aviation - the past, present and future of flight

a powerful demonstration of the new type’s

capability.

The sortie was repeated three days later,

when Flt Lt Alastair Taylor and Sgt Sidney

Horsfall flew another successful mission over

the French Atlantic ports.

Early in October, three Mosquitos of 1

PRU, led by Sqn Ldr Clerke, detached north

to Wick in northern Scotland and over the

next month the entire Norwegian coast,

including the fjords, was photographed for

the first time. November 4 took the Mosquito

on its first overseas task, landing in Malta

having covered targets in Italy en route.

The crew flew several high-priority recce

sorties from the Mediterranean island before

returning to Benson.

The squadron’s first operational loss of

a Mosquito came after 88 missions when

W4055 was lost over Norway – thought to

have been the victim of high-level anti-aircraft

fire.

Nonetheless, the Mosquito had proved

itself with 1 PRU in a spectacular way – and

continued to do so into 1942. In March, for

example, a crew flying W4059 photographed

the battleship Gneisenau in the Baltic port of

Gdynia, confirming the catastrophic damage

sustained during an air attack in February

at Kiel, while another crew, flying W4051,

reconnoitred the port of St Nazaire before the

famous raid.

With 1 PRU, the ‘Wooden Wonder’ had

certainly earned its spurs.

NIGHT FIGHTING

No.157 Sqn, under Wg Cdr Gordon Slade,

was formed at Debden, Essex to bring the

night fighter version into use. Deliveries were

slow and the first two did not arrive until early

March 1942, although a dual-controlled Mk III

had been delivered on January 17.

By the end of March, 14 Mosquito IIs were

in place, but many had no radar fitted so 157

could boast only seven trained crews. Six

more aircraft came in April, by which time

the squadron had one experienced Mosquito

pilot, Sqn Ldr Rupert Clerke, who had been

posted in as a flight commander from 1

PRU as he also had considerable fighter

experience.

At Wittering, on April 6, 151 Sqn – under

Sqn Ldr Irving Smith (promoted to Wg

Cdr on the 14th) – received its first aircraft

when Flt Lt Darling flew in DD608. The

squadron’s experience was similar to 157’s

as deliveries were also slow. Gradually, A

Flight converted, although B Flight continued

with Defiants for a time.

Earlier that month, the Luftwaffe began

its so-called Baedeker raids on British

historic cities. On the night of April 27, Fg

Off Graham-Little and Flt Sgt Walters of

157 Sqn flew the first Mosquito night fighter

sortie during the raid on Norwich. None

of the three AI radar-equipped aircraft that

157 launched had any contact, though after

landing they assessed that the matt black

paint scheme in which the aircraft were

painted reduced the overall speed by around

80 Aviation News Incorporating Jets March 2018

Standing in front of Mosquito PR.I W4056 LY-S of 1 PRU at Benson is Sqn Ldr Rupert Clerke

who flew the first-ever operational sortie by the type. RAF Benson

Mosquito PR.I W4059 flew 59 sorties with 1 PRU and in March 1942 photographed the bomb-

damaged battleship Gneisenau, in Gdynia harbour. via M Goodman

The bomb bay of a Mosquito IV being loaded at RAF Marham in December 1942. The aircraft

could carry four 500lb bombs with their vanes cropped so they would fit. A S Holt

The Mosquito night intruders of 23 Sqn, such as black painted DD712/YP-R, were used to great

effect over Luftwaffe bomber bases in France. via M J F Bowyer

79-82_mosquitosDC.mf.indd 80 30/01/2018 17:12