Mosquito III. [Conclusion]

This is coolbert:

The American capitalist/entrepreneur Kirk Kerkorian currently possesses one of the greatest fortunes known to mankind. Estimated to be worth $15 billion.

A master of the leveraged buyout [?]. Acquires a firm by buying controlling stock in a business enterprise, remodeling, restructuring, and finally selling his acquisition for a huge profit.

"Kerkor "Kirk" Kerkorian (born June 6, 1917) is an American billionaire, and president/CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beverly Hills, California. Kerkorian is known as one of the important figures in shaping the city of Las Vegas, Nevada and, with architect Martin Stern, Jr. the 'father of the megaresort.'"

[Kirk is also a philanthropist of the highest order. Contributes in a very significant manner to Armenian causes [Kerk is an Armenian-American]]

A man whose career has been often intrinsically related to the field of aviation.

Also an aviator of considerable talent in his own right!

[Kerkorian at one time acquired a controlling interest in TWA. Kirk KNOWS aviation!]

Acquired “seed money” for his various future capitalist endeavors very early in his flying career. Ferrying Mosquito aircraft, newly manufactured, from Canada to England during World War Two [WW2]. Mosquito aircraft needed in a dire manner by the RAF. NEEDED FOR COMBAT OPERATIONS NOW! Had to be delivered from the factory to the aerial battlefield in the most expeditious manner. Being flown across the north Atlantic, by a single pilot, on a non-stop [?] flight that was a downright dangerous enterprise just unto itself.

"After the war, having saved most of his wages, Kerkorian spent $5,000 on a Cessna. He worked as a general aviation pilot . . . in 1947 paid $60,000 for Trans International Airlines . . . He then bid on some war surplus bombers . . . Gasoline, and especially airplane fuel, was in short supply at the time, so he sold the fuel from the planes' tanks, paid off his loan - and still had the airplanes."

Kerkorian would receive $1,000 per flight!! Successfully make the ferrying run and receive what was at the time a princely sum!!

[such a monetary reward was well earned. To fly solo across the north Atlantic at that time was a very dangerous proposition! The slightest problem, inclement weather, navigational error, mechanical failure, and YOU WERE DEAD!!]

Consider this! Even very early in his life, Kerkorian was a person who displayed considerable talent, using measured audacity during these dangerous ferrying flights.

"Mosquito's fuel tank carried enough fuel for 1,400 miles, while the trip directly was 2,200 miles. Rather than take the safer route Montreal-Labrador-Greenland-Iceland-Scotland route . . . Kerkorian preferred the direct "Iceland Wave" route which blew the planes at jet-speed to Europe . . . The fee was $1,000 per flight, but the statistics were that only one in four completed the journey. In May 1944, Kerkorian and his Wing Commander J.D. Woolridge rode the wave and broke the old crossing record. Woolridge got to Scotland in six hours, 46 minutes; Kerkorian, in seven hours, nine minutes. In two and a half years, Kerkorian delivered 33 planes"

[I think it would be generally conceded that persons in the business of leveraged buyouts/venture capitalism HAVE TO BE gamblers able to take risk and accept a high degree of danger in doing so. Gutsy individuals!

Kirk kan do!

coolbert.

Mosquito II.

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Mission Impossible - - “bomb our position!!”

During the Second World War [WW2], the Mosquito aircraft as employed by the British RAF [Royal Air Force], was the ideal combat airplane for low-level, high-speed, precision bombing missions.

The Mosquito did possess the necessary requirements of speed, range, adequate bomb load, stealth, maneuverability, etc. Was able to perform missions that other aircraft were JUST NOT ABLE TO!

The low-level, high-speed attack by a bomber aircraft was something that pre-war strategic thinkers had NOT conceived of. Pre-war bombing doctrine called for high-altitude precision bombing against point targets. NOT for low-level flight BY A WOODEN AIRCRAFT!!

Pilots of the RAF flying the Mosquito were able to master the “art” of the low-level attack. Pilots that had experience, panache’, “moxie”, and just plain guts. I would have to think these this fliers RELISHED THE ROLE OF LOW-LEVEL ATTACKER!!

That proper combination of aircraft and skilled pilots DID allow for bombing missions OTHERWISE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE!!

“Impossible” bombing missions such as:

Operation Jericho.

* "Operation Jericho was a low-level bombing raid by Allied aircraft on Amiens Prison in German-occupied France . . . The object of the raid was the release of French resistance and political prisoners, 120 of whom were to be executed the following day."

* Attack on the Gestapo headquarters in The Hague.

"a pinpoint attack at rooftop height on the Gestapo records centre in The Hague, Netherlands."

* Operation Carthage.

"a very low-level bombing attack on the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark"



In each case the target was a Gestapo headquarters building. Buildings within which were imprisoned resistance fighters from France [Jericho], Holland, and Denmark [Carthage] respectively. Resistance fighters subjected by the Gestapo to interrogation, cruel torture, and liquidation [execution]!!

Bombing missions conducted AT THE BEHEST OF THE RESISTANCE GROUPS THEMSELVES!! “PLEASE BOMB US!!”

[I think the mentality was - - “we are going to die if NOTHING is done - - if we are killed in the bombing - - so will some of the villains - - and - - maybe - - in the process - - some of us will escape!!”]

"Who knows-some might not be killed and succeed in escaping, as happened at Aarhus, and anyhow their death will save many more Danish lives, so don't worry."

In all three cases, success was realized.

"The Mosquito bomber crews succeeded in breaching the walls and buildings of the prison, as well as destroying guards' barracks. Although 102 prisoners were killed, out of a total of 717, another 258 prisoners escaped. One of the inmates was also privy to sensitive information concerning Operation Overlord." - - Jericho.

"Their bombs, a mixture of high explosive and incendiary, went in through the doors and windows and the incriminating records were burned." - - The Hague.

"Eight Gestapo prisoners were killed while 18 prisoners escaped. The main attack on the Gestapo headquarters caused the death of 55 German soldiers and 47 Danes working for the Gestapo." - - Carthage.

Carthage in particular carries a resonance in Denmark to this day similar to what Pearl Harbor or 9/11 does in the U.S.? This is due to the high collateral damage, unintentional, that resulted from the bombing. The “French” school was struck, with considerable loss of innocent life.

ONLY a Mosquito, at the time, piloted by able hands, could have done what was done!!

coolbert.

Mosquito I.

This is coolbert:

"Off we go, into the wild blue yonder"

[courtesy of your local piano factory!!]

One of the most impressive and versatile combat aircraft of World War Two [WW2] was the British De Havilland Mosquito.

A fighter-bomber that "could do"!!

Very light weight, powered by two large Rolls Royce engines, having outstanding speed.

AND MADE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY OUT OF WOOD!!

"Unorthodox in design, it used a plywood structure of spruce and balsa in a time when wooden construction was considered outmoded."

"The de Havilland company conceived the idea of a wooden aircraft to take advantage of the underused resources and skills of the furniture industry [piano makers too!!] at a time of great pressure on the conventional aircraft industry combined with wartime shortages of steel and aluminium."

"The genius of the aircraft's construction lay in the innovative and somewhat unorthodox use of seemingly commonplace materials and techniques. The bulk of the Mosquito was made of plywood. Stronger and lighter than most grades of plywood, this special plywood was produced by a combination of 3/8" sheets of Ecuadorean balsawood sandwiched between sheets of Canadian birch plywood. Like a deck of cards, sheets of wood alternated with sheets of a special casein-based (later formaldehyde) wood glue."

"The wings were also made of wood. To increase strength, the wings were made as one single assembly, onto which the fuselage, once both halves had been mated, was lowered and attached."

[special plywood, special glue, special techniques!!]

"Metal was used sparingly in the construction of structural elements. It was mostly used in engine mounts and fairings, control surfaces, and of course, brass screws."

AT THE PRESENT TIME NOT ONE FLIGHT CAPABLE MOSQUITO EXISTS. The last flying Mosquito crashed in 1996. I doubt that an exact replica could be built today. The materials are not available in the quantities needed? Expertise in construction is lacking? It is reputed that a flying version is under construction? Maybe is active and in the air as we speak? Has been bought by a collector who is a dot.com zillionaire?

coolbert.