Hi Snapper,
I can see this could be a good one!!!
The Mosquito wasn’t a war winner? I don’t wish to insult the Typhoon, but it didn’t do half as much as the Mosquito. I think if you check out your history from the Luftwaffe’s point of view. Luftwaffe pilots, if they managed to shot a Mosquito down, were credited with a double victory! The Mosquito was the only Allied aircraft (as far as I know) which was givemn this sort of supreme status! After the war many German Officer were asked what was one of the biggest effects on their morale the answer was the Mosquito!
Now we have the FW 190 tip & run? Mosquitoes were used primary at night, in the defence of good olde GB. When the FW 190’s tried this tactic (it should also be pointed out that they were trying to copy Mosquito intruder tactics). When these night raids first started (I can’t remember the exact night, but it’s discribed in the Rawnsley & Wright book Night Fighter) 5 FW 190’s came over to bomb London, 4 were shot down over England & the other was damaged & crash landed in France, killing the pilot. So Mosquitoes 4.5; FW 190’s 0.
I can’t recall Typhoons bombing Berlin. Mosquitoes on many occasions went there even when the rest of Bomber Command was grounded because weather conditions were wrong. On one occasion, Mosquitoes went there on 30 (THIRTY) consecitive nights! I would add to the point Moggy made-the same Mosquitoes very often went on 2 bommbing missions in one night. Come back re-fuel, re-arm & change the crew. Sometimes it was the same target, sometimes different. Here’s an eg. LR 503 (the subject of my model) either side of D-Day, in a 5 day day spell it flew 11 sorties, with 2 different crews). Had it not been for the fact that one of it’s Merlins expired on that 11 sortie, she would almost certainly clocked up a few more (that was LR 503 203 operational sortie!)
I can’t recall Typhoons doing specialised raids such as Amien Prison Raid (Typhoons were operating as escorts for this one), Shelhaus etc. either.
I would also like to know how many trains Typhoons stopped in the first 24 hours after D-Day? Mosquitoes stopped 29! Also bear in mind that Mosquitoes operated mainly at night, so it’s a little unfair to compare both aircraft as you have. But I think (& yes I am totally biased. Would you expect any other?) the Mosquito made a bigger inpact on Allied war effort than the Typhoon. overall!
I can keep going but I think that’s enough to be going on with. I could also mention anti shipping strikes, bomber support, PRU. etc, the list is almost endless! So please don’t relegate the Mossie to a position it doesn’t deserve.
(You knew I’d jump in with both size 11’s?) :p
TTFN,
Neilly
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