De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito: books - history and technology

De Havilland Mosquito (Vol. 1): The Night-Fighter and Fighter-Bomber Marques in World War II (Legends of Warfare)

This first of two volumes on de Havilland's "Wooden Wonder" covers the night-fighter and fighter-bomber variants of the deadly Mosquito.
The development of the multirole Mosquito, from its original bomber and photoreconnaissance operational function to that of a night-fighter and fighter-bomber configuration, was initiated by the latent threat of a renewal of the 1940-41 "Blitz."

Over the ensuing years of WWII, the Mosquito attacked the enemy with sorties across a 24-hour time span, challenging the German Nachtjagd with aerial interceptions, as well as attacks on Luftwaffe airfields.
Pinpoint assaults on specialist targets was another aspect of Mosquito fighter-bomber operations, whose destructive effect on the Axis was constantly felt. Also covered are the Mosquito's operations with the Fleet Air Arm, as well as postwar use.

Part of the Legends of Warfare series.

Author:	Ron MacKay
Specs:	112 pages, 23 x 23 x 1.6 cm / 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.63 in, hardback
Illustrations:	197 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2019)
Series:	Legends of Warfare

De Havilland Mosquito (Vol. 2): The Bomber and Photo-Recon Marques in World War II (Legends of Warfare)

This second of two volumes on de Havilland's "Wooden Wonder" covers the World War II bomber and photoreconnaissance variants of the deadly Mosquito.
Along with its night fighter and fighter-bomber variants, Mosquito bomber squadrons attacked the enemy around the clock. Pinpoint assaults on specialist targets were another aspect of Mosquito operations, whose destructive effect on the Axis was constantly felt.

Also featured in this volume is the Mosquito's operational service between 1942 and 1945 within the ranks of the RAF, Commonwealth air forces, and US Army Air Force, as well as postwar use.

Author:	Ron Mackay
Specs:	112 pages, 23.5 x 24 x 1.8 cm / 9.25 x 9 x 0.71 in, hardback
Illustrations:	195 b&w and colour photographs
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2021)
Series:	Legends of Warfare

Mosquito : The Original Multi-Role Combat Aircraft

During the course of aviation history, there have been very few aircraft that have achieved immediate success when entering front-line service. The arrival of the de Havilland Mosquito brought with it a degree of instant success that set it apart from a host of other aircraft. It was not designed to an RAF requirement, but was the result of an initiative of the designers and builders to utilize the skills of woodworkers and the relative abundance of wood in the crisis years of World War II.

The result was an aircraft that could be built quickly, was extremely fast and immensely versatile. Pilots loved it and the opportunities opened up to them as a result of the capabilities of this new and exciting aircraft.

Here, Graham Simons describes in detail how the de Havilland Mosquito was built, utilizing many rare photographs from the design studio and production lines. It illustrates and explains the many different roles that the aircraft took as the war progressed. Fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, night fighter - there were few tasks that this brilliant design could not adopt.

Author:	Graham Simons
Specs:	256 pages, 23.5 x 16 x 1.7 cm / 9.25 x 6.3 x 0.67 in, paperback
Illustrations:	about 480 b&w photographs
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Ltd (GB, 2015)

De Havilland Mosquito : The Original Multirole Combat Aircraft

Covers the creation, design and development of this beloved aircraft. Built in Britain, Canada and Australia, the Mosquito saw extensive service in Britain, Europe and Asia throughout the Second World War.
It was initially designed as a twin-Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered unarmed bomber (with a two-man crew), but the aircraft's versatility allowed it to carry out many more functions. The additional roles of the Mosquito included path finding and photo reconnaissance; acting as a night fighter, an intruder, or a fighter bomber; electronic counter measures and naval operations; and high-speed courier missions.

This book is essential for those seeking to study this iconic British aircraft, featuring the experiences of Mosquito designers, construction workers and aircrew. It also contains many original, contemporary and previously unpublished photographs, which cover the aircraft's service with RAF squadrons and overseas air forces in its many varied roles.
For reference, there are detailed appendices describing production, the specifications of each variant, the RAF and RN units equipped with the type, and details of Mosquitos that survive today.

Philip Birtles started work as an engineering apprentice at the de Havilland Aircraft Company in September 1957. Following the completion of his training, he was appointed as PA to John Cunningham - the famous Second World War night-fighter ace.
Philip held a number of marketing positions over the remainder of his career in the aerospace industry, taking early retirement when Hatfield Aerodrome finally closed at the end of 1993. He spent over 40 years as a trustee of the de Havilland Aircraft Museum, and he has written over thirty-five books.

Author:	Philip Birtles
Specs:	272 pages, 25 x 17 cm / 9.8 x 6.7 in, hardback
Illustrations:	202 b&w photographs
Publisher:	Fonthill Media (GB, 2015)

De Havilland Mosquito Manual (1940 onwards) - An insight into developing, flying, servicing and restoring (Haynes Aircraft Manual)

Nicknamed the 'wooden wonder' due to its largely wooden construction, the de Havilland Mosquito was one of the most versatile and successful combat aircraft of the Second World War.

Offering insights into the design, construction and operational career of the iconic Mossie, this manual gets under the aircraft's birch and balsa skin to examine its anatomy and describe the painstaking restoration to flight by Avspecs (New Zealand) of Jerry Yagen's FB26 KA114 and of Victoria Air Maintenance's B35 VR796 in British Columbia, Canada.

Click here to know more about the Haynes Aircraft Manuals

Author:	Jonathan Falconer, Brian Rivas
Specs:	176 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 1.5 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.59 in, hardback
Illustrations:	211 b&w and 92 colour photographs
Publisher:	Haynes Publishing (GB, 2013)
Series:	Haynes Aircraft Manual

De Havilland Mosquito - An Illustrated History (Volume 1)

The first volume in the two volume set traces the history of the Mosquito from its first flight in November 1940 through to its production and many variants. The aircraft's varied post-war uses are outlined in roles ranging from oil prospecting and air racing to aerial survey. Told in pictures with extended captions and two colour sections, this reprinted volume 1 combines with the new volume 2 to present over 1,000 photographs, making them essential reading for any Mosquito enthusiast.

Author:	Stuart Howe
Specs:	176 pages, 27 x 20 cm / 10.6 x 7.9 in, paperback
Illustrations:	400 b&w and 18 colour photographs
Publisher:	Crecy Publishing (GB, 1998)

The De Havilland Mosquito - Through the Eyes of a Pilot

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was one of the fastest and most versatile aircraft of the Second World War. One of the first multi-role aircraft, it was used for reconnaissance and as a fighter, fighter-bomber, night fighter and interceptor.
In this book, David Ogilvy, one of the last surviving pilots to have flown Mosquitos operationally, provides an expert inside story of the secret development of the aircraft, the astonishing impact it made when first flown, its operational achievements, handling qualities and the many design developments that took it from quicksilver photographic reconnaissance aircraft to long-range bomber and pathfinder.

The author shows how the Mosquito's main defence was its speed and agility, Built from plywood and powered by two Rolls Royce Merlin engines, it could fly higher than enemy air defences and could out-pace even the fastest enemy fighters.
As preparations are made to bring the a working Mosquito back to Britain from New Zealand, this book is a worthy testament to one of the most remarkable British military aircraft.

Author:	David Ogilvy
Specs:	96 pages, 23.5 x 16.5 x 1.2 cm / 9.25 x 6.5 x 0.47 in, paperback
Illustrations:	70 photographs
Publisher:	Amberley Publishing (GB, 2017)