De Havilland Mosquito NF Mk XV

The Mosquito NF Mk XV was a high altitude aircraft developed in response to a series of very high level raids launched by the Germans in the summer of 1942. These raids used modified Junkers Ju 86s, which were capable of flying above the service ceiling of any current British fighter. Although these were no more than nuisance raids, with very light bomb loads, work immediately began on high altitude aircraft to deal with the threat.

The NF Mk XV was based around the B Mk IV fuselage, equipped with Merlin 73 two stage engines and longer wings. It was the first model of Mosquito to have a pressurised cabin. Armament was limited to four .303in machine guns in a mounting under the fuselage.

The prototype NF Mk XV could reach an altitude of 45,000 feet. However, by the time it was ready to make an attempt to intercept one of the German raiders, the high altitude raids had stopped. The Spitfire Mk VI had come close to catching several of the raiders, and the last one was flown on 9 September 1942.

The five NF Mk XVs (one prototype plus four production aircraft) remained in service until August 1943. They were then used for experimental work.

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 XV, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_mosquito_XV.html

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