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The single B Mk V (W4057) was originally to be the basis for the production bomber variant of the Mosquito. In the event that role was taken by the B Mk IV, originally seen as an interim development from the PR Mk I. Mosquito W4057 first flew in September 1941, by which time the first order for nine B Mk IVs had already been placed.
The aircraft was used to test out the bomb carrying capacity of the Mosquito. Prior to testing, it had been assumed that the bomb load of the aircraft would be 1,000lb. The standard 500lb RAF bomb wouldn’t quite fit in the bomb bay of the Mosquito.
The problem was caused by the fins, designed to keep the bomb on target. However, tests with the Mk V and a version of the 500lb with smaller fins proved that the redesigned bomb performed no worse than the normal version, and so the Mosquito could carry four of the modified 500lb bombs, giving it a bomb load of 2,000lb inside the bomb bay. The Mosquito was well on its way to having the same bomb load as most medium bombers.
Mosquito Bomber/ Fighter-Bomber Units of World War 2, Martin Bowman. The first of three books looking at the RAF career of this most versatile of British aircraft of the Second World War, this volume looks at the squadrons that used the Mosquito as a daylight bomber, over occupied Europe and Germany, against shipping and over Burma. [see more]
