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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0093.PDF
JANUARY 14TH, 1943 FLIGHT 35 IN THE BRIEFING ROOM : Mosquito crews get last-mniuie instructions and aii available mtormatioa about their target Mosquito Squadron Crews and Aircraft Have "Tails Well Up" : Dominions Fully Represented : Enthusiasm for the Mosquito IT was, if we remember correctly, Sir John Salmond who,in the 1914-18 war, sent home a signal which includedthe words : " The R.A.F. has its tail well up." For the benefit of our younger readers it may be explained thatthere was an aerodynamic as well as a canine reference in the expression. In those daysengines were not very powerful, and when the power dropped through some slight disturb-ance in the engine, the aircraft was liable to fly with its tail down. When it had enoughpower it flew with the tail well up, which was thus a sign of ample " urge." In the present war the R.A.F. still has itstail well up, and nowhere is that spirit more prorfounced than in a Mosquito squadron whichwe visited recently. The squadron has good reason to feel pleased with life. It has donesplendid work; its CO. is Wing Commander H. 1. Edwards, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.; it countsa number of D.F.C.s and D.F.M.s among its personnel, which include a large percentageof Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders, not to mention a couple of Norwegians and aJamaican. It may be recalled that Wing Com- mander Edwards was awarded his V.C. forleading a squadron of Blenheims against The perspex and clear-vision panel must becleaned before going on ops. The bombs indicate 10 raids to the machine's credit. Bremen in July, 1941, when that place was bombed froma height of 50ft. or so. Bombing attacks at zero height are still the speciality of this squadron, and the Mosquitohas been found a very suitable type of aircraft for the
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