de Havilland D.H.98 Mosquito B XX

  • Period: Second World War (1939-1945)
  • Uses: Bomber
  • First Flight: November 25, 1940
  • Display Status: In Reserve Hangar.

Early in Second World War, de Havilland applied their woodworking expertise to the development of a wooden bomber so fast that it would not need defensive armament. The result was the Mosquito, a most remarkable aircraft. The amazingly adaptable design was effective for day and night fighting, day and night bombing, anti-shipping attack, and photo reconnaissance. Canada built a total of 1 013 during the war and 100 postwar, with 205 going to Nationalist China in 1947-48.

The bomber version of the Mosquito could deliver the same bomb-load to distant targets as the four-engined Boeing B-17. Mosquitos were also used as high-speed transports by British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) to maintain communication with neutral Sweden and bring back strategic items such as ball-bearings. Passengers, if any, rode in the bomb bay. Because of the glued-and-screwed wooden construction, early Mosquitoes were not suited to the tropics where exposure to high humidity and rain caused the airframe to warp and the glue to dissolve.

Museum Example

  • Registration #: KB 336 (RAF)
  • Manufacturer: de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd., Canada
  • Manufacture Date: 1944
  • Construction #: Unknown
  • Aquisition Date: 1964
  • Provenance: Transfer from RCAF

Manufactured in 1944, the Museum example was designated for the RAF but was transferred to the RCAF. It was in service or storage with the RCAF in Canada until 1964 when it was transferred to the Museum.

Specifications

Wing Span:
16.5 m (54 ft 2 in)
Length:
12.3 m (40 ft 4 in)
Height:
3.7 m (12 ft 3 1/2 in)
Weight, Empty:
6,078 kg (13,400 lb)
Weight, Gross:
9,970 kg (21,980 lb)
Cruising Speed:
322 km/h (200 mph)
Max Speed:
594 km/h (369 mph)
Rate of Climb:
670 m (2,200 ft) /min
Service Ceiling:
10,520 m (34,500 ft)
Range:
2,301 km (1,430 mi)
Power Plant:
two Rolls-Royce (Packard) Merlin 33, 1,480 hp, V-12 engines