PHOTO-RECONNAISSANCE

The first Mosquito to fly operationally was a PR Mk.I on 17 September 1941. From the start the PRU Mossies were in one basic scheme - PRU blue. As usual with RAF PRU aircraft, type B roundels were carried.

Mosquito PR Mk.XVI NS502
No.544 Sqn RAF
Summer 1944

Seen here in the standard D-Day attire, NS502 has had its serial repainted over the white of the stripes. The slipper tank is painted black to conform with the wing stripes.

Mosquito PR Mk.XVI NS644
No.680 Sqn RAF
Foggia, Italy
1944

After a few nasty incidents with friendly aircraft attacking their Mosquitos, No.680 Sqn took to painting the fin and rudder in red/white stripes to differentiate them from German Me410s. Also note the hastily applied D-Day stripes on the fuselage - not everyone managed to get them nice and straight.

Mosquito PR Mk.XVI MM357
SEAC Theatre
March 1945

In addition to Europe and the Mediterranean, the Mosquito was also used in South East Asia. The overall siver MM357 has the theatre markings of blue/light blue (or white) roundels and fin flash as well as black bands on the fin and stabilizer.

The next largest user of PR Mosquitos after the RAF was the USAF. As with their British conterparts, the USAF PRU Mossies carried overall PRU blue finish.

Mosquito PR Mk.XVI NS510
653rd BS, 25th BG, 8th AF USAF
June 1944

As with other aircraft operating over Europe in June 1994, NS510 carries full D-Day stripes.

Mosquito PR Mk.XVI MM389
654rd BS, 25th BG, 8th AF USAF
January 1945

An intriguing black bottomed PR.XVI

Mosquito PR Mk.XVI NS591
25th BG, 8th AF USAF
February 1945

Along with the PRU Mossies of No.680 Sqn, the re-tailed USAF must be considered the most colourful of an already attractive design. Note the D-Day stripes still carried at this late date.

Air Intelligence
1998 Modelers'
Reference Guides

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