First Flight of the DH.98 Mosquito – 25-Nov-1940

The first prototype DH98 Mosquito (W4050 – E0234) first flew at Hatfield, England on 25th November 1940, with Geoffrey R de Havilland (Geoffrey Junior) at the controls, accompanied by John E. Walker, the chief engine installation designer. Painted in ‘prototype yellow’, take-off was reported as ‘straightforward and easy’ and the flight was relatively problem free, despite the undercarriage doors remaining slightly open.

This successful first flight marked the beginning of the Mosquito’s remarkable wartime career, eventually proving itself as one of the fastest and most versatile aircraft of the era.

The Mosquito entered production in mid-1941 and was produced until well after the end of the war. Almost 8,000 Mossies were built in Great Britain, Canada, and Australia.