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de Havilland Mosquito NF11 Night Fighter – 141 Sqn RAF, Wittering 1944

Mosquito NF11 – 141 Sqn RAF Night fighter. Ltd Edn

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1 in stock

£79.99

1 in stock

Corgi Aviation Archive 1/72 scale AA32803: Mosquito Night Fighter DZ726 of 141 Sqn RAF, Wittering in 1944. This limited edition model is now highly sought after by collectors.

Length 6.75 inches Wingspan 9 inches

PLEASE NOTE: Boxes are notoriously flimsy and most have some scuff or light crease imperfections. Models all excellent.

Mosquito Night Fighter DZ726 was fitted with A.I.Radar and Serrate, a system that could get a fix on the German Lichtenstein Radar from a range of around 100 miles. These aircraft carried no machine guns, only cannon. This aircraft, flown by Flg.Offs.Harry White DFC and Michael Allen DFC shot down an He177 during February 1944. Originally issued to 410 Sqn., DZ726 was damaged when it was flown through HT cables over Holland (bringing back over 300 feet of cable wrapped round the wings and tail!). After repairs at Hatfield, she was re-issued to 141 Sqn on 18th Oct 1943 who used NF MkII variants until Sept 1945. The aircraft was lost without trace during an A.I. exercise on 16 May 1944.

141 Squadron was formed in Oct 1943 and was based initially at Wittering, they also operated from West Raynham, Little Snoring, Coltishall and Church Fenton. The Squadron code was TW, their motto was: Caedimus nocto – We stand by night. 141 Squadron claimed a Bf.110 as damaged on the first 100th Group operation on the 17th December. The main task was to seek out enemy targets over Germany and provide RAF bomber support. The Mosquitoes replaced the squadrons Beaufighters after initial trials proved this aircraft unsuitable for the job.

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: AA32803 Categories: ,
Weight 1.1 kg