De Havilland Mosquito: the top combat plane from World War II? Some should say yes while others have a big problem with that claim. Here is what one expert told us: Throughout military history there have been weapon platforms that no one wanted, and yet proved to be invaluable to the war effort. The de Havilland Mosquito was such a weapon. Known as “Mossie” or the “Wooden Wonder,” the aircraft was one of the more unique combat aircraft to see service during the Second World War.
Developed originally as a two-seater, unarmed fast bomber, the aircraft was subsequently utilized as a fighter, fighter-bomber, night fighter, ground-attack aircraft, torpedo bomber and U-Boat hunter, transport and even reconnaissance aircraft. As a result, the Mosquito became one of the first true multi-role combat airplanes and was possibly the most useful single type of aircraft produced by the Allies in World War II.
All despite the fact that the British military didn’t really see the aircraft’s potential, and the Royal Air Force virtually ignored the aircraft at first.
It Was Made of Wood
The airframe was unique in that it was made mainly of wood – hence the Wooden Wonder moniker. That was due to the fact that metal was in short supply; and while there were plenty of specialists with the skills to work with metals, they were already employed on the construction of battleships, submarines, and shells for bombs.
However, there had been a large supply of wood throughout the British Empire, and no shortage of skilled carpenters and cabinet makers who were called in to help with the production of the wooden plane.
