An RAF Mosquito of 264 Squadron destroys a FW190 over London, England during 1943.
Signatures
Signed by four RCAF Mosquito pilots. Comes with bio-card, showing photos and biographies of signees.
Flight Lieutenant D. W. Schmidt
joined the RCAF in 1941. He attended OTU in Britain before joining 236
Squadron as a Coastal Command Beaufighter pilot. Sixteen days later he
was with a ferry unit at Lyneham, testing Beaufighters. During that
year he was posted to Malta to join 227 Squadron. In six sorties he
claimed eight aircraft. He also scored many hits on Italian shipping.
At war's end he was in the UK with 404 Coastal Mosquito squadron. He
holds the DFC and Bar.
Warrant Officer 1st Class Stanley G. Reynolds
joined the RCAF in 1942 at the age of 18. In June 1943, after receiving
his pilots wings, he was posted to England. After training on Blenheims
and Beaufighters, he was sent with his navigator to Scotland. In June
of 1944 he was posted to 410 Squadron where he made 35 flights in
Mosquitos. Stan was awarded a wound stripe for injuries received on
active service, and is a member of the renowned 'Guinea Pig Club.'
Flight Lieutenant Marie Wright
(nee Sylvester) began her flying career at the tender age of sixteen
and a half. She earned her wings with the RCAF after training on a
variety of aircraft. Marie was eventually posted to Hornchurch Station
near London, England. Mosquitos are among the 65 different types she
flew in the ATA which was a part of Tactical Air Command. She flew
aircraft to and from many stations in England and, after DDay, in
France. She has a particular fondness for the de Havilland Mosquito.
Flight Lieutenant J. H. (Jack) Reilly
joined the RCAF in 1940 and served in Canada, Alaska and overseas until
1946. He flew Mosquitos on high-level operations and has 30,000 hours
on 70 different types of aircraft. During the war he flew B24's and
Sunderlands on operations. On flight test duties, he flew Corsairs,
Spitfires and Hurricanes. He maintains his Airline Transport Pilot's
licence and still flies today.
The Story
One
of the truly remarkable aeronautical developments of World War II
occurred during Britain's darkest hours in 1940. With the Battle of
France lost, Dunkirk evacuated, and the Battle of Britain about to
commence, aircraft development was not a top priority. Constrained by
the use of non-strategic materials, the de Havilland Mosquito was born.
Constructed
of molded plywood and metal, this radical-concept twin engine airplane
surpassed everyone's expectations. Initially envisioned as a bomber, it
quickly filled the roles of long-range photo reconnaissance,
mine-layer, pathfinder, and high speed military transport.
But
it was in the fighter role for both day and night that this high speed
aircraft (378 mph) excelled. Its long range, exceptional fire power and
payload capacity made it into a highly versatile and successful war
plane.
The de Havilland Mosquito
Fitted
with radar and assisted by ground control intercept (code named
'Starlight') the famous Mosquito proved particularly potent against
raiding German aircraft at night. The interdiction forays into British
airspace during the early 1940's by the FW190 and twin engine types,
were seeking 'targets of opportunity.'
In Robert Bailey's
second Night Combat painting MOONLIGHT STRIKE, a Mosquito of 264
Squadron, RAF, has been vectored toward an enemy raider, and the
on-board radar operator has directed the pilot upon the unsuspecting
aircraft. The FW190 carries a 500kg bomb that will not find a target
on British soil tonight. Instead, the Lufwaffe pilot will be lucky to
survive the bale out from his airplane that is engulfed in flame after
suffering the blistering fire from the attacking Mosquito's 20mm
fusillade.
The successful missions which the Mosquitos completed have become legend, just as the crews who flew them.
