WITH NO LESS THAN 20 ‘ACES’ IN THE UNIT, 85 SQUADRON WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MOSQUITO NIGHT-FIGHTER UNITS, AS ANDREW THOMAS DESCRIBES
DE HAVILLAND MOSQUITO NIGHT-FIGHTER
The arrival of a single Mosquito II, W4087, gave 85 Squadron, equipped with Douglas Havoc night-fighters, a fleeting taste of the future on February18, 1942. The aircraft arrived for trials with the unit, which was based at Hunsdon, Hertfordshire and led by Wg Cdr Gordon Raphael. The de Havilland twin had been modified with a Turbinlite searchlight fitted into the nose. In this guise, the elegant Mosquito was given an adverse report and W4087 was returned to 1422 Flight at Heston, Middlesex.
The unit continued to use the bulky Douglas twins until August 15 when Mosquito II DD718 arrived. Conversion to the Mosquito began, this time without the impractical Turbinlite.
By mid-September training had reached the stage where pilot and navigator could start to work as a team. On the 17th Fg Off Branse Burbridge DSO* DFC* and Sgt Webster took off in H-for-Harry for ground-controlled interception (GCI) practice.
In the early hours of October 19, more than 30 enemy aircraft raided East Anglia and 85 began its first action with the Mosquito…
