de Havilland Mosquito FB.VI
de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1942 · fighter
The Mosquito FB.VI was the most versatile and most-produced Mosquito variant, combining the speed of the bomber with cannon and machine-gun armament plus bomb and rocket capability for low-level strike and intruder operations.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Four .303 Browning machine guns in the nose and four 20 mm Hispano cannon in the lower fuselage — the nose has a solid metal lower section with gun ports, instantly distinguishable from the B.IV's glazed nose |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four .303 Browning machine guns in the nose and four 20 mm Hispano cannon in the lower fuselage — the nose has a solid metal lower section with gun ports, instantly distinguishable from the B.IV's glazed nose
- Wing hardpoints for up to eight 60 lb rockets or two 500 lb bombs under each outer wing panel
- Retains the pilot's cockpit canopy of the bomber but the nose forward of the cockpit is noticeably shorter and more pointed due to the gun pack
The solid-bottomed nose with visible cannon muzzles and machine-gun ports is the primary identifier against the B.IV bomber; against the NF variants the FB.VI lacks the extended AI radar nose cone and retains the shorter, armed nose profile.
Specifications
- The de Havilland Mosquito FB.VI has a length of 12.5 m (41 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.51 m (54 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 612 km/h (380 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The FB.VI entered service in 1943 and was used by Coastal Command, 2nd TAF, and squadrons across every theatre. It conducted the famous Amiens prison raid, the attack on the Copenhagen Shell House, and countless low-level intruder missions over occupied Europe. Post-war it equipped numerous air forces worldwide.
Variants
The FB.XVIII was a sub-variant with a 57 mm Molins anti-tank gun replacing the cannon pack; the FB.VI remained the standard mark for most Allied and Commonwealth operators.
Where you'll see it
Several airworthy FB.VIs exist including those operated by Avspecs in New Zealand and the Fighter Collection at Duxford; the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum also holds a flying example.
Related aircraft
- de Havilland Mosquito T Mk III
- de Havilland Mosquito B.IV
- de Havilland Mosquito NF.II / NF.30
- de Havilland Mosquito PR Mk XVI
- Aichi E16A Zuiun
- Bell P-59 Airacomet
- Bell P-63 Kingcobra
- Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1
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