Robi-wan

The only Tsetse airframes I have been able to track down are: HJ 732 Delivered to AAEE Jun 43 HX 902 Delivered to AAEE Sep 43 to 248 Sqn* Oct 43 (FTR Nov 43) HX 903 Delivered Oct 43 to 248 Sqn* (Mid-air Jun 44) HX 904 Delivered Oct 43 to 248 Sqn* >> 254 Sqn MM 424 Delivered Feb 44 to 248 Sqn* >> 254 Sqn MM 425 Delivered Apr 44 to 248 Sqn* (gear collapse Dec 44) NT 220 Delivered Jun 44 to RAE for testing NT 224 Delivered Jun 44 to 248 Sqn, (FTR Dec 44) NT 225 Delivered Jun/Jul 44 to 248 Sqn PZ 251 Delivered Jul 44 to 248 Sqn (FTR Oct 44) PZ 252 Delivered Jul to 248 Sqn >> 254 Sqn PZ 300 Delivered Aug 44 to 248 Sqn >> 254 Sqn (DBR May 45) PZ 301 Delivered Aug 44 to 248 Sqn >> 254 Sqn PZ 346 Delivered Sep 44 to 248 Sqn (FTR Dec 44) PZ 467 Delivered Oct 44 to DH >> 27 MU >> USN PZ 468 Delivered Nov 44 to DH >> 248 Sqn Dec 44 >> 254 Sqn PZ 469 Delivered Dec 44 to 27 MU PZ 470 Delivered Jan 45 to 27 MU I can only find evidence that 13 of the 18 Tsetse Mosquitos saw action. I don't have the exact dates for the the handful that 248 Sqn handed over to 254 Sqn (a Beaufighter squadron where Tsetse Mosquitos made up a special flight). The asterisks indicate those flown by the crews of 618 Sqn attached to 248 Sqn as chronicled by Des Curtiss in A Most Secret Squadron.

Those were high altitude attacks.

We're on the same page. After a bit more checking, again using Bowman's WoF article (page 59) all B Mk XVI except the first twelve produced were "cookie" capable. All the pictures of B Mk XVIs that I've seen show the bulged bomb bay doors. Just reading No. 608 Sqn ORB, their B Mk XXs were not cookie capable (standard load was 4 x 500 lb). Once they started flying Mk XVIs, it was cookies all the time.

I realize that we are now heading off on a tangent from the FB Mk VI. My apologies, but I just love the history of this airplane. Sharp & Bowyer as well as Bowman (Wings of Fame Vol 18) state that only 20 B Mk IVs were modified to carry the cookie. These airplanes used Merlin 21 or 23 motors. The B Mk IX was a progression/variation of the PR Mk IX with Merlin 71/72 or 76/77 motors (as you alluded to). Only 54 B Mk IXs were delivered, all between April and November of 1943. I have not come across a definitive number that could carry the cookie. Bowman again in WoF Volume 18 on page 59 writes "a handful" were modified. The B Mk XVI was a progression/variation of the PR Mk XVI with Merlin 72/73 or 76/77 motors. Total deliveries between and November 1943 through May 1945 (~VE Day) was 356 based upon the delivery charts by Sharp & Bowyer. I don't have a definitive number of airplanes that could carry the cookie. WRT the Packard-Merlin powered Canadian built B Mk XX and B Mk XXV, I'm uncertain if they were modified. Edit: From Sharp & Bowyer's Mosquito page 106, only five B Mk XXVs (KB409, 416, 490, 561, 625) received the bulged bomb bay doors. These few went to No. 627 Sqn according to the text on page 104. Apparently 8 Group had pushed to get their Canadian built aircraft modified with the bulged doors, but Pathfinder gear caused a CG problem that would require re-fit with different motors. Considering the logistics problems getting spares for Canadian built airplanes, the plan was abandoned.

I'm a bit puzzled by the reference to "the bulged bomb bay fairing..." and how it applies to the FB Mk VI. Clearly the forward half of the bay is taken up by the 20mm cannon. Depending on your preferred source (I'm recalling from memory thinking of Sharp & Bowyer's wonderful Mosquito) the idea behind shortening the fins on 500 lb bombs came from 105 & 139 Squadrons trials to get 4 x 500 lb in the bomb bay of their B Mk IVs. Perhaps the Dev's reference is to Mk VI Series ii blueprints. I would be gobsmacked if they tried to put bulged bomb bay doors fitted to bombers to permit carriage of the 4000 pound "cookie." Thoughts?

Found them...starts on page A1-6. Much obliged, I was looking for the silhouettes that would be found in Section V, which is in GR1F-16CJ-1-2.

Oh yeah, understand. I tossed my old RTU academic pubs, my A model Dash 1 and Dash 34, all of my briefings/notes a few months back. I'm trying to track down those Block 50/52 manual pages with the nose on silhouette and all the configurations, carriage limits, release limits. Trying to help a friend out with a campaign project. Will be forced to test various SCLs to see what pushes the fuel flow over 9600 PPH / 160 PPM at 480 KCAS on the deck...meh.

Bugger...does anybody have Drag Index gouge (Dash 34 extracts for example) that could give me an idea of typical weapons loads DI values? The GR1F-16CJ-1-1 performance pages have charts for DI values from 0 to 400 in increments of 50. I'm just trying to see what kind of loads get the DI up above 150.

@GoodHopeHere's a very good resource. I am three decades removed from doing that RL fighter pilot sh*t...I'm a Jurassic Era F-16 guy (A models only...heaters & guns). I'm still pretty good at having my right hand shootdown my left hand.

I watched it a couple of times, probably not a good idea to make your missile break uphill and out in front of the bandit (essentially a blind lead turn going belly up to your bandit). You did get very slow...with your nose buried below the horizon (I've made this error more than once IRL). You had a very cooperative bandit that flew out in front of you. When you started chasing him uphill, you went to AB and put your speedbrakes out (in no danger of overshooting him) with your airspeed ~280 KCAS. Couldn't tell that you kicked the rudder left, if you hadn't posted that, I'd have concluded you rolled left as you accelerated. Good news...a kill is a kill.