Identifying a dH Mosquito

[brokenlink]

Wonder if any Ppruners can help assist the unit/location of the Mossie please?
Photo belongs to a family friend who's late father in law was one of the groundcrew in the foreground. Don't think its Pathfinders as neither the pilot or navigator is wearing the PFF badge on their tunic. The navigators uniform seems to be a darker colour so that could make him RAAF. The nose art (Uncle Joe) is quite distinctive so hopefully that is a clue. Any help gratefully received, have tried online but nothing showing up so far.

Many thanks.

BL.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/528x381/20220523_ui_mosquito_7efe48b736bab0cc4c67b9b216674d8cd78e957 5.jpeg

[dduxbury310]

Looks to be a fairly late-war model Mosquito, almost certainly a Bomber (by the display of baby bombs), judging by the plastic nose cap, v-windscreen, etc, plus paddle-blade props. Some expert may care to add something about the type of exhaust manifold, but certainly this one seems not to be designed for subduing the exhaust flames at night! So don't think it is a night fighter variant, nor a PR type (for obvious reasons). I also doubt that the navigator with dark uniform is RAAF - to my eye, there is an awful lot of "blotching" on this print - I reckon that uniform is the standard RAF BG. The Uncle Joe artwork is likely to bring in the best bites. My 10 cents worth. Incidentally, paddle-blade props (DH/Hamilton Standard Hydromatics) were commonly seen on RAF aircraft from about late 1943 or more likely early 1944 onwards.

[Asturias56]

463 Squadron RAAF had a famous Lancaster painted with Uncle Joe https://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc-noseart-t-u.htm

but they never operated Mosquitos AFAIK

[Jhieminga]

I tried a Google search (I know, I shouldn't hope for much) for 'uncle joe nose art de havilland mosquito' but only by leaving out the mosquito bit did I get any hits. These were mostly Lancasters. The theme of 'uncle joe' (Stalin) was most likely a common one, as there were also 'uncle Ike' and other variations around. Anything more personal and you could try searching for a common crew member or nose art artist, but that will be difficult with this one. You could try other forums as well, the Key Publishing forum used to be good for this type of puzzles.

[sycamore]

Brokenlink, suggest you might go back to your friend to find his FiL`s Service record- it can be obtained thru` the Govmnt website,for NoKin,as to where he served ,and when.The aircraft also has the `U` code on the nose which may help.I would also endorse the `Flypast (KP) website.

[Brewster Buffalo]

463 Squadron RAAF had a famous Lancaster painted with Uncle Joe https://www.lancaster-archive.com/lanc-noseart-t-u.htm

but they never operated Mosquitos AFAIK

Two RAAF Squadrons operated the Mosquito - Nos 456 and 464 - but it was the Mk VI fighter bomber version...

[brokenlink]

Thanks all for your replies, I have provided details of how to get service records of family members to my pal.
Will keep up looking through various books as well just in case I strike lucky!

Regards,

BL

[Fargo Boyle]

I would suggest contacting the De Havilland Museum at London Colney, they have 3 Mossies and I would imagine a large archive. The aircraft pictured is a B.IV bomber judging by the single stage Merlins and non bulged bomb bay, and coded U (the small letter by the nose perspex).

Contact – de Havilland Aircraft Museum (dehavillandmuseum.co.uk) (https://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/contact/)

[Fournierf5]

Thanks all for your replies, I have provided details of how to get service records of family members to my pal.
Will keep up looking through various books as well just in case I strike lucky!

Regards,

BL

Curiously 105 Sqdn appear to hv possessed a Mosquito B-IV with 'Uncle Sam' nose art. It's far too fanciful, I suppose, to suggest they did one for ' Uncle Joe' as well?

http://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/uk/raf/mosquito/mosquito-b-iv-uncle-sam/

[GeeRam]

Looks to be a fairly late-war model Mosquito, almost certainly a Bomber (by the display of baby bombs), judging by the plastic nose cap, v-windscreen, etc, plus paddle-blade props. Some expert may care to add something about the type of exhaust manifold, but certainly this one seems not to be designed for subduing the exhaust flames at night! So don't think it is a night fighter variant, nor a PR type (for obvious reasons). I also doubt that the navigator with dark uniform is RAAF - to my eye, there is an awful lot of "blotching" on this print - I reckon that uniform is the standard RAF BG. The Uncle Joe artwork is likely to bring in the best bites. My 10 cents worth. Incidentally, paddle-blade props (DH/Hamilton Standard Hydromatics) were commonly seen on RAF aircraft from about late 1943 or more likely early 1944 onwards.

It could be a B.Mk.XXV, which was a Canadian built version of the B.MkIV, and used Merlin 225's with the exposed exhaust stubs. There were about 350 of them allocated to UK squadrons from mid-1944 onwards, and by that time most of the remaining B.Mk.IV's in RAF use had been converted to bulged bomb doors to carry the Cookie, although there were a few exceptions, such as B.Mk.IV Series II DZ601/AZ-A of 627 operating from Woodhall Spa in May 1944, which didn't have the bulged bomb bay mod, and had exposed exhaust stubs.

[Brewster Buffalo]

It could be a B.Mk.XXV, which was a Canadian built version of the B.MkIV, and used Merlin 225's with the exposed exhaust stubs. There were about 350 of them allocated to UK squadrons from mid-1944 onwards, .......

Mk XXV was used by the following squadrons...128, 139, 142, 162, 163, 502, 608 and 627...

[wally7506]

This is almost certainly a B.XX or XXV of 627 Sqn in 1944. If you're willing to share a higher res version of this photo with me I should be able to track this one down for you. Also, we're working on 2 dekal sheets of Mossies at the moment and we're keen on nose art. (www.fundekals.com) plz contact me at wally7506 at yahoo