On 27 Sept 2012, the de Havilland Mosquito DH98 FB Mk26 KA114 flew again at Ardmore airfield in New Zealand for the first time since 1945. The Mosquito was a Canadian built aircraft and was delivered to the RCAF in 1945 and went straight into storage, later serving briefly with 77 Operational Training Unit and then back into storage. In 1948, the aircraft was disposed of to a farmer in Milo, Alberta Canada where it remained and became derelict until being purchased by Mosquito restorer Ed Zalesky in a very bad state.
Mosquito KA114 was stored until purchased in 2004 by American collector Jerry Yeagan and later transferred to New Zealand for rebuilding by Avspecs. New Zealand Mosquito “Wizard” Glyn Powell ‘scratch built’ the aircrafts woodwork which was then transferred to Avspecs hanger for the installation of all the systems and metalwork to completion.
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- de Havilland Mosquito DH98 KA114
The aircraft flew without any major issues and was able to take part in a special airshow at Ardmore on the 29th of Sept 2012 where it put on 3 fantastic displays on its own and in company with other Warbirds. The de Havilland Mosquito is finished in the colors it wore in service and the work of Glyn Powell and the Avspecs is superb. Many thousands of Warbird enthusiasts made the journey to Ardmore to witness the airshow and weren’t disappointed.
The Mosquito will now finish its test flight program and fly at a number of New Zealand events prior to shipping to Jerry’s Military Aviation Museum, Virginia Beach USA facility where it will have pride of place in his collection and hopefully fly for many years to come.
© John Parker 2013