Why This Unique World War Two Aircraft Terrified the Germans

This is the story of the Intruders, a group of airmen dubbed the `Bandits of the Air' by the Nazis during the Second World War thanks to its members' exploits in the skies above Europe's battlefields.

This episode focuses on the 'Mosquito' - a seemingly innocuous and cheap fighter plane that terrorised the German Air Force. Made entirely out of wood, the Mosquito was initially dismissed by the British government, yet due to its remarkable speed and exceptional manoeuvrability, the bomber soon became a crucial part of the Royal Air Force during World War Two.

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[flyingbeaver]

My dad was an RCAF officer who flew almost the entire war with mixed "Commonwealth" RAF night fighter squadrons. He and his navigator/ AI (Radar) operator managed to stay paired throughout the war. They did not participate in any bombing so far as I can tell - just flew night fighter radar intercept missions night after night. My dad began the war flying the Bristol Beaufighter - an absolute beast of an aircraft - and said that the Mossie was a lot faster and "nippier" than the Beau. By that time they were starting to get really good radar sets (compared to the very early Marks of AI), and his navigator was a "real wizard." They flew at least 1800 hours on operations, apart from training, testing and so on. My dad died quite young, but his Navigator lived to 106, and I got to know him very well after my dad's death. I have a considerable file of logbooks, reports and correspondence, all relating to their night fighter squadron service. Some of it is amazing, some of it is jaw-dropping, and a few parts are just plain terrifying. Which they might well have been, after landing. They were never shot down, although the came home with numerous holes through the wings and fuselage more than once. My dad was an exceptional pilot, as I learned when I was young and flew with him, but he was just one of many young fliers who went out night after night to see what kind of trouble they could stir up.

[jeannietoler]

My Dad was in the 416th Nightfighters in England. The only time my Dad cried seeing a plane was at a 416th convention in Dayton, Ohio. The museum had a Mosquito.

[tonyhaynes]

There was an old Flight Sergeant pilot at Topcliffe in the seventies when I was there. One night I asked him what his gold wings above his pilot wings were for. He was almost apologetic as he explained he was on pathfinders flying Mosquitoes. My respect for him immediately rose by two thousand percent. Never judge a book by it's cover.

[susanboon]

My father-in-law was RAF ground crew for the Mosquito. After the war he used the knowledge gained to work for de Havilland, and worked on the Trident prototype. He wasn't a man to talk about his time in the war, but on our honeymoon back to England (my husband-to-be had emigrated to Canada in the '60s), we took Dad to the Mosquito Museum at Salisbury Hall. My father-in-law enjoyed walking amongst the aircraft, and was pleased to meet a fellow RAF mate, now retired and working as a security guard at the museum. Dad introduced his son, and my husband was invited to try out the fit in the cockpit - needless to say, he was thrilled! (However, at 6'4", it was a pretty tight squeeze!). It was a visit I will never forget.
This film helped fill in many of the gaps in my understanding of the Mosquito, and I thank you for that.

[stevenrobinson]

That story where Goring was supposed to deliver a radio address was one of the coolest things I've ever seen in a WW2 video. That pilot's little smirk at the end tells you everything you need to know.

[christopheryoung]

This reminds of the story about the late great Australian Cricketer (All-Rounder) Keith Miller, who was a RAAF Pilot, who flew Mosquito's during World War II. He was asked about pressure playing cricket, his response was, "Pressure is a Messerschmiitt up your arse, playing cricket is not."

[philhawley]

At 0.50 you state that the Allies developed the Mosquito. They didn't. The de Havilland company did it by themselves. It was hard work for them to make the stuffed shirts at the Air Ministry to take a new wooden aeroplane seriously.

[jamessolak]

De Havilland for their innovation, English cabinet makers for their craftsmanship, pilots and crew for their badassery all adds up to a war winning combination

[Mrrossj]

The manufacturing brilliance of the Mozzie was that it could be largely made in a piano factory, of which, there were a large number in Britain at that time.

[mspicer]

The "Wooden Wonder", one of my favourite planes of the era. A Swiss-army knife in the air, they could do almost any mission you threw at them. The sound of those big, Merlin engines still sends shivers down my spine.

[ashleelmb]

Anyone who refers to the best allied WW2 aircraft of the war, always refer to either the Spitfire or the P51 Mustang. But I've always said that the Mosquito was the best aircraft of the war because of its speed and versitility. It was an amazing aircraft for it's time.

[mattosullivan]

Comment about this from an American, not an "allied" plane, this was a British plane utter genius give them credit

[chriscarson]

I didn't know anything about the Mosquito planes, so this video was a great find. I am in awe of the raw courage the air crews had, flying thousands of missions in desperate conditions.

[furnessborn]

My Grandfather during WW2 as a skilled cabinet maker was made foreman of a converted factory in Shirley, Birmingham UK (previously a CWS furniture factory) overseeing the making of the wooden fuselages of the Mosquito. I presume to send on to the main factory. My Dad has photos of him and the workers with the fuselages. My Dad was a small boy at the time. They lived in Small Heath.

[gbentley]

My late father flew Mosquito Recce missions during ww2 after transferring from an instructor role. He loved the 'plane and he and his navigator felt very safe in them. He talked a lot about their sorties and said it was very frustrating to find both primary and secondary targets covered with 10/10 cloud; they wished they had a least one bomb to drop or gun to fire. He also had as CO the dubious honour of being shot up by two mustang pilots from his own shared base when in Italy. They got a ticking off but he always thought of them as lads being allowed to fly rather than drive a fast sports car. He would be pleased today to see the interest in such a marvelous aeroplane.

[daytonturner]

I've watched many WWll docus, and this is absolutely one of the best ever. Congratulations to the film makers!

[Phylonyous]

Mosquito is my favourite plane! Thank you to all service members for their heroics!

[darkmysterytemple]

My grandfather died in a bomber defending the evacuation st Dunkirk. His whole crew died and his navigator was just 18 years old. I never met my grandfather, I had a step garndfather. His grave is in Normandy.

[ShevillMathers]

Thank God, that in our time of need, we had men of this calibre with a skill set and determination to pull off these astonishing acts of airmanship and courage. We owe them a never ending debt we can never repay. So many made the ultimate sacrifice. I salute you all.

[vizzini]

This is just an absolutely unbelievable story of a unique plane that deserves much more recognition. Love this channel.