Ace of Spades HQ

December 27, 2012

Kiwi De Havilland Mosquito takes off from Aukland airport [CBD]
— Open Blogger

The De Havilland Mosquito was a British aircraft used in many roles during World War II. I guess we would call it a fighter-bomber, but the Brits used it for pretty much everything. Here is one of the last airworthy Mosquitoes doing its stuff.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 12:01 PM | Comments (63)
Post contains 62 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Much like witches and ducks, it was made out of wood.

Posted by: Lurking Flaneur at December 27, 2012 12:05 PM (ay6+/)

2 This post lacks sufficient outrage!

Posted by: wooga at December 27, 2012 12:06 PM (iWNzj)

3 You're welcome.

Posted by: Rachel Carson at December 27, 2012 12:07 PM (QKKT0)

4 That's awesome, I guess I just assumed most of the Mosquitos were no longer air worthy.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Do not taunt the Tebow. at December 27, 2012 12:08 PM (VtjlW)

5 A great aircraft and much better than the ones the Americans had in 1941.

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2012 12:09 PM (53z96)

6 Very fast, very nimble. Heck of an aircraft.

Posted by: Mikey NTH at December 27, 2012 12:09 PM (gmoEG)

7 Much like witches and ducks, it was made out of wood.
And it also flies. QED.

Posted by: andycanuck at December 27, 2012 12:09 PM (jPVBi)

8 Are you high?

Posted by: Soothsayer Gotrock at December 27, 2012 12:11 PM (Si5xx)

9 Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Do not taunt the Tebow. at December 27, 2012 04:08 PM (VtjlW)

This may be the only one. I couldn't find much info.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 27, 2012 12:11 PM (GsoHv)

10 I got a mosquito bite once.

Posted by: Joe Biden at December 27, 2012 12:12 PM (QKKT0)

That there is a Mosquito that swats back!

Jim
Sunk New Dawn

Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at December 27, 2012 12:13 PM (SUC5U)

12 Much like witches and ducks, it was made out of wood. Burn her! Can we burn her?

Posted by: rickb223 at December 27, 2012 12:13 PM (GFM2b)

13 In the dying gasp of their relevance, the Brits turned out some pretty good aircraft.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 27, 2012 12:14 PM (QKKT0)

14 query: Does it make one feel like an "expert" when trashing Tebow's skills?

Posted by: Soothsayer Gotrock at December 27, 2012 12:14 PM (jcT/0)

15 The Balsa Bomber.

Posted by: Joe Mama at December 27, 2012 12:16 PM (v9Cj5)

16 Beautiful fucking airplane. I think it's prettier than the Spitfire.

Posted by: Soona at December 27, 2012 12:16 PM (Zlj4E)

17 So is "dildo" not allowed on the main page?

Posted by: BCochran1981 at December 27, 2012 12:17 PM (IvVLN)

18 there must be a name for the psychological disorder that afflicts mobs to obsess over a figure and pile on

Posted by: Soothsayer Gotrock at December 27, 2012 12:18 PM (gQJLM)

19 Burn her! Can we burn her?

Nein. Ve kant katch her.

Posted by: der Luftwaffe at December 27, 2012 12:18 PM (z9HTb)

20 9 This may be the only one. I couldn't find much info.

----------

It is. But what with the jigs and stuff they had to make in order to restore this one, they figure they can make replicas.

Here's a link to a story about its first flight that talks a bit about the restoration:

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/warbird-flies-again-video-5108120

Posted by: Citizen Anachronda at December 27, 2012 12:18 PM (1c58W)

21 If Wiki is accurate that IS the last airworthy Mosquito. However, there are three more undergoing restoration.

Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2012 12:18 PM (53z96)

22 brb, shoppin for victuals

Posted by: Soothsayer Gotrock at December 27, 2012 12:19 PM (gQJLM)

23 If Wiki is accurate that IS the last airworthy Mosquito. However, there are three more undergoing restoration. Posted by: Vic at December 27, 2012 04:18 PM (53z96) The way the British and for that matter us are cutting back, those 4 may be the backbone of our future Air Force?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 27, 2012 12:19 PM (79ueO)

24 there must be a name for the psychological disorder that afflicts mobs to obsess over a figure and pile on

Todd Tebow is my favorite football player.

Posted by: Emmanuel Goldstein at December 27, 2012 12:20 PM (z9HTb)

25 Aircraft in WWII are fascinating; truly works of art. Keeping them flying in this day and age takes dedication and passion. Bra-VO people.

Posted by: crotchetyoldjarhead at December 27, 2012 12:20 PM (+A7/9)

26 I love that sound- multiple cylinder aircraft engines at full roar

Posted by: Jones in CO at December 27, 2012 12:21 PM (8sCoq)

Many thought that a wooden aircraft couldn't stand up to the battle damage. But the Mosquito proved them wrong. It could take as much or more damage than comparative metal aircraft.

Plus, the fact that it was so fast the Luftwaffe could never catch it. Gorgeous fucking airplane.

Posted by: Soona at December 27, 2012 12:22 PM (Zlj4E)

28 opening the Boeing Center on Jan 13 at the National World War Two Museum in New Orleans, LA. There is a B-25, and a B-17 hung from the rafters of the pavilion.

Posted by: pointsnfigures at December 27, 2012 12:22 PM (EBPRt)

29 there must be a name for the psychological disorder that afflicts mobs to obsess over a figure and pile on Boobehs?

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Do not taunt the Tebow. at December 27, 2012 12:23 PM (VtjlW)

30 Boobehs? Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Do not taunt the Tebow. at December 27, 2012 04:23 PM (VtjlW) Absolutely a foul to mention without linking.

Posted by: BCochran1981 at December 27, 2012 12:25 PM (IvVLN)

31 I have a coffee table book on WWII Aircraft that is fascinating, especially the hand drawn color plates by a Japanese artist. The part on fighter planes is epic, describing flying the warbirds as twenty yearolds strapping into a claustrophobic cockpit of heat, vibration and fumes, with an engine as powerful as a locomotive in front of them, going into harm's way.

Posted by: toby928© for TB at December 27, 2012 12:25 PM (QupBk)

32 there must be a name for the psychological disorder that afflicts mobs to obsess over a figure and pile on

Boobehs?

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Do not taunt the Tebow. at December 27, 2012 04:23 PM (VtjlW)

--------------------------------------------

I was going to say, Kate Upton, but...........

Posted by: Soona at December 27, 2012 12:25 PM (Zlj4E)

33 Aircraft in WWII are fascinating; truly works of art. Keeping them flying in this day and age takes dedication and passion. Bra-VO people. Agreed. And the amount of damage they could suck up and still get our guys home is nothing short or miraculous.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 27, 2012 12:26 PM (GFM2b)

34 I was going to say, Kate Upton, but.... Pics or barrel. You know the drill.

Posted by: rickb223 at December 27, 2012 12:28 PM (GFM2b)

35 Is that the stall horn we're hearing when he's formatting?

If so, that pilot has a lot of confidence in what he's doing.

Posted by: sunflower at December 27, 2012 12:29 PM (6ycAG)

36 is it wrong to eat chunks of cold leftover beef tenderloin using mayonnaise as a dipping sauce?

Posted by: Jones in CO at December 27, 2012 12:31 PM (8sCoq)

Would've never made the take-off in the U.S., what with Hurricane Sandy and the hail of gunfire coming from everywhere.

Posted by: AP news at December 27, 2012 12:32 PM (wAQA5)

38 36 is it wrong to eat chunks of cold leftover beef tenderloin using mayonnaise as a dipping sauce? Posted by: Jones in CO at December 27, 2012 04:31 PM (8sCoq) The fuck? Yes, yes it is.

Posted by: BCochran1981 at December 27, 2012 12:32 PM (IvVLN)

39 The Mossie was an incredible airplane. One of the best of the war. Made of plywood. Fast and agile as a fighter, and able to carry a respectable bomb load. Excellent design.

Posted by: maddogg at December 27, 2012 12:34 PM (OlN4e)

When I was a kid, I read a book about the 8th AF in Europe and it had lots of pictures from combat film as well as still cameras. The photos of battle damaged aircraft returning to base after bombing targets deep inside the Reich were nothing less that awe inspiring. And reading a first hand account of a Liberator pilot's raid on Ploesti....WOW.

When you consider powered flight is only a little more than a century old it pretty amazing.

Posted by: crotchetyoldjarhead at December 27, 2012 12:41 PM (trh5+)

41 In WW1 many aircraft were made from Sitka Spruce, I believe the Mosquito was, too. From Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The U.S. Army had a Spruce Production Division , soldiers as loggers, with their own camps in the woods.
Sitka Spruce had long tough, light fibers that didn't splinter when hit by bullets.

Wiki: http://tinyurl.com/c65c4df
Also Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose

Posted by: JHW at December 27, 2012 12:48 PM (B38OD)

The Mosquito was made only because it didn't use typical aircraft materials or production capacity which were on max output producing Spitfires, Hurricanes, etc.

The Mosquito was made in piano factories with skilled wood workers.

Parts of it were made in the USA and Canada.

Posted by: Frankly at December 27, 2012 12:49 PM (VEaq4)

The Warbird Museum down here had a DH Gypsy Moth in its collection, a WWI fighter. I saw it fly after seeing it in a static display. Tiny 4-cylinder engine, couldn't have produced much more than about 40 HP, if that. Fabric and wood construction. The word "frail" comes to mind...

Mucho cojones required of anyone who actually took that little thing into battle.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at December 27, 2012 12:50 PM (yiIja)

44 "The Oslo Mosquito raid (25 September 1942) was a British air raid on Oslo, Norway, during World War II. The target of the raid was the Victoria Terrasse building, the headquarters of the Gestapo. It was intended to be a "morale booster" for the Norwegian people and was scheduled to coincide with a rally of Norwegian collaborators." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Mosquito_raid

Posted by: Group Captain Mandraje at December 27, 2012 12:50 PM (vJfir)

45 A little tidbit I recall from one of my AE profs; One obvious reason for building a wooden plane was that the logistics chain for metal planes was already running at full capacity. This allowed GB to leverage the talents, and the resources, of a host of furniture builders and cabinet makers.

Posted by: Karl at December 27, 2012 12:52 PM (+0oJ9)

46 Ahh...the sweet, sweet bellow of twin Merlins at full power. Brits used 'm to chase down buzzbombs over London.

Posted by: Pecan Scandi at December 27, 2012 12:52 PM (yvSVk)

47 Can't wait for the Kiwis to do a YouTube vid of a balls-out full speed screaming for vengeance low-level pass with the old gal. Faptastic.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 27, 2012 12:54 PM (c2oll)

"...DH Gypsy Moth in its collection, a WWI fighter."

Not a fighter, it was a sports plane produced between WWI and WWII.

Posted by: sherlock at December 27, 2012 01:22 PM (f29LO)

Ok...so I have to break here and say that in WWII, the P51 and the P47 are far and away my favorite aircraft, although the F4U ranks right there at the top in the mud mover category, and nothing sounds like music more than a round engine at full power in a high speed pass........but..... the F4 phantom...in full burner, leaving the cat...carrying pylons full of rockeyes....

Excuse me while I have a private moment.

Posted by: crotchetyoldjarhead at December 27, 2012 01:29 PM (mQmzV)

That was a beautiful sight to see!! Love those old airplanes.

Posted by: gDavid at December 27, 2012 01:31 PM (VfeNt)

51 From one crotchety old jarhead to another: Plenty o' F4 Phantoms and A4 Skyhawks at Chu Lai (where I was) and Danang. The F4 must've had some horrible lift to require all that power. I understand and will respect your private moment.

Posted by: lizardbrain at December 27, 2012 01:36 PM (EXDjY)

52 By the time I got outta school the Corps was only flying phantoms in the reserve units. The Hornet had replaced them. The phantom looks like its gonna kick your ass just sitting in the chocks. Then when they asked us what we wanted to work on and I asked for jets and Iwakuni, I got helicopters and California. Best thing that ever happened cause i met the grumpy grandma there. :-D

Posted by: crotchetyoldjarhead at December 27, 2012 01:46 PM (uYSWH)

53 52 Best thing that ever happened cause i met the grumpy grandma there.

---------

She's standing right behind you reading over your shoulder, isn't she?

Posted by: Citizen Anachronda at December 27, 2012 01:49 PM (1c58W)

54 she's packin the bags for our trip to Cozumel in the morning

Posted by: crotchetyoldjarhead at December 27, 2012 02:06 PM (GWlHG)

55 That's the Corps. I asked for 0311 and they made me an electronics technician. Congrats on bagging the grumpy grandma. Or was it the other way around?

Posted by: lizardbrain at December 27, 2012 02:08 PM (EXDjY)

56 And congrats on Cozumel. I'm stuck here in Maine dealing with a snowstorm and a plow guy who can't show up when he says he will. Have some sunshine for me.

Posted by: lizardbrain at December 27, 2012 02:11 PM (EXDjY)

57 Haha! When we met, the first words from her mouth were "youre a Marine aren't you!" She only went out with me cause I had tickets to the Chargers game. 26 years ago...i am definitely the lucky one.

Posted by: crotchetyoldjarhead at December 27, 2012 02:17 PM (DVEEo)

58 Didn't New Zealand do away with her air force?

Posted by: Goatweed at December 27, 2012 03:06 PM (kgemg)

59 I saw one at the airport in Norman OK in 1973 when I was in grad school. The Mosquito was flown by some guy coming up form Dallas and the tower let him do barrel rolls at what appeared to be high speed before he came in for a landing. As I remember the sound was different and the plane which was unknown to me at the time was fantastic both in the air and on the ground.

Posted by: OldTexan at December 27, 2012 04:03 PM (WZYdx)

60 Nincompoops! Build Mosquitos, or something! .... we don't need no stinking aluminum!

Posted by: and irresolute at December 27, 2012 04:25 PM (DBH1h)

61 WW2 pilots were probably the best ever, but anybody who flies a military airplane is in possession of a set of massive brass balls. Even the women. Back in the 60's I was privileged to be in VF84, the Jolly Rogers. We had F4J's and damn they were beautiful.

Posted by: EROWMER at December 27, 2012 04:28 PM (kxlCQ)

62 Pretty damn awesome.

Posted by: steveegg at December 27, 2012 04:56 PM (o44nj)

Is there a Luftwaffe parade in Berlin they can buzz, for old time sake? (Yes, they did it, big balls and a awesome airplane)

Posted by: DALE THE WITLESS PEASANT at December 28, 2012 03:37 AM (FxBCF)

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