See other History Articles
Title: Another ‘Mossie’ Takes Flight in Canada (de Havilland 98 MK.35 Mosquito)
Source:
EAA
URL Source: http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news- ... -mossie-takes-flight-in-canada
Published: Jun 20, 2014
Author: EAA
Post Date: 2014-06-22 00:59:57 by X-15
Keywords: None
Views: 133
Comments: 2
A de Havilland 98 MK.35 Mosquito takes off for the first time in 48 years on Monday Photo courtesy of Victoria Air Maintenance Ltd. At 3 p.m. on the afternoon of June 16 a newly restored de Havilland 98 MK.35, better known as the Mosquito, fired up its Rolls-Royce Merlin engines and flew for the first time in 48 years after a long-term restoration. The flight took place at Victoria International Airport in Sidney, British Columbia, flown by Steve Hinton, EAA 181203/Warbirds 12506. Restoration of the bomber was completed by Victoria Air Maintenance Ltd., and owner and Director of Maintenance Mike Ingram said the plane “flew perfectly” on Monday. He added the plane was being prepped for delivery to Vancouver and its registered owner, Robert Jens, of Richmond, British Columbia. Built after World War II, the aircraft SN VR.796 came off the de Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd. assembly line in 1947 and never saw active service. This completion and first flight makes for two airworthy “Wooden Wonders” in the world, joining Gerald “Jerry” Yagen’s example at the Military Aviation Museum, Virginia. The last of 7,781 Mossies built rolled off the production line in 1950. More than 30 different variants were constructed in Canada, Australia, and England. The sleek, wooden twin-engine bomber could carry impressive loads nearly 2,000 miles at incredible speeds (maximum exceeded 400 mph), making it one of the most effective airplanes for the Allies in World War II. 
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: X-15 (#0)
If I recall correctly, the Mosquito was also the first aircraft used for spying in the cold war following WWII. Because of being of wood, it had a very low radar profile, add its speed and the Brits flew them behind the Iron Curtain and over Russia itself.
Good pics at the link showing the underside of the Mosquito covered with camera ports. Although jet aircraft had been introduced into squadron service towards the end of the 2nd World War, in 1946 the principle RAF long-range reconnaissance aircraft was a dedicated photo-reconnaissance development of the piston engined Mosquito. The Mosquito PR34 first flew on 4 Dec 44 and came into service right at the end of the war in the Far East. In the PR34 the bomb-bay was filled with two huge tanks holding an additional 1192 gallons of fuel and, with the addition of two 200 gallon drop tanks on the wings, the range was extended to 3600 miles whilst flying at 300mph and 25,000ft. The PR34 was equipped with four F52 cameras, two forward and two aft of the belly tanks, together with either one F24 oblique camera or a vertical K17 camera for air survey work. A total of 118 PR34’s were built and they were powered by two 1690 hp Rolls Royce Merlin 114 engines. After the war 35 aircraft were converted to PR34A’s this involved replacing the engines with 1710hp RR Merlin 113A’s. This remarkable aircraft was to soldier on in this role into the early 1950’s until it was replaced by the Canberra. In Europe, even before the war came to a close, Mosquito PR34 aircraft of 540 Sqn were sent on Aerial Survey work on behalf of Government departments and the Colonial Office. This task, invariably with the approval of the country concerned, involved photographing an entire country, enabling highly accurate updated maps to be drawn up by the Ordnance Survey. In late 1948, during October, November and December, RAF Mosquito PR34s, assigned to No 13 PR Squadron, were detached to Habbaniya, Iraq for special intelligence operations, including penetration flights up to the Caspian Sea area and over the southern states of Russia. RAF Mosquito PR34s were also photographing the southern shoreline of the Caspian Sea in missions flown from Crete at around the same time. These flights were suspended when the MiG-15 began to be deployed in this area. Finally, in the late 1940’s it is also understood that Mosquito PR34’s from No 58 Sqn took part in Operation Dimple where, after refuelling in West Germany, long-range reconnaissance sorties were flown over East Germany and the Soviet Block. Although official records on these sorties have never been released, there is no evidence that any Mosquito’s were shot down whilst engaged in these activities. , making it one of the most effective airplanes for the Allies in World War II.
#2. To: Cynicom (#1)
-Alex Kurtagic
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest