De Haviland Mosquito

Built mainly of wood, the Mosquito was fast, agile and versatile. Originally designed as an unarmed high level bomber, fitted with a perpex nose, the Mosquito found fame as a heavily-armed fighter bomber, pulling off daring low-level precision raids as World War II progressed.

One version was even fitted with a 57mm gun and used to attack U boats, while there were many photo-reconnaissance versions. In their bomber guise they flew fast, high level bombing missions and were used to mark night bombing targets in advance of major raids.

Mosquitos were a familiar sight in Shropshire during the war, but as radar-equipped night fighters flying from the RAF base at High Ercall. The airfield was also used as a training base for Mosquito night fighter crews.

The example at Cosford featured in the 1963 film 633 squadron, even though it wasn't delivered until after the war.

It's fitted with the perspex nose of the bomber version, as well as the personal "AZ-E" codes and markings of the aircraft in which Wing Commander Guy Gibson - of Dambusters fame - was killed on 19th September 1944.