Multipurpose fighter de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito COBI 5735 - World War II

You know that:

• The aircraft's designer was Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, who built his first working aircraft in 1908 at the age of 26 with money from his grandfather.
• The aircraft almost never came into existence because the Minister of Aviation, Lord Beaverbrook, repeatedly demanded its termination in 1938, convinced of the futility of the project, but subordinate officials, realizing the potential of the new machine, disobeyed the orders.
• The Mosquito was originally developed as an unarmed bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, but when it first flew on 25 November 1940 it surprised everyone with its high speed and good manoeuvrability.
• Immediately after a successful demonstration flight, RAF command ordered immediate production to begin.
• The aircraft achieved extraordinary performance and quality despite the fact that most of the structure was wooden, which is why it was nicknamed "The Wooden Miracle".
• The Mosquito was so versatile that the British and American armies deployed it as a bomber, day and night fighter, or as a reconnaissance aircraft.
• After its first deployment in 1941, it caused the Luftwaffe an unpleasant surprise, as the Mosquito was able to escape pursuit due to its high speed, and even the NF 30 version was not caught by any German fighter.
• The aerial ace at Havilland was Canadian pilot Robert Aleen ,,Bob" Kipper, who penetrated deep into enemy territory and shot down 4 German Fw-190s during a night action on 2-3 May 1944.
• So devastating were the attacks of the Havillands of 418th Fighter Squadron that they shot down or destroyed 96 Luftwaffe machines on the ground during a night action over Germany.
• The Mosquito planes became famous for the attack known as Operation Jericho on the Gestapo prison in the French city of Amiens on 18 February 1944 in which most of the imprisoned French patriots managed to escape.
• After the war, the Mosquito was also in service with the Czechoslovak Army under the designation B 36.
• A total of 7,781 were produced in various versions.

Technical parameters:

• wingspan 16,51 m, length 12,44 m, height 5,31 m
• weight (empty) 6 486 kg
• maximum take-off weight 11 339 kg
• power plant 2x 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Merlin 23/25 engine with 1 280 kW
• maximum speed 611 km/h
• climb rate 14,5 m/s.
• range 2100 km
• maximum flight level 11277 m
• armament 4x 7.7 mm MG Browning machine gun, 4x 20 mm Hispano-Suiza cannon +900 kg aerial bomb, or 8 unguided RP-3 rockets

What the BBC said about de Havilland:

"Wood has always been one of the most valuable weapons of war. Not so long ago, the world's mightiest fleets were built of wood - in fact, they were just trees moving across the sea. But if someone told you that before long these fallen giants would be hovering over the English Channel to blast German war machines, you'd probably think they were a bit tipsy."