World War Photos

Wings final assembly

The wings of the de Havilland Mosquito are a hallmark of its design, showcasing advanced woodworking and aeronautical engineering techniques for the era. Key structural details of the wings include:

1. Construction:

   • The wings are built as a single continuous section from tip to tip, which simplifies the overall structure and enhances strength.
   • The center section of the wings houses the radiators and engine mountings, providing a centralized structure for these critical components.
   • The fuselage attaches to this wing section via four robust pick-up points, ensuring a strong and stable connection.

2. Spars and Skin:

   • The wings contain two primary box spars:
     • The front spar features ply webs and laminated spruce flanges, with three laminations at the top and eleven at the bottom.
     • The rear spar similarly consists of ply webs and laminated spruce flanges, with three laminations at the top and nine at the bottom.
   • The wing skin, which crosses over both the top and bottom of the spars, is doubled on the top surface. Between the two layers of diagonal plywood, spanwise spruce stringers are sandwiched, providing additional strength and rigidity.

3. Additional Features:

   • A false leading edge, built using conventional construction methods, is attached to the front spar.
   • The entire wing structure is fastened together using screws, glue, and pins, and then covered with fabric over the plywood for a smooth finish.
   • The wings have a pronounced taper at the trailing edge, with only a slight sweep back at the leading edge. This design contributes to the aircraft’s aerodynamic efficiency.

4. Control Surfaces:

   • The ailerons, which are 12 feet 5 inches long, run almost the full length from the wingtip to just inboard of the engine nacelles.
   • A large-chord slotted flap extends from inboard of the ailerons to the nacelle and then from the nacelle to the fuselage, aiding in lift and control at various flight speeds.