de Havilland Mosquito An Illustrated History Volume 2

A private venture aircraft, the much-loved Mosquito was possibly the most versatile of all World War II aircraft Revolutionary in its wood construction, the de Havilland Mosquito played a vital role in the war combining the manoeuverability of a fighter with the payload of a medium bomber. It contributed to the war as a fighter; an unarmed bomber, a reconnaissance aircraft and its different versions included the Sea Mosquito, the first British twin-engined aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier.

de Havilland Mosquito An Illustrated History Volume 2 traces the fascinating development of the Mosquito from its construction through to operational fighter and bomber in frontline, operational training, ferry and maintenance units. Human stories of RAF aircrew, ground crew and Commonwealth Air Forces are related in addition to coverage of the Mosquitoes operated by foreign Air Forces including Yugoslavia, Turkey, Norway and China. The versatile Mosquito was even evaluated by the Russians who assessed the type's potential for Soviet licence production.

Nose art, advertising and a summary of preserved Mosquitoes enhance our knowledge of this aircraft's history.

Supported by over 700 photographs, many of which are previously unpublished including a superb collection of rare colour photographs, this volume together with its companion volume de Havilland Mosquito An Illustrated History Volume 1 forms an indispensable 1,000 picture archive for any Mosquito historian or enthusiast.

This book is not only a tribute to all who designed, built, flew and maintained the Mosquito, but also to one particular individual, Mr Stuart Howe.

To aviation historians worldwide the name Stuart Howe is synonymous with the Mosquito. Through his voluntary work at the Mosquito Museum, Stuart made an invaluable contribution to Mosquito preservation and inspired a whole new generation of Mosquito enthusiasts. Sadly, at the age of just fifty- eight, Stuart died in April 2004 following a brave battle against illness.

Stuart wrote prolifically on the Mosquito, and this was scheduled to be his fifth book on the type. He was extremely enthusiastic about this project, for which he had been gathering material for several years. Shortly after his death Stuart's widow Barbara, together with myself, decided that it would make a fitting tribute to Stuart if this, his final work, could be completed. Although new to book compilation, I decided to take up the mantle and began work in September 2004. I too have had a lifelong interest in the Mosquito and first met Stuart when I joined the Mosquito Museum as a teenage volunteer back in 1975. Over the years Stuart and I became good friends and worked together on the restoration of the 1980s.