Mosquito W4073
History of the Mosquito Mk. II
The Mosquito Mk. II was a pivotal variant in the development of the RAF’s night-fighter and intruder tactics during World War II. The first Mk. IIs started arriving at Fighter Command squadrons in early 1942. The initial aircraft, W4073, was delivered to No. 157 Squadron at Castle Camps, marking the beginning of the squadron’s transition to the Mosquito. However, the squadron had to wait until March to receive additional Mosquito fighters, finally becoming operational with the type on April 27, 1942.
Key Events:
- No. 157 Squadron: Despite numerous night sorties, it wasn’t until May 29, 1942, that Sqn Ldr Ashfield, flying W4099, claimed the squadron’s first probable victory – a Do 217. The first confirmed kill came on August 22, 1942.
- No. 23 Squadron: The next squadron to receive Mosquito fighters was No. 23 Squadron at Ford, which replaced its Havocs and Boston IIIs with the new aircraft. By July 1942, the unit had fully converted and became a pioneer in long-range intruder tactics. After several months of operations, the squadron was withdrawn in December 1942 to prepare for a move to Malta.
- Malta Operations: The squadron flew out to Malta in December 1942, with Wg Cdr P.G. Wykenham-Barnes performing the first sortie on December 29, 1942, over Sicily. Although this sortie did not result in any attacks, it marked the beginning of No. 23 Squadron’s significant role in the Mediterranean theater.
- Operational Successes: On January 7, 1943, Sqn Ldr Starr achieved the squadron’s first victory in the Mediterranean, shooting down a Ju 88 over Comiso. By mid-January, the squadron expanded its operations to North Africa, targeting enemy transports and troops. During the first three months, No. 23 Squadron shot down 17 enemy aircraft and disrupted 52 trains in February alone.
- Innovation: Ground crews in Malta displayed remarkable ingenuity by fitting one of the squadron’s aircraft with a GM2 day reflector sight, which projected the image directly onto the windscreen, foreshadowing modern head-up displays.
Significant Achievements:
- On April 26, 1943, No. 23 Squadron scored Malta’s 999th victory.
- In May 1943, the squadron began receiving the new F.B. Mk. VI variant.
Other RAF Squadrons Operating the Mk. II
The Mosquito Mk. II was also operated by the following RAF squadrons:
- 25, 27, 85, 141, 151, 169, 239, 264, 307, 410, 456, 515, and 605 squadrons.
These squadrons played various roles, from night-fighter operations to intruder missions, contributing significantly to the RAF’s efforts during the war.