De Havilland Mosquito

[SlimRick]

Bit of a long shot here - can anyone find any hostory of this Mosquito?

It was flown by a friend of my parents, and they happened upon a dvd which shows it taxiing down the runway. Managed to get a screenshot of the DVD which I hope to tidy up and print out, but wondered if anyone on here had any resources they could search to find out a bit more about it.

[Streps]

google failed to hint at anything.
Not really sure if this is any use .
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PTnc_rHj0KcC&am...

Edited by Streps on Thursday 8th December 15:06

[SlimRick]

Close - the one in the picture is P3-O, ML970. Will have a look through that book, many thanks!

[Eric Mc]

There will be a record card for that actual aircraft in the Natioal Archive at Kew showing its service history up to its eventual demise.

[Streps]

SlimRick said:

Close - the one in the picture is P3-O, ML970. Will have a look through that book, many thanks!

so close...
Indeed. best to luck.

Edited by Streps on Thursday 8th December 15:12

[Simpo Two]

Looks to me as if the lower surfaces might be painted black - if so would it be a nightfighter/intruder?

[dr_gn]

SlimRick said:

Bit of a long shot here - can anyone find any hostory of this Mosquito?

It was flown by a friend of my parents, and they happened upon a dvd which shows it taxiing down the runway. Managed to get a screenshot of the DVD which I hope to tidy up and print out, but wondered if anyone on here had any resources they could search to find out a bit more about it.

Google is your friend:

Serial: ML970
Build Type: B.XVI, Merlin 72/73 engines
Build Location: Hatfield
Contract Number: 555/C.23(a)
Contract Date:
Delivery Period: Between 24-11-1943 and 4-12-1944

ML970 BXVI 105/692/571/692/180 Overshot landing at wrong airfield Woodley 7.11.45 to 5773M

[SlimRick]

Simpo Two said:

Looks to me as if the lower surfaces might be painted black - if so would it be a nightfighter/intruder?

Indeed - it was painted all black.

[SlimRick]

dr_gn said:

Google is your friend:

Serial: ML970
Build Type: B.XVI, Merlin 72/73 engines
Build Location: Hatfield
Contract Number: 555/C.23(a)
Contract Date:
Delivery Period: Between 24-11-1943 and 4-12-1944

ML970 BXVI 105/692/571/692/180 Overshot landing at wrong airfield Woodley 7.11.45 to 5773M

Awesome info - thank you.

[Zippee]

Might also be worth trying here - http://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/index.html

[dr_gn]

SlimRick said:

Simpo Two said:

Looks to me as if the lower surfaces might be painted black - if so would it be a nightfighter/intruder?

Indeed - it was painted all black.

The upper surfaces in the photo do show a camouflage pattern.

ETA like this:



(I know it's a model, and the wrong code, but it's the same variant I think)

Edited by dr_gn on Thursday 8th December 16:19

[SlimRick]

Well spotted - were they ever painted all black? I'm sure he referred to it as black when he was talking about it.

[dr_gn]

SlimRick said:

Well spotted - were they ever painted all black? I'm sure he referred to it as black when he was talking about it.

Yeah, some were.

[Eric Mc]

SlimRick said:

Well spotted - were they ever painted all black? I'm sure he referred to it as black when he was talking about it.

Early night fighters (NF II) were -





Again, it's a model rather than a real one but it gives you a good idea as to what they looked like.

[rhinochopig]

SlimRick said:

Well spotted - were they ever painted all black? I'm sure he referred to it as black when he was talking about it.

When stood on the ground looking at it, it would appear (nearly all) black. They're quite a big aircraft.

[Simpo Two]

SlimRick said:

Well spotted - were they ever painted all black? I'm sure he referred to it as black when he was talking about it.

I suppose that when you were standing close to it you wouldn't see the camo upper surfaces, and over time the memory changes what you actually saw to 'all black'. But the photo you posted defo has a camo top.

ETA: Ha, snap!

[dr_gn]

rhinochopig said:

SlimRick said:

Well spotted - were they ever painted all black? I'm sure he referred to it as black when he was talking about it.

When stood on the ground looking at it, it would appear (nearly all) black. They're quite a big aircraft.

Assuming 'he' was the pilot, I think he'd have a pretty good idea of how it was painted on top...

[rhinochopig]

dr_gn said:

rhinochopig said:

SlimRick said:

Well spotted - were they ever painted all black? I'm sure he referred to it as black when he was talking about it.

When stood on the ground looking at it, it would appear (nearly all) black. They're quite a big aircraft.

Assuming 'he' was the pilot, I think he'd have a pretty good idea of how it was painted on top...

Of course, but in general conversation would one go into that level of detail?

In the pic, it is predominantly black, so may just have been described as such for conversational brevity. 70 years of living does also tend to blunt ones memory.

[Simpo Two]

dr_gn said:

Assuming 'he' was the pilot, I think he'd have a pretty good idea of how it was painted on top...

But it was dark outside

[Eric Mc]

Simpo Two said:

dr_gn said:

Assuming 'he' was the pilot, I think he'd have a pretty good idea of how it was painted on top...

But it was dark outside

I thought they all ate carrots to improve their night vision

Having said that, are rabbits nocturnal?