De Havilland Mosquito

Mosquito NS998 - Help required

From Fred Pearce;

One of our members is doing a history piece for our museum as we have parts of Mosquito NS998 taken out of the wash and in our museam. At RAF Swannington the orbs used letters instead of serial numbers, does any one know what letters were used for Mosquito NS998? Was it was VY then a roundle then the letters? Fred (Fenland and west Norfolk Aviation Museum)

It was normal for 85 Squadron to have the right hand side of fuselage marked such as VY-Q
on the left hand side it would show Q-VY. Their hurricanes were marked so, so I should think that their Mossies were marked in a similar way.
VY being the squadron code for 85 Squadron that is. Q used as an example and not the A/C in question.

Interesting website worth a look ; www.swannington-norfolk.co.uk/index.html

Lots of Google hits for that particular Mosquito but nothing identifying its individual call-sign .

In 'Fighter Squadron at War' by AJ Brookes it shows Mosquitos and Bostons marked up as described in my first post. If the Swannington Station ORB has not recorded the A/C code letter then the Squadron ORB most likely has. Sounds like a trip to the NA. The RAF Commands website normally has a wealth of information, but on this particular loss even they dont have an individual code listed.

Mosquito should fly next Saturday

The Kiwis are probably the very best at Warbird restorations. All being well a Mosquito will take to the air again 29/9/2012.
Try this link for the current situation tvnz.co.nz/close-up/monday-september-24-...86/video?vid=5101440
Enjoy

The event on Saturday is what might be termed a public 'first flight' in front of a huge crowd of the paying public. The real first flight was expected today, Weds 26th, although there was some concern about the weather. Will advise any reports from contacts in Kiwi-land.

Now THAT is some news i've been waiting for for a long time :-D

Didn't make it on Weds but the NZ CAA has issued the necessary Permit to Fly. First flight might now be tomorow.

It flew. Slight ASI leak and landed Aukland. A second trip out and back from Aukland then a final trip back to Ardmore. Couldn't update earlier because AiX was down over night.

WJT;111463 wrote:

It flew. Slight ASI leak and landed Aukland. A second trip out and back from Aukland then a final trip back to Ardmore. Couldn't update earlier because AiX was down over night.

Wonderful news. Is there any video of that anywhere yet?