Mosquito FB Mk.VI

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 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.

Left photo: Fuselage on a jig undergoing restoration. Right photo: The Mosquito’s landing gear in storage ready for shipment to New Zealand. Once the restoration is complete, this Mosquito will look as if it came off the manufacturing floor of de Havilland.

ORIGINS OF THIS FB MK.VI

Mosquito RS505 of No. 235 Squadron was attacked by one of the defending Fw190 fighters from JG-5 and suffered major damage to the tail surfaces including the elevator and rudder. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot diverted to the ice-covered Lake Langenvann in Telemark, Norway and attempted to land on the ice (potentially allowing them to repair the damage and escape before capture). The effort seemed successful at first, but as the weight of the aircraft settled, the ice broke and the plane abruptly fell into the freezing water. Both pilots were rescued by local farmers who rushed to their aid, caring for them until the German military transported them to hospitals where they recovered. The pilots were released weeks later after Germany surrendered to the Allies. generously offered their Mosquito collection for the project.

The American Heritage Museum has recently received a donation of significant Mosquito parts from a collector in the United States that will be used in the project. These original major components with outstanding historical value will be combined with original wooden fuselage structure and wings currently stored at Avspecs Ltd. at Ardmore Airfield in Auckland, New Zealand. The wooden fuselage and wings cannot be used for a flying restoration due to their age. But, being original construction from de Havilland, they are perfect for combination with the original components from RS505 to restore a complete de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk VI for static display.

Norwegians recovered many components from this crash over the years. Two Merlin engines, the landing gear, and a number of large components found their way to both the Forced Landing Collection (FLC) Museum in Sweden and the Sola Flyhistorisk Museum in Stavanger, Norway. The American Heritage Museum has established a relationship with FLC for the acquisition of the He-111 bomber from their inventory, and has been given the additional opportunity to acquire the components of RS505. We have also reached out to Sola Flyhistorisk Museum and they have