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de Havilland Mosquito B1V – Grim Reaper, 109 Sqn RAF, Wyton 1943

Mosquito B1V – 109 Sqn RAF Grim Reaper

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1 in stock

£89.99

1 in stock

Corgi Aviation Archive 1/72 scale AA32801: Mosquito B1V Pathfinder bomber DK333 Grim Reaper of 109 Sqn RAF, Wyton 1943. This model is non limited, but now a rare item and highly sought after by collectors. Interestingly the box shows the plane as having a clear perspex nose but the model has a solid one. Fortunately the latter is correct!

Length 6.75 inches Wingspan 9 inches

109 Squadron was formed at Lake Down in May 1917 as a day bomber unit. It spent some time training and disbanded in July 1918 before becoming operational.

On 10 December 1940 the Wireless Intelligence Development Unit was redesignated 109 Squadron at Boscombe Down. During the next two years it was involved in research and the development of radio counter measures and new radar aids. In August 1942 the unit moved to RAF Wyton and became one of the earliest units to join the Pathfinder Force. In December it received Oboe equipped Mosquitos and pioneered its use in operational service. DK333 was one of the first Mosquitos to drop ground target indicators in a raid in January 43. The squadron remained an Oboe unit for the rest of the war. It had the distinction of dropping the last RAF bombs on Berlin during an attack on 21 April 1945.

One of the unit’s members won the Victoria Cross. Sqn Ldr R A M Palmer was awarded the decoration posthumously “in recognition of most conspicuous bravery”. He was flying a 582 Squadron Lancaster at the time and acting as Oboe leader for a bomber force attacking Cologne on 23 December 1944.

On the 30 September 1945 the squadron disbanded but on the following day 627 Squadron was renumbered 109 Squadron. It converted to jet bombers in July 1952 and took these to Cyprus during the Suez Crisis of 1956.
The unit finally disbanded on 1 February 1957.

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the “Mossie” to its crews and was also nicknamed “The Wooden Wonder”. It saw service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and many other air forces in the European theatre, the Pacific theatre of Operations and the Mediterranean Theatre.

Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito was adapted to many other roles during the air war, including: low to medium altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike aircraft, and fast photo-reconnaissance aircraft. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a transport.

When the Mosquito entered production in 1941, it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world. Entering widespread service in 1942, the Mosquito supported RAF strategic night fighter defence forces in the United Kingdom from Luftwaffe raids, most notably defeating the German aerial offensive Operation Steinbock in 1944. Offensively, the Mosquito units also conducted nighttime fighter sweeps in indirect and direct protection of RAF Bomber Command’s heavy bombers to help reduce RAF bomber losses in 1944 and 1945. The Mosquito increased German night fighter losses to such an extent the Germans were said to have awarded two victories for shooting one down. As a bomber, it took part in “special raids”, such as pinpoint attacks on prisoner-of-war camps (to aid escapes), Gestapo or German intelligence and security force bases, as well as tactical strikes in support of the British Army in the Normandy Campaign. Some Mosquitos also saw action in RAF Coastal Command during the Battle of the Atlantic, attacking Kriegsmarine U-Boat and transport ship concentrations, particularly in the Bay of Biscay offensive in 1943 in which significant numbers of U-boats were sunk or damaged.

The Mosquito was also used in the Mediterranean and Italian theatres, as well as being used by the RAF in the CBI Theatre, and by the RAAF based in the Halmaheras and Borneo during the Pacific War.

 

Sold By : Plane Store SKU: AA32801 Categories: ,
Weight 1.1 kg