Aircraft [de Havilland DH98 Mosquito T Mk 43 NZ2305]
Maker and role
The de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited, Manufacturer
Production date
1945
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1982.744
Production period
Description
Twin engine plane, painted silver, propellers: three blades, black with yellow tips. Blue and white target on tail along with NZ2305.
Brief History
De Havilland DH 98 T43 Mosquito NZ2305
The Mosquito was designed as a bomber, but became the pre-eminent all round performer for the Royal Air Force during World War II. It relied on its speed rather than armaments for protection against enemy fighters and flak. A unique feature of the Mosquito is that its main structure was built almost entirely of wood. This was especially important during the War because wood was classed as a non-strategic material and almost all other combat aircraft types were of light metal construction.
New Zealanders first flew in Mosquitos in the RAF, specifically by the Pathfinder Squadrons of Bomber Command. There were 55 New Zealanders in the Pathfinder Squadrons. During the War, the experienced Pathfinders would fly ahead of the main bomber stream, which included Lancasters, and using high tech navigation aids, would locate the target for the operation. The Pathfinders would then mark the target with coloured flares so that the bomber crews could attack the target as accurately as possible.
The RNZAF acquired Mosquitos after the War as part of a post war re-equipment programme. To prepare the RNZAF crews for ferrying the Mosquitos from Great Britain, the Royal Australian Air Force delivered eight dual-control training aircraft to New Zealand. MOTAT’s Mosquito is one of these eight, registered as NZ2305. The RNZAF purchased eighty Mosquitos in total, though only seventy-six made it to New Zealand with the others being lost or damaged on the ferry flight out. Only twenty-two Mosquitos were put into service with Nos. 14 and 75 Squadrons because jet technology soon superseded the Mosquito. These were used for air shows, World War II commemorations, search and rescue, as well as reconnaissance and interception. NZ2305 was not one of the twenty-two, spending most of its time in storage at Ohakea before being retired in 1952. It was then sold to a farmer in Marton before MOTAT purchased the fuselage 1967. Significant restoration work has been carried out on this aircraft since MOTAT received the fuselage in 1967.
Date: 1945
Manufacturer: de Havilland Aircraft, Bankstown, N.S.W., Australia
Type: High performance military monoplane
Wing span: 16.52 m
Length: 13.57 m
Engine: Two Rolls Royce Merlin 12-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engines
Accommodation: Two seater trainer, with dual controls
The Mosquito was designed as a bomber, but became the pre-eminent all round performer for the Royal Air Force during World War II. It relied on its speed rather than armaments for protection against enemy fighters and flak. A unique feature of the Mosquito is that its main structure was built almost entirely of wood. This was especially important during the War because wood was classed as a non-strategic material and almost all other combat aircraft types were of light metal construction.
New Zealanders first flew in Mosquitos in the RAF, specifically by the Pathfinder Squadrons of Bomber Command. There were 55 New Zealanders in the Pathfinder Squadrons. During the War, the experienced Pathfinders would fly ahead of the main bomber stream, which included Lancasters, and using high tech navigation aids, would locate the target for the operation. The Pathfinders would then mark the target with coloured flares so that the bomber crews could attack the target as accurately as possible.
The RNZAF acquired Mosquitos after the War as part of a post war re-equipment programme. To prepare the RNZAF crews for ferrying the Mosquitos from Great Britain, the Royal Australian Air Force delivered eight dual-control training aircraft to New Zealand. MOTAT’s Mosquito is one of these eight, registered as NZ2305. The RNZAF purchased eighty Mosquitos in total, though only seventy-six made it to New Zealand with the others being lost or damaged on the ferry flight out. Only twenty-two Mosquitos were put into service with Nos. 14 and 75 Squadrons because jet technology soon superseded the Mosquito. These were used for air shows, World War II commemorations, search and rescue, as well as reconnaissance and interception. NZ2305 was not one of the twenty-two, spending most of its time in storage at Ohakea before being retired in 1952. It was then sold to a farmer in Marton before MOTAT purchased the fuselage 1967. Significant restoration work has been carried out on this aircraft since MOTAT received the fuselage in 1967.
Date: 1945
Manufacturer: de Havilland Aircraft, Bankstown, N.S.W., Australia
Type: High performance military monoplane
Wing span: 16.52 m
Length: 13.57 m
Engine: Two Rolls Royce Merlin 12-cylinder Vee liquid-cooled engines
Accommodation: Two seater trainer, with dual controls
Marks
NZ2305 Painted
Media/Materials
Other name
Mosquito
Credit Line
The de Havilland Aircraft Company Limited. 1945. Aircraft [de Havilland DH98 Mosquito T Mk 43 NZ2305], 1982.744. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
![Receiver [RAF]; Air Ministry](https://collection.motat.nz/records/images/medium/12812/92b27b3312c74782d1ada9a61019ecf352f0d569.jpg)
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