DE Havilland Mosquito FB MK.VI 452 Pieces

Thede Havilland DH.98 Mosquitois a British twin-engined,shoulder-wingedmultirole combat aircraft, introduced during theSecond World War. Unusual in that its frame was constructed mostly of wood, it was nicknamed the Wooden Wonder, or Mossie.Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, nicknamed it Freemans Folly, alluding to Air Chief Marshal SirWilfrid Freeman, who defendedGeoffrey de Havilland and his design concept against orders to scrap the project.In 1941, it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world.

Originally conceived as an unarmedfast bomber, the Mosquitos use evolved during the war into many roles, including low- to medium-altitude daytimetactical bomber, high-altitudenight bomber,pathfinder,dayornight fighter,fighter-bomber,intruder,maritime strike, andphoto-reconnaissanceaircraft. It was also used by theBritish Overseas Airways Corporationas a fast transport to carry small, high-value cargo to and fromneutral countriesthroughenemy-controlled airspace.The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side. A single passenger could ride in the aircrafts bomb bay when necessary.

The Mosquito FBVI was often flown in special raids, such asOperation Jericho(an attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944), and precision attacks against military intelligence, security, and police facilities (such asGestapoheadquarters). On 30 January 1943, the 10th anniversary of theNazis seizure of power, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station whileHermann Gringwas speaking, taking his speech off the air.

The Mosquito flew with theRoyal Air Force(RAF) and other air forces in theEuropean,MediterraneanandItaliantheatres. The Mosquito was also operated by the RAF in theSoutheast Asian theatreand by theRoyal Australian Air Forcebased inthe HalmaherasandBorneoduring thePacific War. During the 1950s, the RAF replaced the Mosquito with the jet-poweredEnglish Electric Canberra.