Restoration Mosquito B.35 VR.796/CF-HML - January 2011

[Dan Jones]

I was out to Victoria on Monday with a friend of mine who's having a Nanchang built up by them. Got the dollar tour of the Mosquito and the engineer who's leading the project very courteously walked me all around her. I'll post some additional pictures as soon as I get a chance. I was a little surprised at how "cozy" a Mosquito cockpit is!

[mustangdriver]

Yeah, I had the chance to get in the one at the EAA Museum. Very surprising.

[agent86]

If I have to pick a favorite WWII plane,It would have to be the Mosquito. Its kinda like picking your favorite Beatles song. I love em all but if I have to pick one its the mosquito. It is not only beautiful,but it excelled at every task it was dealt with. when the BAE example crashed,it hurt me more than most. I realize that any crash that totals a rare plane and kills crew members is a major tragedy, this one hurt me just a bit more. I have never seen a Mosquito fly but it looks like maybe I will someday. Guess maybe I have to go back to New Zealand.What a beautiful country. and they seem to like"Yanks"

[PbyCat-Guy]

Yeah I have to agree, the Mossy is my favorite also, it could do anything and the fact that at the beginning of the war it didn't need armament because it was so fast.

[bdk]

Sounds very politically correct- you fight a war with no guns!

[agent86]

When you're fast enough,you dont need guns.guns are for the ones who cant keep up.it must have felt great to be able to leave every one else in the dust. flying the ME163 and ME262 mighta felt the same

[JohnH]

I haven't contacted this person.,...so please don't ask me anything..but I recently found out a not too distant relative of mine is working on this airplane. It's pretty thrilling to find out that someone in my family (I think it's a son of a cousin of my mom or something like that) works in the warbird industry and on one of the restorations I've been following for years casually.

[mlenoch]

TriangleP wrote:American Mosquito pilots Bob Kirkpatrick and Lou Luma are doing well. Bob flew the Shellhaus attack in 1945 and Lou became an ace in the 418 Squadron.

Lou Luma flew Moonbeam McSwine (The name on his Mossie.)
VL

[TOM WALSH]

There were four American RCAF trained Mosquito Aces:

Flight Lieutenant Clarence Murl "Jas" Jasper DFC. - 7 kills - 418 Squadron

First Lieutenant Archibald Allan "Ack-Ack" Harrington DSO, DFC. - 7 kills - 410 Squadron

Flight Lieutenant Charles Emanuel "Pop" Edinger DFC, MiD. - 6 kills - 410 Squadron

First Lieutenant James Forrest "Lou" Luma - 5 kills - 418 Squadron

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

[PeterA]

I seem to remember reading that at the begining of European operations with the B-17, the Mosquito was actually carrying a greater bomb load to Berlin than the B-17. This was becuase of the multi dog legged evasive routing of the B-17's at that time, without escort fighters, with the increased fuel load...plus the weight of all of its defensive armament and crew. The Mosquito just went in un-armed, superfast and out superfast.

I believe Mr Roosevelt said to Mr churchill at the time. "The American people must not know these facts."

PeterA

[m charters]

The Mosquito had to be fast..the termites were after it!

I had the opportunity to sit in Kermit's machine in Hamilton many years ago. Was a great experience. George Stewart of CWH flew Mosquitos and trained the Chinese Air Force on them post war. An interesting blog on the Mosquito in China is here..

http://aviationtrivia.blogspot.com/2010 ... quito.html

I can't help but wonder what remains over there of these aircraft?

[Second Air Force]

TriangleP wrote:American Mosquito pilots Bob Kirkpatrick and Lou Luma are doing well. Bob flew the Shellhaus attack in 1945 and Lou became an ace in the 418 Squadron.

Lou Luma flew Moonbeam McSwine (The name on his Mossie.)
VL

Totally unrelated to the Mosquito aspect, but here is another (possibly the first?) airplane named Moonbeam McSwine, B-17B 38-268. The photo was taken at the Amarillo B-17 Mechanic School.

[mlenoch]

Second Air Force: Thank you!
There may also have been a B-24D in theatre ETO, who had the same name. Not sure, may have seen it listed in one of Roger Freeman's early 8th AF books.
(Apologies for any indication that this thread is being HIJACKED!!)
VL

[Dan Jones]

They're doing a great job. Really appreciated getting the run of the place and having Mel Johnstone show me the Mosquito in detail. I believe the engines are due to show up fairly shortly and can be hung pretty much immediately, and once they're mounted the plumbing and electrical connections can be finalized. When she's ready to go outside for her first runs you can bet I'll be there! There's not a great deal of illustrated documentation for a Mosquito, but they've photographed a couple of other airplanes extensively and are sleuthing out the details. The quality of the work being done is to a very high standard - she'll really be something when she's done. I was surprised to learn that a Mosquito and a Canadair CL-215 use the same main tires.

[warbird1]

What kind of aircraft fuselage is that in the upper right corner - a Chippie perhaps?