de Havilland Mosquito

[pappabagge]

Actually the 'ball bearing run' went to Gothenburg, where the SKF company had bearings ready for loading at Torslanda airfield. There were a number of spies and other individuals exchanged between the British and German Consulates across one of the main squares, Drottningtorget. The British had their 'base' at Hotel Eggers, and the Germans at the top of the Post Office HQ.

[cambamfo]

"A bomber made of wood has proved it's metal" - Classic.

[jrwel14]

great plane

[TheMrDobbins]

we should be grateful for 633 squadron for keeping the mossie memory alive haha, if only they hadnt destroyed a load of em

[Gruntol5]

Unarmed civilian Mosquitoes operated by British Overseas Airways Corp. flew the "ball bearing run" during WW2. This involved flying from Scotland to Stockholm, Sweden (neutral), to pick up specialised ball bearings for the war effort. German spies in Sweden would tip off the Luftwaffe that a Mosquito was leaving Stockholm for Scotland, but the Germans, try as they may, were never able to intercept the Mosquitoes - just too fast and too high.

[martynpank]

I've never heard this before, but I'm sure you're right! The Mossie was the most versatile aircraft of WW2, appearing in, virtually, every aircraft role. What a superb craft!

[Gruntol5]

@martynpank: Another even more valuable cargo was Danish physicist Neils Bohr. He was evacuated from Stockholm to England in 1943 in an unarmed De Havilland Mosquito operated by British Overseas Airways Corporation. Passengers on BOAC's Mosquitos were carried in an improvised cabin in the bomb bay. Although his oxygen supply was almost cut off during the flight, he slept through it and arrived safely, with no knowledge of the near disaster.

[martynpank]

I am sure that there were so many operations (on both sides) that were secret that involved people being transported. This is the wonder of WW2. Learning all the little secrets, that may not have seemed important, but were extremely important!

[martynpank]

@Gruntol5 I know that Ball-bearings were important for both sides. But esp. the Nazis. I know that because of the allied bombing of Schwinfort (I think!)[Spelled wrong!] The Nazis had to use inferior ball-bearings from different countries! Luckily, the allies had no such probs for the supply they had! Unless, what you say is right! But this would be, as you said, specialised!

[hypnotekk]

hello bomberguy, could you accept my friend invite please, i have some questions regarding dh98 aerodynamic coefficients, and was wondering if u can help me.

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[emforty2]

the invisible bomber with speed of a fighter

no need for guns as it just outruns any enemy fighter of its day

what a plane de Havilland is a genius

[neilz1309]

Goering was once credited with saying that if it wasn't for the mosquitoes he believed that Germany might have had a chance,obviously that's a bit of a simplistic view,but it was an incredibly versatile and hard hitting aircraft.

[B17Junky]

My FAV WWII Fighter Bomber, My Grand-Father flew the De H Mosquito, he loved it.

Proud to be a Canadian..............

[GerbilEssences]

@B17Junky My grandad, er,... calibrated the instruments oxygen etc on mosquitoes. Luckily his eyesight was to bad for him to fly anything ;)

[Yamieguy64]

One of my Favourites.

BTW, The Canadian De Havilland Plant was/is located in Toronto, not Ottawa as mentioned!

[CaptBubble]

Great clip, Bomberguy. A great fave of mine, not least because my Grandad, a yacht designer and pioneer of marine ply, gave his expertise to de H to develop Mosquito, Hornet and Vampire.

[Independantfellow]

Mosquitos were even better as fighters. Especially w/ radar as night fighters.

[urrachunt]

Yeah beautiful planes!~!!! My fav too. Nice vid, ty.

[rascal711]

Fantastic aeroplane. My favourite of WW2. Another great advantage was that it was easily repaired in the field. I have just watched a clip of the attack on Gestapo HQ in Copenhagen - fantastic flying machine.

[oldun52]

Over a comparable distance, three Mosquito's, with 6 Merlins and 6 crew, carried the same bomb load as two Lancasters, with 8 Merlins and 14 crew.

[gasmarkfive]

"Over a comparable distance, three Mosquito's, with 6 Merlins and 6 crew, carried the same bomb load as two Lancasters, with 8 Merlins and 14 crew. "

Not only that, but one twin engined mosquito, carried the same bomb capacity (near enough) to a four engined B17!!

[oldun52]

The B17 was a much overrated aircraft. On daylight raids without fighter escrot it was a deathtrap.

[Xiolablu3]

So was any heavy bomber

[oldun52]

Agreed, but the US Army Air Force, ignoring the lessons learned the hard way by the RAF, did tout the B17 as being able to defend it's self.

Sadly to the cost of too many young American lads.

[oldtilter]

The secret was the molding of the fuselage using wood laminates and the use of the powerfull merlin engines...SweeT!

[rocketman63]

Not only were they fast and sturdy, but arguably the most beautiful bomber ever made.

[JaspaUK]

Just proves the old saying if it looks right, it is right.

[Twirlyhead]

Superb Plane - Goering once commented (something like this) We Germans are struggling to get aluminium for planes and the British have desined this superb plane that can be assembled in any furniture or piano factory. I believe they may even have tried to copy it.

[BaronKrolok]

Actually there was a plane like the mosquito, the Focke-Wulf Ta 154. It was not a mere copy, but only a few prototypes have flown. It was made of wood, but the germans encountered problems with the glue.

Another one made from wood was the large cargo-glider Junkers Ju 3?? Mammut. It was too heavy and unwieldy, the only prototype was chopped and burned after testflight.

[binaway]

@Twirlyhead Goering then finished with the words "they have the genius's. I have the nincompoops". Well the Germans engineers weren't nincompoops but that is what he said.

[hoot72]

We had some bomb the area's i live in during ww2..a couple were shot down..my grandfather remembers some of them being displayed by the japs after being shot down in kuching and labuan when he was a pow

[xriddledogx]

Awesome, my grandfather used to work on these during the war, later the Arrow. now I know what it looked like. thanks.

[Oldwives]

Brings back memories of a wonderful aircraft, probably the most versatile aircraft in the Second World War.