All metal Mosquito ??

[glider1]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

As an aside, and from direct personal experience, the rivalry between HP and DH was so intense that I'm rather surprised that HP made any bombracks for DH, even under wartime conditions. As the bulged bombbay was no longer than the original, which could only take 4x500lb if the fins were shortened, are you describing some kind of triple rack? The usual carriage of 6x500lb would be with 2 underwing.

The later Mosquito day bombers were not escorted by Mosquito fighters - the Mosquito was not employed as a day or escort fighter, not least because of its inability to fight with single-engine fighters. The Mosquito made a superb night fighter, and heavy fighter for Coastal Command, but not where enemy fighter opposition could be expected. For longer-range missions, Mustangs were available which could comfortably exceed the range of the FB Mk.VI, but 2TAF did not fly deep daylight penetrations.

The Mosquitos were indeed flying missions with deeper penetration than the Blenheims, but they were employed as a direct replacement. The point is that such missions, however spectacular from the propaganda point of view, resulted in unacceptable losses. As indeed did similar US attempts with the B-26.

Briefly
Yes they were triple bomb racks and there were times when Mosquito's were used as the escort, normally they were Typhoons or Mustangs. It wasn't common but it did happen.

I will comment later on losses.