FOREIGN

The Mosquito was operated by many diverse countries in the immediate postwar period. Some of which are shown here.

Mosquito FB Mk.VI
Nationalist Chinese Air Force
1948-1950

China acquired over 200 Mosquitos, all were Canadian built and of various marks including the FB.26 (Canadian-built FB.VI). They eventually equipped three squadrons, and saw some combat in 1948/49 before the Nationalist forces retreated to Taiwan. Finish is OD upper surfaces and medium gray lower.

Mosquito FB Mk.VI RF823
Czechoslovakian Air Force
1945-1950

Following the end of WW2, 19 Mosquito FB.VIs were flown by the Czech Air Force. Despite an arms embargo, No.311 Sqn managed to keep their Mosquitos operational by using surplus German guns. During 1950 western aircraft were phased out in favour of Soviet types, with the Mosquito being replaced by the Il-2. Standard RAF camouflage is carried with Czech markings.

Mosquito FB Mk.VI
Dominican Air Force
circa 1950

The Dominican Republic acquired five FB.VIs. Later supplemented by some T.27s. Although a roundel is shown on the port undersurface, it is more likely that the serial 2102 was carried here as it appears on the upper starboard wing, and the roundel on the lower starboard wing of another Mosquito.

Mosquito NF Mk.XIX 30022
Swedish Air Force
1950

Sweden bought sixty ex-RAF NF.XIX Mosquitos in 1948, and gave them the designation J30. Upon delivery, the first, second, and third squadrons of the F1 Wing was equipped with the type and appropriate markings were painted on; The first squadron had white spinners and code letters, the second squadron blue spinners and code letters, and the third squadron yellow spinners and code letters. The letters were outlined in white, except for the first squadron, which were outlined in black. Later the first squadron changed from white to red for their colors, outlining the letters in white. The J30 had a short life in the Flygvapnet, being in front line service for only 6 years. The J30 was replaced by the Venom, a much more powerful night-fighter.

Mosquito FB Mk.VI
Turkish Air Force
1947-1950

Turkey purchased 142 Mosquitos, of which 137 were FB.Vis. The Turkish Air Force operated their Mosquitos until 1954.

Mosquito PR.XVI 90
Israeli Defence Force
Syria, 1956

Israel was one of the last countries to fly the Mosquito into combat, using ex-French and Royal Navy PR. XVI Mosquitos in the Suez crisis of 1956. While most Israeli PR Mosquitos were silver overall, a small number of them were camouflaged in the standard sand and blue over duck egg green. The Mosquito shown here was flown on a recce mission over Syria in November of 1956 by Ze'ev Tavor and navigator Rafael Sivron when it suffered some damage. While it made it back to Israel, the resultant forced landing effectively wrote off #90.

SOURCES:

- FIGHTING COLOURS - RAF FIGHTER CAMOUFLAGE 1937-1975: Bowyer, MJF; Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1975
- MOSQUITO AT WAR: Bowyer, Chaz;
- Assorted titles listed in the Mosquito Reference Library

Air Intelligence
1998 Modelers'
Reference Guides

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