post war(1946) RAF colour scheme

[stona]

In your second picture the under wing serial number is clearly seen as FF605 or PF606. I can't be PF606 as this was a glass nosed naval version of which I have a picture taken at Farnborough in 1948. This is obviously not the one we're looking for!

De Havilland DH98 Mosquito Farnborough Airshow 1948 - Pictures & Photos on FlightGlobal Airspace

This leaves us with PF605. It was a B.16 fitted with Merlin 72/73 engines and built by the Percival Aircraft Company as part of contract number 3047. As such it should have been delivered between 15-5-1944 and 15-12-1945. We don't know when it made its way into a squadron but those dates fit well.

We don't have an exact date for your photos but at least one and probably all of that line up are B.16s.

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

I saw that number as FP 608...

Ian M.

[stona]

I saw that number as FP 608...Ian M.

Could be,depends how you squint at it. PF608 was part of the same contract and the same criteria apply. I don't think you meant FP which was not a Mosquito serial anyway.

Cheers

Steve

Edit

I've had a good look at it and I agree with you Ian,PF608

[Ian M]

LOL Sorry Steve, my fat fingers and a smart phone.... I did mean PF :-) I used to be dyslexic but I'm KO now :laughing:

Tony; I think that we really need to establish a time line.

Your Dad served from Jan 1946 to Mar 1948 and the 14 Sqn site says that they changed from Mk B16's to Mk B35's in dec 1947

The decal sheet from Freight Dog show the rather nice Speed Silver Mossie Mk B35 and states that it was an aircraft at Mahn in 1949. So that was after your Dad was there.

The decal sheet from Aero Master shows an aircraft from the correct squadron but also from 1949 and based at Celle. Also a B35.

If the photo you posted was of the time your father was there, I think that we can conclude that you need a mosquito but for the period he was there it could of been one of three Mk. the FB VI, the B XVI or the B35!

Reading the differences in the mk's could maybe help whittle it down to a single mark, but that must be one for the experts.

Alas I must say that Wiki is not the most reliable source as any one can write on there and things often get through with out verification so be careful with that. I use it myself but I always try to find another source to check things are as they say.

Mk XVI or B 35?

B.XVI Bomber. Pressure cabin development of the B.IX[/url] with Merlin 72, 73, 76 and 77 engines able to carry 3000lb bombs. All were converted in 1944 to take 4000lb bomb in the fuselage and two 50 gallon wing drop tanks or 100 gallon drop tanks with four 500lb bombs.

B.35 Bomber. Similar to the B.XVI except for Merlin 114 engines in early versions, Merlin 114A engines in later versions. 274 built, including 65 by Airspeed Ltd.

Now we have those facts we now need some one to come and fill out the finer detail.

As a start, based on the photo you posted, you need a camouflage of Dark Green and Ocean Grey with bottom surfaces in Medium Sea Grey Codes on Yellow with black edges.

As a side note I now have a desire to do that Silver one. Looks Rather nice to me.

Ian M

[stona]

Well you know PF 608 is a B.16. I'm not sure what external differences there were between that and a B.35,if any.

If you can decipher any serials in your photos then the B.35s were over several blocks. RS,RV,TA,TH,TJ,TK,VP and VR.

Just to confuse things in your third photo the first letter of the serial looks a lot like a V which means that it could be a B.35.

Steve

[mossiepilot]

thanks for all the good info. This project is looking to be not as simple as I first hoped. Still crack on. Ive also been looking at the 14 sqn web site but very little seems to have survived from the squadrons time at Wahn, a few pictures of mosquitos unless I missed something. I'll keep looking. By the way any info on an appropriate model please.

Cheers

Tony

[Ian M]

Hi Tony. I picked up a kit today. All thanks to you!!! An Airfix Mosquito XVI how handy was that! If you are still on the look out for one its a 1/48 scale and has the airfix #07112 the box art shows a US marked aircraft in PRU Blue.

Ian M

PS I forgot to mention it but the Magazine "Aviation Classics" from last month is all about the Mosquito. I ordered one yesterday...together with this months which is for the Harrier.....

Ian

[mossiepilot]

Hey Ian, glad I could help.

[mossiepilot]

I found the model at spmodels website but they were out of stock. Hey ho keep looking Tony