Mossie speed

[brando]

Originally Posted by Bobb4

The kill quoted earlier in this thread is of a mossie out of its element, flying low, someting it was not really meant to do???? I could be wrong on that but I always assumed a mossie was a high altitude fighter/bomber

http://www.dhmosquito.com/

It's worth noting another factor here, I think, and that is regarding so-called 'hedge-hopping attacks' over land. The Mossie was of course a side-by-side two-seater, and the extra pair of eyes must have been a vital factor in a plane flying at high speed whilst hugging the terrain. This kind of attack avoids radar, gives flak-gunners the briefest opportunity to range in, and also makes the aircraft hard to detect and pursue by fighters. Having a buddy next to you must make detection of obstacles, adjustments of heading and arrival on target and so on an easier task for the pilot to accomplish.

One might even suggest that a successful return, whilst desirable, is not the most important factor to the mission-planners. If one or several aircraft making this kind of approach can nail the target and cause great devastation then the mission is successful. No amount of kills by the defence forces after the event can change that.

Just my 2d-worth

Brando