Mystery Mosquito in Iwakuni Japan 1953--pic inside

[28ZComeback]

http://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk/2016/08/01/a-rare-bird-at-iwakuni-part-1/ 

 

can anyone shed some light on this Mosquito in Japan 1953?  It may have been attached to a squadron of Austers

 

thsnks!

 

Charles  

Edited June 11, 2017 by 28ZComeback
Sp

[RJP]

It seems it was being serviced by members of 656 Sqn but there is no indication it was attached to them. Note also the overload tanks in the jumbo economy size, suggesting it was used for very long flights, not such an unusual thing for PR machines.  It might well be Iwakuni was just a pit stop for a Far East squadron doing some mapping as suggested in a previous thread.

 

RG238 had been used by S/L H.B. Martin (of Dambuster fame) and S/L Sisemore to establish a new London - Cape Town record in 1947. They were awarded the Britannia Trophy.  Presumably the aircraft was returned to regular duties thereafter.

 

I don't see the promised second part of the article, maybe there's more still to come.

[71chally]

The Mosquito is an 81 Sqn machine.  81 were Kai Tak and Labuan (Borneo) based during the period.

1603 Flt of 656 Sqn, HQ at Sembawang, are likely handling and servicing the visiting aircraft as they were the based RAF unit at Iwakuni, operating Auster 6s during the Korean campaign.

Edited June 11, 2017 by 71chally