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At First Sight
Cookie Carrier Mosquitoes
In
March 1944 whilst at Oakington we received four of the newly modified
MkBIV Mosquitoes with extended bomb doors and reinforcement to carry
the 4000lb Minol bomb - the “Cookie”.
Far from popular amongst ground and air crews, the bombs were unstable,
prone to exploding if dropped accidentally while being loaded into
aircraft. The squadron had experienced an incident when forming at
Wyton with 139 Squadron. One lunchtime a Minol bomb had been dropped
accidentally at dispersal from an 83 Squadron Lancaster with tragic
results.
Apart from this the MkIV was “just” capable of a take-off on a main
runway with favourable wind. and once in the air the aircraft handled
sluggishly until “bomb gone” when the altimeter unwound itself at an
alarming rate.
At Oakington the unfortunate “B” Flight had their dispersals
immediately at the west end of runway 10/28 which appeared to be in use
whenever the Cookie aircraft were operating. Many a fitter and rigger
has been seen sheltering as soon as the aircraft taxied out for
take-off. Let it be said that the fears were unfounded as no untoward
incident occurred whilst 627 were operating with “Cookies”.
When the Squadron was detached to 5 Group the Cookie Carriers were not
required and these were flown to 1655 MTU at Upwood for exchange with
conventional MkIVs. DZ632 was exchanged for DZ478 and DZ646 for DZ52l.
DZ606 swapped with DZ421, but as no others were available we kept DZ644
only to loose it on the Tours operation less than one month later,
although not, of course, carrying a 4000lb bomb.
Although not affecting 627 Squadron, the later marks of Mosquito to be
modified were more than equal to the task of delivering “Cookies” and
kept the pot well boiling on the “non-heavies” nights.
Whilst on the subject of heavy-weight bombs it is worth recording that
on the night of the first delivery of l2,000lb “Tallboys” to Woodhall
Spa (for 617 Squadron of course) the transport drivers pulled up
alongside 627 Squadron dispersals to enquire the way to the Bomb Dump.
On seeing our Mosquitoes one of the drivers was heard to say “I hope
you don’t think you can put these bloody great things on those Mossies
do you?”.
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Copyright © 1943-2012 627 Squadron in Retirement or as
credited
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