A52-59 February 1945
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, plans to produce the Mosquito fighter-bomber in Australia were rapidly finalized. Here’s a detailed overview of Australian Mosquito production:
Initial Setup and Challenges:
- De Havilland Pty Ltd. in Mascot, Sydney was responsible for Mosquito production in Australia. However, production was smaller in scale compared to Canada due to fewer subcontractors.
- By March 1942, the Australian government officially approved Mosquito production, with the first-flight target set for 31st August 1943.
- A single F Mk II (DD564) was shipped to Australia as a pattern aircraft and made its first flight there in December 1942. It was re-serialed as A52-1001.
- Early Australian Mosquitoes used Rolls Royce engines, but these were quickly replaced by Packard Merlin 31s.
Production and Initial Variants:
FB Mk 40:
- The first Australian-built Mosquito, A52-1, flew on 23rd July 1943, powered by Merlin 31s.
- The FB Mk 40 was based on the British FB Mk VI, and 212 were produced, though only 108 were completed by VJ-Day.
- Early models featured narrow propeller blades and Packard Merlin 31 engines, while later models used paddle propellers and Packard Merlin 33 engines.
- Production faced delays due to material shortages and the switch from casein to formaldehyde glue.
PR Mk 40:
- A52-2 and five other FB Mk 40s were converted into PR Mk 40s for photo reconnaissance. These aircraft had cameras instead of machine-guns and were operated by No.1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit by May 1944.
Delays and Imported Aircraft:
- Production issues, such as a faulty glued joint in the wing of the twenty-second Mosquito and problems with the detachable wing-tip, delayed deliveries.
- To compensate, 38 British-built FB Mk VIs and 22 PR Mk XVIs were imported to Australia. The FB Mk VIs were allocated to No.1 Squadron starting from January 1945, and the PR Mk XVIs were primarily used by No.87 Squadron.
Operational Use:
- The FB Mk 40 and FB Mk VI eventually entered service with No.1 Squadron, which conducted operations over the Dutch East Indies and Borneo after moving to Morotai in 1945.
- No.87 Squadron operated a mix of PR Mk XVIs, PR Mk 41s, PR Mk 40s, FB Mk 40s, and a few T Mk 111 trainers. They supported RAF operations in Java and the Dutch East Indies during 1945.
- Other units using the Mosquito included No.94 Squadron, which flew the FB Mk 40, and No.5 Operational Training Unit, which operated FB Mk 40s, T Mk 43s, and T Mk 111s.
Although the Australian Mosquito program faced significant delays and production challenges, Australian-built Mosquitoes eventually saw operational use in the Pacific Theater. Their contributions, while important, were limited due to the late introduction of the aircraft into service.