A H M R E S T O R AT I O N
DE HAVILLAND
MOSQUITO FB MK.VI The wooden wonder of World War Two
The American Heritage Museum has been offered the opportunity to undertake a comprehensive static restoration of a de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI using rare original materials, including major components from RS505, a combat veteran Mosquito of the No. 235 Squadron based out of Banff, Scotland in 1945. The de Havilland Mosquito was one of the fastest operational aircraft of World War II and, because of this, carried out a host of special duties and missions that required speed and stealth. It could be configured as a low- to medium altitude daytime tactical bomber, high altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike, and photo-reconnaissance aircraft. The Mosquito was often flown in special raids, such as Operation Jericho, an attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944, and precision attacks against military intelligence, security, and police facilities (such as Gestapo headquarters). On January 30, 1943, the 10th anniversary of the Nazis’ seizure of power, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station while Hermann Göring was speaking, taking his speech off the air. The de Havilland Mosquito, made mostly of molded wood, is a rarity in museums due to age and fragility of its original construction. Though three have been restored to flight over the past 10 years, these aircraft are mostly new construction around select original pieces 7
COLLINGS FOUNDATION - AMERICAN HERITAGE MUSEUM
of non-combat planes. This project is unique because it will utilize both original wood and original components of an aircraft with combat history, providing an aircraft of high provenance to join the AHM collection. Though overshadowed by more well-known battles and campaigns, persistent struggles for control of valuable Norwegian raw materials took place throughout World War II. Germany fought hard for power over Norway because their own nation did not have rich iron, nickel, and aluminum resources of its own to feed the Nazi war machine. The Norwegian Campaign of April 1940 to June 1940 was the first effort by the Allies (England and France) to take this region back from Germany, but was ultimately unsuccessful. The RAF Coastal Command maintained pressure with regular attacks by air from 1940 to 1943, but was never fully able to disrupt the supply line. Regaining command of the region was considered vital by the allies in 1943. Efforts were stepped up to deal a striking blow to Axis powers. Fast, concentrated attacks began using Bristol Beaufighters and de Havilland Mosquitoes from bases in Northern Scotland. Flying low over the North Sea in challenging weather conditions, Beaufighters and Mosquitoes had only their speed to protect them from deadly anti-aircraft defenses and their forward facing cannons and machine guns to fight against pursuing attack fighters. Despite the dire odds, attacks by these squadrons successfully maintained pressure until the end of the war in Europe.
