De Havilland Mosquito NF Mk 30

The NF Mk 30 was the main Mosquito night fighter towards the end of the war. It was powered three different Merlin engines – the Merlin 72 (1,680 hp), Merlin 76 (1,710 hp) or Merlin 113 (1,690 hp). It was otherwise very similar to the NF Mk XIX. It used the AI Mk X radar set, with the radar antenna in a nose radome. Firepower was provided by four 20mm cannon.

The NF Mk 30 entered service with No. 219 Squadron, in June 1944, and achieved its first victory with 410 Squadron on 19/20 August. By the end of the year it was the main Mosquito night fighter, equipping seven squadrons.

The NF Mk 30 also saw service as in night intruder in Germany, contributing to the “Mosquito Panic” that affected many German night fighter pilots towards the end of the war. Three night fighter Squadrons were transferred to No. 100 Group late in 1944 especially to carry out this duty.

Mosquito Aces of World War 2, Andrew Thomas. This volume concentrates on the fighter variants of the Mosquito, looking at their role as a defensive fighter, both over Britain and overseas and their use during the D-Day invasion to protect the fleet. Thomas also looks at the career of the Mosquito as a night intruder over Germany, where it became the scourge of the German night fighters, often being blamed for losses miles from the nearest Mosquito.
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (15 April 2007), De Havilland Mosquito NF Mk 30, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_mosquito_30.html

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