DH Mosquito, XB-HOB

Hi All,

The only info I have on KA 999 was that it was retained in Canada. But who knows f’sure? All the photos, I’ve so far looked at showing B 25’s, show them with the extra intake.

Neilly

XB-TOX was TA717 and was ‘recovered’ around 1979

See:

http://www.mossie.org/TA717.htm

Any news about her?

Cheers

Cees

I am not a Mosquito Anorak.. But KA999 is listed ats being with a RCAF Photo Recc unit in Griffin’s Canadian Aircraft book. So could it be she was converted to have photographic equipment (rather than Bomber equipment) at construction time in Canada?

The difference between a Merlin 33 and 225 appears to be 14lb and 18lb boost, respectively.
I can’t find any photographs of an XXV, only drawings in Don McVicar’s Mosquito Racer, but they don’t have the extra intake.
Don McVicar also says that only UK production had 2-stage Merlins. I haven’t done any further research to confirm that.

I’ve used Roman numbers because the Mosquito tome does. 🙂

Edit:
TA717 would be a Hatfield built B.35 so presumably we’re talking about two different aircraft.

Hi Eddie,

Unfortunately, I don’t know enough about the different Merlin engine variants. The only thing I’ve read is something about improved single stage (?), whether that has anything to do with it, I don’t know.

Neilly

Why did the B.25 have an intercooler intake? A Merlin 225 was just a Packard built 25, so it would only be single stage, and therefore won’t have an intercooler.

Hi Guys,

The only problem I have with some of the details is; If that is KA 999, which was supposed to be a B 25, then it should have an intercooler air intake under each spinner, but it hasn’t. I have check as many pictures as I can find of B XX/25’s & the B 25’s all have the extra intake for the Packard Merlin 225’s. Would someone tell me why XB-HOB, a supposed B 25, is lacking this detail?

Cheers,
Neilly

XB-TOX was TA717 and was ‘recovered’ around 1979

See:

http://www.mossie.org/TA717.htm

It was around at Mexico City airport in 1969 as its pictured in ‘Veteran & Vintage Aircraft’. There is a poor picture, it looks complete but the wing skinning looks very dodgy and the paintwork is faded. No sign of any major damage from photo.

In my copy (dated 1968) it is plainly XB-TOX with rubbed down paintwork and a bicycle leaning against the undercarriage: pic by A L Terego.

Flood

It was around at Mexico City airport in 1969 as its pictured in ‘Veteran & Vintage Aircraft’. There is a poor picture, it looks complete but the wing skinning looks very dodgy and the paintwork is faded. No sign of any major damage from photo.

From Geoff Goodhall via Air Britain Information Exchange: AB-IX

“XB-HOB was a Mosquito B Mk.25 ex RCAF KA999, owned by Mexicana de Aerofoto SA, Mexico City. This company was founded by Luis Struck, who purchased KA999 from Canadian disposals and ferried it from Jarvis RCAF Base to Oshawa Ontario on 29 Nov 1946 for civil conversion.

Fate is unknown, so it may have survived the port undercarriage collapse shown in the photographs.”

Only heard of XB-TOX before…

Flood

Hi Don,

Can’t really tell you to much, but the Mosquito is a B IV series ii. I’ll see what I can read up & let you know.

Cheers,
Neilly