TA122 at The Mosquito Aircraft Museum

13th August 2006

5th/6th August 2006

April 2005

March 2005

6th April 2003

3rd April 2003

14th July 2002

8th April 2001

25th November 2000

27th August 2000

18th July 1999

1997/1998

TA122 History

FB.VI TA122 was built at Hatfield and delivered to 44 MU at Edzell on 10 March 1945, and issued to 49 ARF ten days later. TA122 was issued to No 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron at Coxyde in Belgium on 3 April (moving with the squadron to Volkel in Holland on 25th April) where it was allocated to the squadron's Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Angus Horne, who air tested it on the 4th May and, along with Flying Officer Tellett, flew the aircraft on its first and only sortie that night. 605 Squadron operated in the night interdiction role over occupied Europe and Wing Commander Horne's assignment was to discourage enemy ground movements in the area of north-east Germany. In the vicinity of Esens, near Wilhelmshaven, they fired at some lights on the ground, however the remainder of the sortie proved uneventful.

As the end of the war approached, Wing Commander Horne and TA122 flew some 50 hours of training and courier flights to Berlin, following which he was assigned to HQ's 2 Group taking TA122 with him. In the meantime, 605 Squadron re-formed as No. 4 Squadron on 31 August 1945, becoming part of 140 Wing based at Gutersloh in November 1946. It would appear that TA122 was held in 1 BR & SD Pool from 25th November 1948, from where it was 'reissued' to No. 4 Squadron on 13 January 1949 at Wahn in West Germany and later Celle. In fact it appears that the aircraft was at Wahn earlier than its 'official' issue date, Navigator John Archbold flying in TA122 on the 10th January for one and a half hours practising GCA approaches at Gutersloh.

The aircraft was struck off charge on 30th June 1950, and after being used for spares, the fuselage was purchased by Delft University in Holland in June 1951 for the sum of £15 for use as an instructional airframe in their Aeronautics Department. In 1958, the University's aviation section was moved to a smaller building with many items from their collection being disposed of. The university decided to keep TA122, however there was no room for the aircraft's wings which was sawn into small sections, some of which were displayed by the aircraft, others finding homes in the RNLAF Museum and Aviodome Museum at Schiphol.

The fuselage later went into storage with the RNLAF Museum, moving to the Royal Netherlands AF base at Gilze-Rijen from where, following negotiations by Edward Bishop, it was presented to the Mosquito Aircraft Museum in November 1975, with delivery on 26th February 1978, still carrying some of its original markings 'UP-G' of No. 605/4 Squadron.

Shortly after the fuselage arrived at the museum, Stuart Howe decided to try and find the remaining components required to rebuild TA122 completely. The remains of a Mosquito, consisting of a complete wing and numerous metal components, were located soon after on Kibbutz Beit-Alfa in northern Israel. The wing was moved to Salisbury Hall in the UK without cost to the museum, being flown to the UK by El Al and transported from Heathrow by Roy Bowles Transport and Tristar Freight.

Work commenced on the wing in the Spring of 1985 under the direction of Colin Ewer. The wing was in relatively poor shape on its arrival, The leading and trailing edges had rotted away, as had the plywood skins exposing the spruce stringers. There was also damage to the spars and almost all of the 32 ribs. Several feet of the starboard wing and the port wingtip were missing entirely and the four underwing fuel tank doors all required repairs.

The wing's identity is still not known for certain, upon inspection the wing contained components from several Mosquitos, being narrowed to two aircraft, TS449 and TW233, both pre-production TR.33's with non-folding wings. Both of these aircraft saw service with the Royal Navy before being sold to R.A. Short in 1953. Following overhaul, both aircraft were delivered to Israel by Peter Nock from Blackbushe.

The wing has now left it's workshop home of many years and has made the move across to the main hanger at the museum. TA122's fuselage looks pristine following repair at Skysport!

TA122 has made very good progress recently, her fuselage looks resplendent in its coat of silver dope. Reconstruction of the wing leading edges had started when I visited in November 2000 - Lets hope it's not too long before she is once again 'on her feet'.

Notes: A little confusion seems to surround the precise movements of TA122 during her service life:

• 49 and 417 ARF are both mentioned as destinations for TA122 on 20th March 1945.
• The move to Volkel has been noted as being on the 25th April 1945 in one source and 28th April in another.

If anyone has further information on the above please contact me.