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The de
Havilland D.H 98 Mosquito was probably the most
versatile warplane of the second world
war and most certainly a classic.
The 7.785
Mosquito's build came from a initiative
to build an airframe from a combination
of triplex and balsa wood.
The goal
was to build an unarmed light bomber
that had to be able to reach very high
speeds.
The Mk I
prototype first flew in November 1940,
and was followed by versions like:
photo-recon plane, fighter, trainer and
bomber.
The PR
versions were:
PR.Mk
IV with four camera's,
PR.Mk
VIII with RR Merlin's and two-step
charger,
PR.Mk
IX with a larger fuel capacity,
PR.Mk
XVI with pressurized cockpit,
PR.Mk
32 based on the NF.Mk XV,
PR.Mk
34 with extra fuel in extra tanks in
bomb-bay.
The
Australian PR.Mk 41 version of
the PR.Mk 40 with engines
including a two-step charger.
The
Fighter versions of the Mosquito's were:
NF.Mk 11
Night-fighter
FB,Mk VI
fighter / bomber with bombs and rockets
under it's wings.
NF.Mk XII and
XIII with improved radar.
NF.Mk XV
conversion of the B.Mk IV for
interception at high altitude.
NF.MkXVII with
American radar.
FB.Mk XVIII
Anti ship version
FB.Mk VI with
a 57 mm Cannon and rockets.
NF.Mk XIX
Build with British or American radar.
The
Canadian build FB.Mk 21 to the
FB.Mk VI, the FB.Mk 26
version of the FB.Mk 21 with
Packard build Merlin engines.
NF.Mk 30 model
for high altitudes with two-step charger
equipped Merlin engines.
TR.Mk 33 Navy
torpedo-bomber.
NF.Mk 36
Improved NF.Mk 30 for higher
altitudes.
TR.Mk 37 new
version of the TR.Mk 33 with
British radar.
FB.Mk 40 The
Australian equivalent of the
FB.Mk VI
Trainer
Versions were:
T.Mk
III
T.Mk 22
Canadian version of the
T.Mk III
T.Mk 27 new
version of the T.Mk 22 with
Packard build engines
T.Mk 29
conversion of the
FB.Mk 26
T.Mk 43 as
counterpart of the
T.Mk III
The
Bomber versions were:
B.Mk
IV
B.Mk VII
Canadian build with stronger brackets
under the wings.
B.Mk IX For
high altitude with one bomb of 1814 kg.
B.Mk XVI With
pressurized cabin newer version of the
B.Mk IX
B.Mk 25 new
version of the
B.Mk 20
B.Mk 35 Long
distance / high altitude |
