[Graham Boak]

Thanks, that's a story I hadn't encountered before. In-service tales normally link to intercepting the Ju86s with stripped-down Spitfires, particularly in Alexandria. Remove weight for altitude, smooth the exteriors for speed.

The classic quote is supposedly from Geoffrey De Havilland, who complained that the RDM2 Special Night cost the Mosquito 23mph. Ken Merrick quotes trials on early Halifaxes where good reductions in climb time, and cruise altitude, were obtained. But Special Night was very rough!