3. DH.98 Mosquito
De Havilland DH-98 Mosquito was one of the most remarkable planes of the World War Two and the post-war era. As a twin-engine aircraft with a pilot and navigator sitting side by side, the mosquito excelled in many roles during the war. Modified later to serve as a fighter, its unusual design used spruce and balsa wooden structures in a time when wooden construction was considered outdated. De Havilland DH-98 Mosquito could serve its purpose during the day and night or as a photoreconnaissance plane. In whatever capacity it served, it proved greatly effective.
During its introduction, the mosquito was about as fast as the front line Bf 109F and Fw 190A German fighters. In fact, as a high-speed and high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft, it became a fast choice plane for several missions against factories, railways, and other pinpoint targets in Germany and German-occupied Europe. Owing to its agility and speed, it became one of the most maneuverable aircraft, climbing faster and turning more quickly than its counterparts during mock combats.
From late 1943, Mosquito bombers were introduced. Power was increased to their Merlin engines allowing them to carry heavier bombs. After the improvements, they could fly at 415 mph with a 4000 lb bomb load. With such a speed, the Luftwaffe’s fighters found it very difficult to attack the Mosquito successfully. In fact, the Mosquito was so fast that by the time the Luftwaffe’s fighters reached interception altitude, it would have completed its bombing run and would be racing for home. The only plane that would have had a chance against the Mosquito was the Me 262. Later on, Germans improved the performances of their fighters considering the molestation they got the Mosquito. While this happened, the Mosquito remained an elusive target because of its maneuverable features.
By the time the war ended, the Mosquito had been used for a variety of tasks and had suffered fewer losses than any other plane. The RAF identified its multiple role capacities as it proved to be a valuable aircraft. Mosquito’s production continued until 1947 and in all 7,781 of them were made. The RAF continued to use the services of the mosquito as a reconnaissance plane until 1955.