Q&A · 3:12:02-3:12:32

Would the Mosquito work from Free China?

The Mosquito's construction created real tropical-service problems that could alter its development in a Pacific-first war.

Question

Could the de Havilland Mosquito have operated effectively from bases in Free China?

Short answer

Not without difficulty: heat and humidity caused problems for its wooden construction and might have changed the aircraft's development.

Notes

The de Havilland Mosquito was not automatically well suited to bases in Free China. Its wooden construction experienced difficulties in Far Eastern heat and humidity. If the Pacific became the first and dominant operational requirement, those problems might change the materials, manufacturing method, or timing of the aircraft that entered service. The Mosquito's excellent performance in Europe did not remove the environmental demands of tropical deployment.