This Mosquito was one of the relatively small number of the fighter variants to be built at Hatfield. this to Contract 555. It was taken on charge at 44 MU on 10 March 1945 and issued to 49 ARF ten days later. It was passed to 605 Squadron at Coxyde in Belgium on 3 April, soon moving to Volkel in Holland on 25 April, where 605 was re-numbered 4 Squadron on 31 August, becoming part of 140 Wing at Guterssloh in November 1946. It went to No.1 BR & SD Pool on 25 November 1948 and was rescued to 4 Squadron on 13 January 1949 at Wahn and later Celle in Germany.

 

It was finally struck off charge on 30 June 1950, and after being reduced to spares, the fuselage was used by Delft University in Holland as a training aid, later moving to the Royal Netherlands Air Force base of Gilze-Rijen. The fuselage was presented the de Havilland Heritage Centre in November 1975. and finally delivered on 26 February 1978.  When assembled with the wing of TR.33 TW233, recovered from Israel, currently under restoration, it is planned to paint the port side in the markings of Group Capt Pickard’s aircraft lost on the Amiens Prison raid, and the starboard side in the markings of 4 Squadron.

 

Photo and text: de Havilland Heritage Centre