deHavilland Mosquito

**Antipodean Andy** · 03-18-2009, 04:12 PM

Not quite, Heidi. Equipment would not be chopped and changed from aircraft from day to day. Yes, aircraft were converted as required but, for example, a night fighter did not have all of its relevant equipment removed for daylight operations. Night fighter squadrons were equipped with night fighters only. What I was getting at is that many of the Mossie squadrons were equally as good at operating at any time of the day with the same equipment fit-out.

**Kyt** · 03-27-2009, 07:10 AM

This is actually quite a good documentary

YouTube - Mosquito Doc Part 1
YouTube - Mosquito Doc Part 2
YouTube - Mosquito Doc Part 3
YouTube - Mosquito Doc Part 4
YouTube - Mosquito doc 'part 5'

**BC1** · 03-28-2009, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Antipodean Andy

An interesting fact, BC1, but the same can be said for the Tiffie and quite a few other aircraft. Please elaborate and provide examples as it'll make interesting reading. Are you referring to the delamination of the structure through the use of faulty glue or the effects of humid conditions or a combination of the two (or more)?

The first batch of wings built in Australia were ultimately destroyed when it was found there were problems with integrity and numerous issues were encountered in operating RAF Mossies in the CBI. What were the circumstances of the mid-air break-ups you refer to?

A: Both. There were a number of incidents in East Anglia, between Dec 1942 and April 1945, both in level flight and during rather violent aerobatics when various Mks of Mossie came apart in flight.
I suspect that the majority were as a result of the airframe becoming over-stressed. As the aircraft was extremely fast and agile, I imagine a number of pilots allowed their aircraft to get into rather difficult situations where the wooden structure could not withstand the g-forces.
Not knocking the aeroplane, merely highlighting a little-known problem it (and other aircraft) experienced.

Bc

**Antipodean Andy** · 04-01-2009, 07:42 AM

Thanks for that, BC. Have you investigated any of the crash sites?

**Heidi** · 04-02-2009, 10:36 AM

I can not take credit for this footage,another member did all the work and found this amazing footage of the mosqutio during ww2.

Mosquito footage in colour. (Just fast forward a little bit,at the start)

YouTube - De Havilland Mosquito in Colour

**Colonel Klink** · 04-02-2009, 11:32 AM

Mosquito footage in colour.

Thanks for the footage Heidi.

**David Layne** · 06-20-2009, 04:21 PM

Aussie Mossie.

Mosquito1.wmv

**BC1** · 03-14-2010, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Antipodean Andy

Thanks for that, BC. Have you investigated any of the crash sites?

Yes ! A few (sorry for d-e-l-a-y-e-d response). Did a dig on one in Norfolk in October last year, but that was a mid-air in 1948, nothing to do with structural failure.

Quite a few Mosquito parts were handed to the N&SAM at Flixton in 1996, from two men who gathered a lot of material from the dump site at North Creake, Norfolk,but I fear many have since been scrapped.

Main area of my research has always been WW 2 crashes in East Anglia.

BC

**Fact Not Fiction Films** · 07-30-2010, 10:27 AM

Some fantastic information here about a great plane, thanks everybody. I am making a documentary at the moment about the female pilots who flew for the Air Transport Auxiliary in WW2 and they talk very fondly throughout the documentary about various different planes. I was wondering whether anyone has any photos of: Mosquitoes, Spitfires, Hurricanes, Tiger Moths, Wellingtons, Hellcats, Walrus, Barracuda or Meteors that they took themselves and wouldnt mind me using in the documentary. All contributions would be credited and all help appreciated. Thanks, Nathalie