The Wooden Wonder

“Reading fascinating recent correspondence on Junkers planes during the Second World War, I am moved to write of the ingenuity of a British firm who rose to similar challenges with great aplomb,” says Fife reader Ian Lindsay.

“The Mosquito was widely referred to as ‘The Wooden Wonder’ and the brainchild of British designer Geoffrey de Havilland.

“Many a young lad of the 60s like myself will recall its smooth lines from building a sleek Airfix model of the ‘Mossie’!

“Though as my dad served in Bomber Command I HAD to be interested in the war.

“But back to the Mosquito...and what made it unique was its unarmed (other than bombs) wooden construction. Balsa from Ecuador was a key component.

“All designed to make it faster than the average fighter, which would prove highly effective in practice and quite the contrast to the ‘flying gunships’ generally favoured by the RAF.

“Twin Rolls-Royce Merlin engines were chosen for the prototype DH98.

“Once in operation, the nippy fighter/ bomber/spy plane proved highly adept at outfoxing the Focke-Wulf FW190s. Photos taken by reconnaissance crews raised public morale.

“In addition, Mosquitos could drop 4000lb Blockbuster bombs in precision raids from high altitude which German fighters could do little to counter.

“Reichsmarschall Herman Goering became a grudging admirer after two of his broadcasts were disrupted by Mosquito raids.

“Addressing German plane makers, he reportedly said: ‘It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito...They have geniuses and we have nincompoops.’ bombers.

“So quite a story for a plane made of balsa wood, which early sceptics thought would never get off the ground!”