de Havilland Mosquito FB. VI

AIRCRAFT

de Havilland Mosquito FB. VI

SCALE & KIT

1/24 Airfix

MODELER

Simon Watts

HISTORY

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft, introduced during Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era whose frame was constructed almost entirely of wood, and was nicknamed The Wooden Wonder, and affectionately as “Mossie” to its crews.

When Mosquito production began in 1941 it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world. The first variant was an unarmed, high-speed, high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito’s use evolved during the war into many roles including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike aircraft. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small high-value cargoes to, and from, neutral countries, through enemy-controlled airspace. The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side, but a single passenger could ride in the aircraft’s bomb bay when necessary.

The Mosquito FBVI was often flown in special raids, such as Operation Jericho – an attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944, and precision attacks against military intelligence, security and police facilities (such as Gestapo headquarters). On the 10th anniversary of the Nazis’ seizure of power in 1943, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station while Hermann Göring was speaking, putting his speech off the air. Göring later said: “It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops.

MODEL REVIEW

1/24 Airfix Mosquito, finished as Avspecs (Auckland) restoration PZ474 “L” of Coastal Command. As PZ474 never actually flew in the war, least of all for Coastal Command its a bit of a what if build, although PZ474 did have a rather interesting service life that may or may not have included work for the CIA in South America.
It came with 60lb rockets, but the Coastal Command Mosquito carried 25lb armour piercing rockets.
HGW harnesses
Barracuda decals
Montex Insignia masks and a Frankestein mix of numbers and letters making up PZ474.

PHOTO GALLERY

MODEL KIT

Buy Airfix De Havilland Mosquito FBVI Plastic Model Kit at Amazon