De Havilland Mosquito FB
Fighter-bomber and anti-shipping strike aircraft

De Havilland Mosquito FB
Type: Fighter-Bomber, anti-shipping strike aircraft, night fighter.
History: In much the same manner that the Beaufighter came to be introduced into RAF Coastal Command as an antishipping strike fighter, so the classic de Havilland Mosquito FB achieved considerable success in this role, being used principally with rocket projectiles and bombs. A torpedo-carrying version was under development at the end of the war.

It was not until the Mosquito had been successfully developed as a fighter-bomber (effectively combining its night-fighter cannon armament with its ability to carry bombs internally) that the Mosquito FB VI was selected for service with Coastal Command, trials being undertaken at Boscombe Down with an aircraft fitted with eight 3-in rocket projectiles under the wings. In addition to a nose armament of four 20-mm cannon and four 0.303-in machine guns, the Mosquito FB Mk VI could also carry a pair of short-finned 500-lb bombs in the rear of the bomb bay. Alternatively, later aircraft were strengthened to carry a further pair of 500-lb weapons under the wings in place of the rockets.

Following the success of the Beaufighter anti-shipping strike wings in 1943, a Mosquito Strike Wing was formed at Banff in Scotland before the end of that year, No. 333 (Norwegian) Squadron being the first to receive Mosquito FB Mk VIs in November 1943, No. 248 Squadron followed in the next month, and No. 235 in June 1944. Employed almost exclusively against enemy shipping off the Norwegian coast, the Norwegian pilots of No.333 Squadron usually flew as pathfinders for the wing, leading Mosquito formations along the winding fjords in search of German vessels.

Of greater interest than true operational value was the Mosquito FB Mk XVIII anti-shipping strike aircraft, armed with a single 57-mm Molins gun in the nose. A converted Mosquito FB Mk VI thus armed made its first flight on 25 August 1943, after which 27 production aircraft were built and entered service with No, 248 Squadron at Banff in January 1944.
Detachments were sent south for patrols over the English Channel and on 25 March a Mosquito FB Mk XVIII pilot attacked and claimed to have sunk an German submarine off the French coast.
Weighing over 2,000 lb, the Molins gun was not considered a success as its recoil constantly caused local structural damage in the Mosquito's nose.
No. 248 Squadron retained its aircraft until February 1945, after which the survivors were handed over to No. 254 Squadron at North Coates for the remainder of the war.

Description of the de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber, anti-shipping strike aircraft and night fighter types:

F II Night fighter : With pilot and observer side by side, flat bullet-proof windscreen, extended nacelles (as in all subsequent aircraft with flaps divided into inner and outer segments) and armament of four 20mm Hispano cannon with 300 rounds each under the floor and four 0.303in Brownings with 2,000 rounds each in the nose.
First flew 15 May 1941, operational service since August, 1942. Subsequently fitted with AI Mk IV or V radar or Turbinlight searchllght. 466 F II were build.

F II night fighter of 23 Sqn, based at Luqa, Malta, in 1942.

FB VI : Fighter-bomber and intruder by day or night. Same guns as F II but two 250lb bombs in rear bay and two more (later two 500 lb) on wing racks. Alternatively, 50 or 100 gal drop tanks, mines, depth charges or eight 60lb rockets. Some fitted with AI radar.
Total production 2,584, more than any other mark.

NF XII : Conversion of FII night fighter fitted with new thimble nose containing AI Mk VIII centimetric radar in place of Brownings.

NF XIII : Similar to Mk XII but built as new, with thimble or bull nose and same wing as Mk VI for drop tanks or other stores. Flew August 1943.

NF XV : High-altitude fighter with wings extended to 59ft, pressurised cockpit and lightened structure. AI Mk VIII in nose and belly pack of four 0.303in Brownings to combat Ju 86P raiders.

NF XVII : Night fighter with new AI Mk X or SCR.720 (some with tail-looking scanner also). Four 20mm cannon each with 500 rounds.

FB XVIII Tse-Tse Fly : This multi-role Coastal Command anti-shipping strike aircraft had low-blown engines and carried a 57mm six-pounder Molins gun with 25 rounds plus four Brownings, as well as eight 60lb rockets or bombs. Total production 27.

NF XIX : Mk XIII developed with AI.VIII or X or SCR.720 in bulged universal nose and low-blown Merlin 25 engines.

NF 30 : Night fighter with two-stage engines, paddle blades, AI Mk X and various sensing, spoofing or jamming avionics. Based on Mk XIX.

Mk 33 : First Royal Navy Sea Mosquito version, with power-folding wings, oleo main legs (in place of rubber in compression), low-blown engines driving four-blade propellers, arrester hook, four 20mm cannon, torpedo (or various bomb/rocket loads). American ASH radar and rocket JATO boost.

TF 37 : Naval torpedo-fighter. Basically Mk 33 with AI/ASV Mk XIII.

NF 38 : Final fighter, mainly exported. AI Mk IX, forward cockpit.

Users: UK (RAF, RN), Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Free-French, Jugoslavia, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Turkey, USA (USAAF).
(Nationality list for all types, including Mosquito bomber types)

As effective as the Beaufighter, the de
Havilland Mosquito FB was also used in
low-level rocket and strafing attacks
against shipping. No. 143 Sqn flew its
FB Mk VIs from Banff in Scotland
against shipping off Norway.

3d model FB VI of Chinese Air Force.

A de Havilland Mosquito FB VI attacking a ship in 1944. Cannon were used to help sight the eight rockets, which appear to have ideally below the waterline.