The “Wooden Wonder”

The De-Havilland Mosquito was the worlds first true multi-role combat aircraft.  It was mainly made of wood hence its nick-name the “Wooden Wonder”.  It was designed and built by the De-Havilland aircraft company based in London Colney Hertfordshire, Great Britain.

The Mosquito’s  roots lay in the 1930s, the De-Havilland aircraft company had laid down a firm foundation for the Mosquito, with the DH.88 Comet and the DH.91 Albatross airliner.  Their reputation for fast high flying innovative aircraft was growing.

In 1934 the futuristic looking DH.88 Comet took part in the London to Melbourne Centenary Air Race, it won the race outright completing the 11,300 mile journey in 70hrs 54mins and 18seconds.

Two years later the Air Ministry issued a document called the P.13.  With the build up to war in Europe evident this document out-lined a requirement for, a “Medium twin engined bomber” capable of carrying a 1,000lb bomb over 1,000mls and a maximum bomb load of 8,000lbs.  This aircraft must operate at 15,000ft and fly at speeds of at least 275mph.  This requirement interested the design team at De-Havilland, however they did not win the contract.  The contract went to “Avro” with their “Manchester” bomber and to “Handley Page” with their “Halifax” bomber.

The De-Havilland design team were not put off.  In-fact they felt with their knowledge of wooden built aircraft, they could exceed the Air-Ministry’s specifications and at the  same time build a smaller aircraft.

The thinking across the world at the lead up to WW2 was that wars could be won by bombers alone.  A theory hopelessly wide of the mark even today. With this thinking in mind the Ministry wanted all metal skinned bombers with front and rear turrets and heavy metal armour, they believed an armed bomber could battle its way to the target regardless of fighter opposition.

The De-Havilland team thought the opposite.  Their theory was a light wooden constructed bomber, stripped of any armour and turrets could out pace any existing fighter aircraft of the day!  The teams thinking became a solid idea with the advent of the “Rolls Royce Merlin engine”  this radical engine was constructed of all alloy, engine block and cylinder heads.  Early test runs of the “Merlin” showed a quantum leap in power output compared to its weight.