Unusual in that its frame was constructed mostly of wood, it was nicknamed the "Wooden Wonder", or "Mossie". In 1941, it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world.The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side. A single passenger could ride in the aircraft's bomb bay when necessary. The de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito was perhaps the greatest all-round combat aircraft of World War II. The "Mossie" was originally designed as a fast, unarmed, light bomber. However, when flying tests commenced on 25 November 1940, this "wooden wonder" became the world's fastest operational aircraft, with a top speed of almost 400 mph. It also out-manoeuvred most fighters, and could carry out upward rolls from ground level with one engine feathered. With such an outstanding potential, the Mosquito was developed to carry out practically every offensive task. Altogether, 7,781 Mosquitoes were built and 27 different versions were produced as fighter-bombers, photo-reconnaissance, low- and high-level day and night bombers, mine-layers, pathfinders and long-range day and night fighters. Mosquitoes also served with the Royal Navy (Sea Mosquito), Royal Canadian Air Force, United States Army Air Force, and RAAF Nos 456 and 464 Squadrons, which operated RAF-serialled fighter and bomber versions. In 1942, the Australian de Havilland factory at Bankstown commenced production of a fighter-bomber Mosquito, the DHA 98 FB Mk 40. Initial delays were caused by the unavailability of Canadian birchwood, and Australian coachwood had to be substituted. The first Australian Mosquito was delivered on 23 July 1943, and accepted by the RAAF on 5 March 1944. The FB Mk 40 was equivalent to the RAF FB Mk VI (the RAF retained Roman numerals until 1948) and, although 212 were built at Bankstown (A52-1/212), only 209 served with the RAAF because A52-12, 18 and 24 crashed before acceptance. Six of the FB Mk 40s were converted for photo-reconnaissance as PR Mk 40s, and they retained their original serials: A52-2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 26. These aircraft operated so effectively that a further 28 FB Mk 40s were converted to PR Mk 41s and renumbered A52-300/327 (ex A52-90, 192/211, 41, 45, 49, 62, 64, 83, 36 respectively). For more information on the development, operational history and variants, click here, and its service in the RAAF click here.
