Ju88 vs De Havilland Mosquito

[the lancaster kicks ass]

apparently flew just as well on 1 engine .

Yes, i read that on one of the test flights with a prototype an engine cut out (how embarassing), but he just kept flying and the air ministry were very impressed (not the impression they gave when the idea of a wooden plane was first submitted..................)

[Gemhorse]

On the 4th May 1941 , the prototype Mosquito's 100th flight-test achieved 392 mph at 22,000 ft. , weighing 16,000lbs.,[ faster than the then model Spitfire...] On 8 October with Merlin 77's [1710 hp.each,] a top speed of 439 mph was reached. The highest they flew were 43,600 ft. - Such were the first models, but the firepower, bomb weight [ a 4000 lb. ' Cookie' blast-bomb, ] rockets and mines, were superb for a two-man aircraft. - It didn't need torpedo's, with rockets and 20mm X 4 cannons, or .303 X 4 machine-guns to help aim the Molins 37mm or 57mm cannons [ 25 rounds in 20 secs, ] it punched holes in U-boats and ships, and it's remarkable wooden construction made them endurable and easily repairable. - The Mosquito was without doubt the most successful aircraft of WWII, nearly 8,000 were built of all variants and it's service extended until well after the War. - The Ju88 was a fine aircraft and an admirable opponent of the Mosquito, but it was heavier, not as powerful, not as well-armed and had more than 2 crew as a rule.

[bronzewhaler82]

Y'know reading posts like these just strengthen my resolve and really do show without a shadow of a doubt that the Mosquito belongs in the history book as one of the finest (IMO THE finest) aircraft to have EVER flown - it was truly an amazing work of genious


and of course it couldn't be anything other than British \/


Rule Brittania!

[Son of Kai Tak]

The concept of the unarmed bomber was actually first proposed by Handley-Page although they just couldn't seem to get it together sufficiently well enough and in the end lost out to De Havilland.

The Mosquito really takes the title because for many years it was damn near impossible to kill. The Luftwaffe wasted massive resources in trying to find a solution and paid it the ultimate compliment by copying it with the Ta-153 Moskito. It was five miles per hour faster than the 190-A series at low altitude, and left everything else behind. Even the "Uhu" whose main purpose was top be fast enough and able enough to kill Mosquito's couldn't actually manage it that well. (See Eric Brown "Wings of The Luftwaffe.")

Also bear in mind that it's bomb carrying capacity was almost the same as a B-17.

The Mosquito was used as a dive bomber by Leonard Cheshire and Micky Martin in 617 Squadron. They developed this technique to accurately deliver Target Indicators after they found the Lancaster was a bit too big to use in this way. In the end virtually all of No.5 Group used this technique as it proved to be extremely succesful.

Oh and they built them in Christchurch so it had to be good!

Choi Gien!

[Andrew]

The concept of a bomber flying faster than most of the fighters around at the time, is not a new one , the DH9 (de Haviland Aircraft Factory Model No 9) which was first delivered to RFC Squadrons in 1917 , flew faster than most of the fighters the Germans had , but it did not have a much of a payload .

[the lancaster kicks ass]

allot of WWI bombers had the had same speed as the fighters............

[bronzewhaler82]

Thats because their payload was usually a bunch of Hand grenades that they chucked off the side!

[the lancaster kicks ass]

not true, the Handly-Page 0/400 could carry a 4000lb payload...............

[cheddar cheese]

not true, the Handly-Page 0/400 could carry a 4000lb payload...............

wow, thats more than a stuka

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but it couldn't carry it as far or as fast as the stuka..................

[cheddar cheese]

i know but its still more

[the lancaster kicks ass]

more is no use if you can't get it out of your airspace.................

[cheddar cheese]

but they could bomb the frontline trenches

[plan_D]

For the British here, did any of you see the 'Daring Raids of World War 2' on Channel 5?

The Amiens raid in 1944...and the Mosquito was the first to bomb Berlin in daylight.

Mosquito takes the gold.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i read about that raid, the mosiie was the first to fly through berlin, they didn't drop any bombs, they just innterupted a parade by flying through the street at very low level..................