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Often
referred to as the ‘Wooden Wonder’, the Mosquito design was
nearly abandoned on the drawing table in a fog of skepticism.
However, when a single prototype made its initial flight the
performance figures and reported ease of handling so astounded
the British Air Ministry that the design, based almost entirely
made of wood, was rushed into production. The fact that there
was an abundance of wood workers, furniture manufacturers and
trades people available at the time proved to be a great asset
when it came to using an otherwise little used resource by the
aviation industry. The DeHavilland Mosquito proved itself to be
one of the most versatile and widely used aircraft of WW II. It
was capable of long range and duration, was highly maneuverable
and fast, quick enough in fact throughout most of the war that
it could avoid enemy fighters by simply outrunning them with its
maximum speed of nearly 400 mph or better in some versions. At
the same time, the ‘Mossy’ had a formidable punch being armed
with an eight-gun nose battery comprised of four 30 cal. machine
guns and four 20 mm cannons. The FB VI could carry two 500 lb.
bombs and could also be armed with rocket projectiles which were
often used in anti-shipping roles. As an unarmed bomber with a
crew of two, it was able to carry a bigger bomb load farther
than the famed 4-engine B-17 Flying Fortress. It was the most
productive photo reconnaissance aircraft of the war, and
considered the most effective extreme-low-altitude intruder.
1,134 Mosquitos were built in Canada during the war. Canadian
built Mosquitos were flown in battle in Europe and North Africa
by the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and US Army Air
Force.
My model
represents an RCAF Mosquito belonged to the 418 Squadron, ‘’City
of Edmonton Sqn’’, and was flown by R.A. Bob Kipp based out of
Middle Wallop, England, August 1945.
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