De Havilland Mosquito

De Havilland Mosquito
de Havilland Mosquito.
Description
Role
Crew	2 (pilot and navigator)
Dimensions
Length	40 ft 10 in	12.44 m
Wingspan	54 ft 2 in	16.51 m
Height	15 ft 3 in	4.65 m
Wing area	454 ft²	42.18 m²
Weights
Empty	14,300 lb	6,496 kg
Loaded	18,100 lb	8,210 kg
Maximum take-off	20,000 lb	9,070 kg
Powerplant
Engines	two Rolls Royce Merlin 21 12-cylinder vee liquid cooled engines
Power	1,620 hp each	1,208 kW each
Performance
Maximum speed	370 mph	595 km/h
Combat range	1,400 m	2,253 km
Ferry range	1,905 m	3,065 km
Service ceiling	43500 ft	10,500 m
Rate of climb	2,200 ft/min	670 m/min
Armament
Guns	four 20 mm Hispano Mk 1 cannons four 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning Mk II star machine guns
Bombs

The de Havilland Mosquito was a military aircraft that saw action in World War II with several allied air forces. It was a twin engine aircraft with the pilot and navigator sitting side-by-side. Unorthodox in design, it utilised a wooden structure when such construction was considered outdated. The Mosquito, although originally developed as an unarmed tactical bomber, was mostly used as a fighter due to its speed and agility. Its various roles spanned from nocturnal intercept and intrusion to diurnal long-range fighter-bomber. It was also widely used to mark targets for night-time strategic bombing. One of the most daring uses of the Mosquito was Operation Jericho, the mission to destroy the walls and guard's quarters of Amiens prison to allow the escape of members of the French resistance.

The first Mosquito had its maiden flight only 11 months after design began. That original plane is currently undergoing complete restoration in the Mosquito Aircraft Museum in Hertfordshire, UK.

Units manufactured (1940-1950)

• 7781 (1134 in Canada and 212 in Australia)