de Havilland Mosquito B.VII/B.XX/F-8 'Canadian Mossie'

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft developed in 1939. The Mosquito was constructed almost entirely of wood and, as such, it was dubbed "The Wooden Wonder". Originally conceived as an unarmed high-speed bomber, it was later adapted to many other roles, including day-time tactical bomber, night bomber, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, maritime interceptor and photo-reconnaissance aircraft.

The Mosquito B Mk.IV was a day and night bomber variant, whose prototype first flew in September 1941. Some 300 aircraft were built in Britain.

In 1942 production was launched by DH subsidiary in Canada. The initial Canadian version was the B Mk.VII, of which 25 were built, while another 145 aircraft, based on the B.IV, were produced as the B Mk.XX in the period 1943-44. The B.VIIs and B.XXs went to the RCAF, while a number of the latter vesrion were also supplied to the RAF in Europe. Six B.VIIs and another 34 B.XXs were converted to F-8 photo-reconnaissance aircraft and supplied to the USAAF.

It was a two-seat, twin-engine, mid-wing monoplane, of a composite wood construction, fitted with a retractable undercarriage. The crew was seated under conventional canopy and for bombing a glazed nose was provided. It was powered by two Packard Merlin in-line engines turning narrow three-bladed propellers. Its internal bombload was 2,000 lb (908 kg), while a provision was also made for two 50-gal (227 1itre) underwing drop tanks or two 250lb bombs. Photo-reconnaissance aircraft were equipped with vertical and oblique cameras.