wears the markings (in the photograph) of the Mosquito in which Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC lost his life on the 19th September 1944. It is in a full late war camouflage scheme with dark green and grey upper surfaces and black under sides, wing and fuselage roundels.
The FB.10 was an
intended FB.6 development with Merlin 101 engines but none were built. Similarly none were built of the
FB.11 variant which was an intended development of
the FB.6 with Merlin 61engines.
The FB.18, an FB.6
conversion, carried eight rockets and two 227kg (500lb) bombs and was armed with
a single 57mm (six-pounder) anti-tank Molins gun in a modified nose instead of
the 4 x 20mm cannon [photograph - left]. The Molins could fire 25 shells in 20 seconds. Known as the Mosquito ‘Tsetse’
this variant, of which 27 FB.6s were converted, was used by 248 and 254
Squadrons of Coastal Command against submarines and shipping. The FB.21 was the
Canadian equivalent of the FB.6. Only three were built, one was fitted with
Packard Merlin 33s while the other two were fitted with Packard Merlin 31
engines. Only one FB.24, an intended high
altitude Canadian version of the FB.21, was constructed and it was powered by
Packard Merlin 301s. Finally the
FB.26 was similar
to the FB.21 but with Packard Merlin 225 engines and Canadian-American
equipment. Most of the 337 that were
built were used by the RAF in the Middle East.
de Havilland Mosquito B.35 (TA634) [@ de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre]
Inside the cockpit of TA634
de Havilland Mosquito B.35 (TA634) [@ de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre]
TA634 was one of the final Hatfield built Mosquitoes in 1945 and was later modified for target tug work. Serving with 4 CAACU (Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit) and then 3 CAACU at Exeter it was retired in 1959. Sold on 6th November 1963 G-AWJV flew in the film "'633 Squadron" and was last flown in July 1968 before being donated to the Museum. In the photograph TA634 is displayed in the colours of 571 Squadron of the Late Night Strike Force.
The PR Mosquito was the first into service, being issued to No 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire, in September 1941. The first operational sortie was flown on 20th September. Some NF.2s were converted into PR.2s and twenty seven B.4s were converted to take cameras and hence became PR.4s. Interestingly a variant of the PR.4 was supplied to BOAC as the prototype Mosquito courier-transport. The two passengers laid on their backs in the felt-padded bomb bay. Following on was the first high altitude Mosquito the PR.8 since the PR.5 was not put into production. Similar to the PR.4, a B.4 conversion, the PR.8 was powered by the Merlin 61 but only five were built. DZ570 was the prototype PR.9 and it first flew on 24th March 1943. The PR.9, a B.9 conversion, was similar to the PR.8 but with Merlin 72 engines so it could attain higher altitudes. 90 were built and the variant entered service with 540 Squadron in April 1943. Used by the RAF and US 8th Air Force for meteorological reconnaissance over Europe before all major day and night bombing raids. Powered by Merlin 73’s the prototype PR.16, MM258, flew in July 1943 and was similar to the PR.9 but with a pressurized cockpit. 499 were built, of which, 79 were supplied to the USAAF. The PR.16, a B.16 conversion, had three extra fuel tanks fitted in the bomb bay. In addition to the cameras carried in the fuselage, one F.52 camera could be carried in each drop tank. The PR.32 was a high altitude version of the PR.16 with extended wing tips. In all five were built and they served with 540 Squadron until November 1945. With the war in the Far East needing a long-range version of the Mosquito the PR.34, with a range of 3,600 miles, became available. It was basically a PR.16 with extra fuel tanks in a bulged fuselage and wing drop tanks. Powered by Merlin 113s or 114s, the first production aircraft flew on 4th December 1944 and its equipment included four F.52 vertical and one F.24 oblique cameras. This was the fastest version of the Mosquito managing 422mph in level flight. A number of PR.34 was converted with modified Gee and the Merlin 114A engines to PR.34A standard. This variant was the last in RAF front-line service with the final flight being made on 15th December 1955 by RG314 of 81 Squadron. Ten B.35s were converted for flashlight photography and became the PR.35 variant.
de Havilland Mosquito TT.35 (TA719) [@ RAF Duxford]
The T.3 was an unarmed dual control conversion of an NF.2 with Merlin 21 or 23 engines. The prototype first flew on 30th January 1942 with delivery starting in September 1942 to the Mosquito Training Unit. The T.3 remained in RAF service until 1955. Six FB.21s were converted to dual control and became the T.22 while 21 T.27 were constructed. These were similar to the T.22 but powered by Packard Merlin 225s. The T.29 was another dual control conversion and of the 61 aircraft produced 60 were FB.26 conversions with one new build.
A total of 135 B.35s was converted for target-towing (TT) duties and in this role they continued in service until 1963. The TT.35 was fitted with a ML type G wind driven winch under the forward fuselage. 26 B.16s were converted to target towing specification Q.19/45 for the Royal Navy. The TT.39, a another B16 conversion, featured an extended and heavily glazed nose. In addition several B.35s were modified for meteorological work as the Met.35.
Designed to specification N.15/44 the TR.33 was a specialised naval variant "Sea Mosquito". Built as a carrier-borne torpedo reconnaissance (TR) aircraft it was a variation of the FB.6. It was fitted with an arrestor hook on a strengthened the rear fuselage, manually operated folding wings, four-blade propellers, provision for JATO and thimble radome to take ASH radar. The prototype, LR359, a partly converted FB.6, flew on 25th March 1944 while the first of 50 Merlin 66 powered production aircraft, TW227, flew on 10th November 1945. The TR.37 was similar to the TR.33 but with British ASV Mk 13B radar in an enlarged nose. Powered by Merlin 25s a total of 14 were constructed.
The Mosquito was also built under licence in Australia and the marks included the FB.40, PR.40, PR.41, FB.42 and T.43. None of the Australian variants served with the RAF. The FB.40 was the first Australian built Mosquito and was based on the FB.6 with Hamilton Standard or Australian built de Havilland hydromatic propellers. The first 100 aircraft were built with Packard Merlin 31s and later Packard Merlin 33 engines.
The PR.40 was a photo-reconnaissance conversion of the FB.40 with Packard Merlin 31 engines while the PR.41 was similar to the PR.40 but with extra radio gear and Packard Merlin 69 engines. Similarly the FB.42 was an adaptation of the FB.40 to take the Packard Merlin 69 engine. After testing the project was dropped and the aircraft became the prototype for the PR.41. The T.43 was yet another FB.40 conversion and was almost identical except for the addition of dual controls and dual elevator trim tabs.
The total Mosquito production reached 7781 aircraft, 6710 of which were built during the war years.
TA719 at RAF Duxford was delivered to the RAF in July 1945 and subsequently remained in storage for six years. Thereafter it served with 4 CAACU and 3 CAACU (Civilian Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit) at Exeter as a target tug until 1961. G-ASKC became part of the Skyfame Collection based at Staverton in July 1963 and flew in the '633 Squadron' film and had a static role in the 'Mosquito Squadron' film. It arrived at Duxford in 1978 with the majority of the Skyfame collection and is now part of the Imperial War Museum.
