Home Run by Gerald Coulson
It is June 1944 and Mosquito B.Mk XVI's of the Light Night Strike
Force, with their distinctive bomb doors and wing tanks return from a raid
over Berlin having despatched their 4000lb 'cookie' bombs. The sun is just
beginning to rise and the peaceful tranquillity is shattered as these
majestic aircraft power in from the North Sea and continue their route,
flying at low level over the Norfolk Marshes.
Country Life 43 by Gerald Coulson It is a cold, misty winters day in 1943 and a pair of Mosquitoes B.
Mk IV return from a low level precision bombing raid over Occupied Europe.
As the sun rises over the East Anglian countryside the unmistakable sound
of Merlin engines shatter the silence as these magnificent aircraft emerge
from the mist skimming across the landscape, heading back to their Norfolk
base.
The de Havilland Mosquito was one of the most versatile aircraft of
WWII, taking part in almost every role that the RAF employed. As a Night
Fighter it became famous for its excellent record and was also used for
precision bombing and photo-reconnaissance, where its speed and height put
it beyond the reach of the opposition. Later it became prolific with the
Strike Wings in an Anti Shipping role and with the Pathfinder Squadrons -
piloted by such notable figures as Guy Gibson and Leonard Cheshire. Having
a maximum speed of over 400mph the Mosquito had superb maneuverability and
could out perform most other aircraft of the time.
With a unique airframe constructed of wood the Mosquito was light but
exceptionally strong and had a reputation with its crews of being able to
get them home even when heavily damaged. Few other aircraft were so highly
regarded by the crew that flew them and enthusiasts alike, making the
Mosquito one of the greatest aircraft of WWII.
During 1943 Mosquito Squadrons were involved in many precision bombing
raids over specific targets in Germany, its design making it ideal for
this role - Berlin and back took only four hours and at around 28,000 feet
German fighters were unable to touch it.
The first two RAF units
to be equipped with the B. Mk IV were Squadron Nos. 105 and 139. Both were
used in strikes against specialist targets such as rail marshalling yards
and key industrial plants, with the attacks being mounted along the length
and breadth of Western Europe. Flying at low level and using maximum cloud
cover, the crews were largely able to strike their targets and return with
minimal losses. One famous raid was to Berlin on 30th January 1943 - the
tenth anniversary of Hitler's ascension to power - when the Mosquitoes
presence over the Reich Capital totally disrupted a speech due to be given
by Hermann Goering.
Mission by Moonlight by Gerald Coulson.
To commemorate
this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative
painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version,
on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was
by far the fastest piston-engine bomber of World War II, and also the
only light bomber capable of delivering the devastating 4,000lb
block-buster bomb.