De Havilland Mosquito T.Mk.43 NZ2305
Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland.
Originally built as an FB.40, A52-19, at the Bankstown de Havilland Australia factory, this aircraft was modified to T.43 trainer standards and allocated the serial number A52-1053. The aircraft was accepted by the RAAF on 6th August 1946, and put into storage before being sold to New Zealand later that year for £3,000. She was given the new serial number NZ2305 and assigned to No. 75 Squadron on 1st April 1947. Seeing little service while with 75 Squadron, NZ2305 was sold to a farmer in North Island in 1952.
The rotting remains of NZ2305 were discovered by a Mosquito enthusiast, and the farmer donated it to MOTAT. The project of rebuilding NZ2305 began there, and the fuselage and wings were joined at the RNZAF Museum in Christchurch, restoration being completed in 2007.
The Mosquito was an important aircraft in RNZAF service, during WW2 and postwar. In total, 76 FB.VIs, one FB.40, four T.IIIs and four T.43s were exported to New Zealand.
De Havilland Mosquito T.Mk.43 NZ2305
Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland.
Originally built as an FB.40, A52-19, at the Bankstown de Havilland Australia factory, this aircraft was modified to T.43 trainer standards and allocated the serial number A52-1053. The aircraft was accepted by the RAAF on 6th August 1946, and put into storage before being sold to New Zealand later that year for £3,000. She was given the new serial number NZ2305 and assigned to No. 75 Squadron on 1st April 1947. Seeing little service while with 75 Squadron, NZ2305 was sold to a farmer in North Island in 1952.
The rotting remains of NZ2305 were discovered by a Mosquito enthusiast, and the farmer donated it to MOTAT. The project of rebuilding NZ2305 began there, and the fuselage and wings were joined at the RNZAF Museum in Christchurch, restoration being completed in 2007.
The Mosquito was an important aircraft in RNZAF service, during WW2 and postwar. In total, 76 FB.VIs, one FB.40, four T.IIIs and four T.43s were exported to New Zealand.