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The "Mossie" was the nickname for one of
the most remarkable combat Aircraft of the Second World War, the
de Havilland Mosquito. The most striking feature of the Mossie
was its construction. To reduce wartime metal use, the airframe
was constructed almost entirely out of plywood.
CF Photo
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The design intent of the Mosquito was speed instead
of defensive armament, and from the moment it first flew until
1944 it was the fastest plane in the war. Its speed, was 425mph
at 30,000 feet and its manoeuverability, even on just one engine,
was spectacular. The original design was intended as a light bomber,
but soon proved itself in high-level photography and every phase
of intruder operations. In all, de Havilland Canada built 1,134
Mosquitos before the war's end of which 444 were on strength with
the RCAF in models Bomber Mk. VII through Trainer Mk. 29 from 1
June, 1943 to 28 September, 1951. This late model "Mossie" (notice
the altered nose built to house a radar antenna) is seen on a captured
airfield in Europe. Note the D-Day markings under the wings and
tail.
CF Photo
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