Wars and ConflictsΒ permalink
Mosquito Pilots
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Message 1.Β
Posted by Pugwash Trouserpress (U1865008) on Friday, 19th October 2007
Watching yet another rerun of 633 Squadron a couple of days ago a question occurred to me.
Where did they get the pilots from?
I remember reading that the pilots were all specially selected but where from?
Would they have come from Fighter Command given the speed and maneuverability the aircraft or Bomber Command because of it's bombing capabilities? Or a mixture of both?
Peebs -
Message 2
Posted by TimTrack (U1730472) on Friday, 19th October 2007
"...Watching yet another rerun of 633 Squadron a couple of days ago a question occurred to me..."
'633 Squadron' is an entirely fictitious movie.
If, however, you are referring to elite squadrons in general then they did indeed take their pick from other units.
617 Squadron (The Dambusters), who I suppose the film is meant to remind us of, took their pick from other units. That is part of the reason that they had such a mix of nationalities, etc, rather than all being from one nation. -
Message 3
Posted by TimTrack (U1730472) on Friday, 19th October 2007
Sorry, forgot to add :
I believe that 617 Squadron in particular took their fliers, at least initially, from Bomber Command. Switching from Spitfires to Lancasters not being normal practice. Later on, when Mosquitoes were used that may have changed, as this aircraft was used as a multi-role item. -
Message 4
Posted by wollemi (U2318584) on Friday, 19th October 2007
The best known from here would be Keith Miller, the Australian Test cricketer, his bio says he was in 619 Squadron. Maybe cricket improves the reflexes!
I also seem to remember - my memory may be incorrect - meeting a pilot who spent some time training other pilots in Canada for the Empire Air Training Scheme, and they were training there on Mosquitos -
Message 5
Posted by Pugwash Trouserpress (U1865008) on Friday, 19th October 2007
Believe it or not I realise that 633 Squadron is fiction. The qustion still stands.
I'll start again.
I've never seen 633 Squadron but have always been fascinated by the Mosquito and am curious as to how the pilots were selected.
Please feel free to patronise me again.
Peebs -
Message 6
Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Saturday, 20th October 2007
Pugwash
Can't give you a definitive answer, but hope this helps.
When Bomber Command started to operate Mosquitos, it was decicded to convert mainly experienced pilots and navigators, to minimise the number of a/c needed for training and thus maximise the number available for operations. Eventually, this arrangement couldn't meet the overall demand, so a full training unit - 16 OTU - was assigned the task.
It was unusual for individual wartime aircrew to change Commands (except for crews trained by Bomber Command who then went to Coastal or Transport, or did their second tours in those Commands).
Whole squadrons could be transferred between Commands. Bomber Command complained about the "drain" of squadrons to Coastal. On the other hand, in 1944 Bomber received 3 nighter-fighter Mossie squadrons from ADGB for 100 Gp.
As for a "special mission" squadron, it could expect to get experienced crews, and the squadron commander could hope to get at least his flight commanders and some other crews from his personal choice, if not the whole squadron (even 617 had a few first-tour crews). The selection would usually come from the parent Command, not across the board.
There is a book on 618 Sqn, the Mossie Highball (anti-shipping bouncing bomb) squadron, that might help - "Most Secret Squadron".
LW -
Message 7
Posted by Pugwash Trouserpress (U1865008) on Saturday, 20th October 2007
LW
Many thanks for that info. I was aware of 618 Sqn and the 'Highball'. Was it used operationally?
Peebs -
Message 8
Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Saturday, 20th October 2007
Peebs
I believe not. Tirpitz's fjord hideaway precluded this form of attack. The US trialled the weapon but abandoned it after a fatal crash. 618 were sent to the Pacific, but there were problems finding a suitable operating base (it would have had to have been an American one) and the USN was achieving the necessary affect with conventional weapons.
One might speculate that the USN was also determined that any Japanese ship that needed sinking at that stage of the Pacific War was going to be sunk by them!
LW -
Message 9
Posted by Grumpyfred (U2228930) on Sunday, 21st October 2007
Some Coastal command crews would have come from crews being upgraded from other A/Cs E G the Bristols. Others would just be posted to a conversion unit and trained.
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Message 10
Posted by Sambista (U4068266) on Sunday, 21st October 2007
The one Mossie pilot I talked to at any length was Coastal Command throughout, moving from Hudsons to Beaufighters to Mosquitos, then, at his own insistence, back to Beaufighters.(Torbeaus - TF10s IIRC). Suffered one attack by an FW190. Fortunately for my contact, if unfortunately for the German, he settled for a head-on attack. Four cannon and 10 .303 mgs ....
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Message 11
Posted by Pugwash Trouserpress (U1865008) on Monday, 22nd October 2007
Man thanks for your answers.
I suppose it would make sense that some pilots would transfer from Beaufighters to Mossies, I confess I hadn't given that a thought.
Urnungal,
Did your Mossie pilot give a reason for transferring back to Beaufighters?
On a lighter note I met a mate of mine last night and asked him my original question. He's a serving Warrant Officer in the RAF He gave me strange look said "How would I know how the pilots were trained? The Mosquito was a Japanese plane!"
Peebs -
Message 12
Posted by Sambista (U4068266) on Monday, 22nd October 2007
M. simply said he hated flying the Mossie - just didn't feel right to him.
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Message 13
Posted by Jak (U1158529) on Monday, 22nd October 2007
Take that man's name, Sergeant. Put him on a 252. -
Message 14
Posted by LongWeekend (U3023428) on Monday, 22nd October 2007
U
I have heard similar things. The Mossie was a great "pilot's aircraft" but wasn't as rugged as the Beaufighter. Similar comparisons are made between the Spit and the Hurricane/Typhoon/Tempest.
It's worth noting that when Coastal Command had to consolidate on one maritime strike type post-war, the chosen aircraft was the Beau, not the Mossie.
LW -
Message 15
Posted by Sambista (U4068266) on Monday, 22nd October 2007
Not sure who the author was, but
When a Beau goes in
Into the drink
It makes you think,
Because, you see, they always sink;
But nobody says "Poor lad!"
Or goes about looking sad;
Because, you see, it's war,
It's the unalterable law.
Although it's perfectly certain
The pilot's gone for a Burton
And the observer too,
It's nothing to do with you;
And if they both should go
To a land where falls no rain nor hail nor driven snow--
Here, there, or anywhere,
Do you suppose THEY care?
You shouldn't cry
Or say a prayer or sigh.
In the cold sea, in the dark
It isn't a lark
But it isn't Original Sin--
It's just a Beau going in.
The Japanese knew the Beaufighter as "Whispering Death" because of the distinctive sound of the sleeve-valved engines. -
Message 16
Posted by Brevabloke (U1685837) on Thursday, 25th October 2007
The RAAF loved thier Beaufighters - tough and could carry a really good load of rockets, powerful guns.
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