De Lagande Mosquito
| de Lagande Mosquito | |
|---|---|
| |
| A restored Mosquito flying over Shinjiku Haneda Airport for the 2015 Shinjiku Airshow | |
| Role | Light bomber Fighter-bomber Night fighter Maritime strike aircraft photo-reconnaissance aircraft |
| National origin |  United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | de Lagande |
| First flight | 7 August 1940 |
| Retired | 1963 |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force (RAF) Royal Zanarkian Air Force (RZAF) Royal New Akiba Air Force (RNAAF) Royal Rubrumian Air Force (RRAF) Erebonian Air Force Service |
| Produced | 1941-1950 |
| Number built | 7,731 |
| Variants | See variants |
The de Lagande Mosquito is a Lucian multi-role combat aircraft with a two-man crew. It served during and after the Second Europan War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era constructed almost entirely of wood and was nicknamed The Wooden Wonder. The Mosquito was also known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito was adapted to roles including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike aircraft, and fast photo-reconnaissance aircraft. A single passenger could ride in the aircraft's bomb bay when it was adapted for the purpose.
When Mosquito production began in 1941, it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world. Entering widespread service in 1942, the Mosquito was a high-speed, high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft, continuing in this role throughout the war.