De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF.30.

The Anglo-Belgian agreement of November 18th, 1946 regarding the delivery of aircraft and equipment by the United Kingdom to Belgium also included the formation of one nightfighter squadron equipped with 22 Mosquito NF30 fighters. The aircraft were delivered from november 1947 onwards with an additional two aircraft for use as instructional airframes. The nightfighter Mosquitos saw service with Nrs 10 and 11 Squadron and operated from Beauvechain. In 1953 two additional Mosquito NF30 were delivered. Build mainly out of balsa wood the service life of a Mosquito was limited and all operational aircraft were struck of charge by 1956 and scrapped. MB-1 RAF-Serial: NT446 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 040245: delivered RAF 270245-040445: RAF No 68 Sqn 131147: Taken on Charge BAF 000047-000051: 10Sqn (ND-B) 000051-000000: 11Sqn (KT-V) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain Collection Laurent Heyligen MB-2 RAF-Serial: MM768 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 72 engines) 010844: delivered RAF 140844-061144: RAF No 410 Sqn 211147: Taken on Charge BAF 000047-000051: 10Sqn (ND-H) 000051-000000: 11Sqn (KT-Q) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain MB-3 RAF-Serial: NT322 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 011244: delivered RAF 040245-030545: RAF No 68 Sqn 220148: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-090649: 10Sqn (ND-K) 030649: crash Beauvechain 200749: To Arsenal Evere and declared Cat.5 (tt 129:10 hrs) Guy Destrebecq Collection MB-4 RAF-Serial: NT300 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 211144: delivered RAF 281244-260645: RAF No 456 Sqn 230148: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000051: 10Sqn (ND-C) 000051-000000: 11Sqn (KT-T) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain Collection Laurent Heyligen MB-5 RAF-Serial: NT368 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 110145: delivered RAF 010245-040545 RAF: No 68 Sqn (code WM-L) 030345: NT368/WM-L RAF No 68 Sqn, downed a Junkers Ju88 over the Channel 280148: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000051: 10Sqn (uncoded) 000051-000052: 10Sqn (ND-D/ -P) 051252: crash Beauvechain, declared Cat.5 Daniel Brackx Collection MB-6 RAF-Serial: MT465 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 030944: delivered RAF 031144-140645: used by 416 Squadron - U.S.Army Air Force, based in North Africa 000000: returned to RAF 040248: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000049: 10Sqn 150649: crash at Beauvechain (also 300549 has been quoted as a possible date !) 250749: To Arsenal Evere and declared Cat.5 (tt 268:25 hrs) Collection Laurent Heyligen MB-7 RAF-Serial: MV559 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 011144: delivered RAF 091144-101245: RAF No 151 Sqn (code : DZ- ) 040248: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000049: 10Sqn (ND-E) 251149: Crash at Piètrebais. Both crewmembers were killed. Capt.nav.Paul Remy+1Lt.vl.Marcel Huls. 291149: To Arsenal Evere (tt 404:50 hrs) Daniel Brackx Collection MB-8 RAF-Serial: MT491 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 200944: delivered RAF 011044-101244: RAF No 85 Sqn 000000: crash in Royal Air Force-service, was repaired 100248: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000051: 10Sqn (uncoded) 000051-000053: 10Sqn (ND-H) 041253: Struck of Charge Beauvechain 090454: To Technical School, Saffraanberg for use as instructional airframe for carpentry classes (no engines, avionics, radio, radar, armament or wiring) 271055: To Arsenal Evere and sold for scrap (tt 728:30 hrs) Collection Laurent Heyligen MB-9 RAF-Serial: NT314 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 291144: delivered RAF 030145-220245: RAF No 488 Sqn 000000: crash in Royal Air Force-service, was repaired 260445-160645: RAF No 410 Sqn 26-270345: Downed a Junkers Ju88 during a night flying mission 110348: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000049: 10Sqn 131049: Cat.5 Crash at Wevelgem (also 141049 has been given !) Daniel Brackx Collection MB-10 RAF-Serial: MT499 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 230944: delivered RAF 041144-091144: RAF No 307 Sqn 091144-081145: RAF No 406 Sqn 060448: Taken on Charge BAF 000051: 10Sqn 280852: Crash at Beauvechain 050353: Moved to Arsenal Evere 291053: Declared Cat.5 and sold for scrap (tt 559:35 hrs) MB-11 RAF-Serial: NT377 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 140145: delivered RAF 040245-040545 RAF No 68 Sqn 000000: RAF No 410 Sqn ? 290648: Taken on Charge BAF 000000: 10 & 11Sqn 000051: coded KT-O (11Sqn) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain Photo Belgian Air Force MB-12 RAF-Serial: NT384 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 050145: delivered RAF 220145-010545: RAF No 68 Sqn 290648: allocated to Belgian Air Force 220748: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000051: 10Sqn (uncoded) 000051-000056: 10Sqn (ND-C) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain Collection Laurent Heyligen MB-13 RAF-Serial: NT317 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 011244: delivered RAF 041244-040545: RAF No 68 Sqn (WM-J) 260848: Taken on Charge 000048-000051: 10 Sqn & 11 Sqn 000051: 11Sqn (KT-S) 280951: Crash near Chaumont-Gistoux (near Beauvechain) during exercise "Cirrus" 051051: To Arsenal Evere and declared Cat.5 (tt 135:30 hrs) MB-14 RAF-Serial: NT362 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 040145: delivered RAF 020245-180745: RAF No 239 Sqn, West Raynham (HB-S) 020545: Last operational raid during WWII near Flensburg (Germany) 090948: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000050: 10Sqn ND-A 070850: Cat.5 After an overhaul the aircraft did a high speed taxi-test. During this one of the tires exploded, both legs of the undercarriage were ripped off and the aircraft ended on its belly. 000000: Sold for scrap (tt 235:25 hrs) Photo Belgian Air Force MB-15 RAF-Serial: NT375 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 070145: delivered RAF 090245-160645: RAF No 410Sqn 000000: RAF No 68 Sqn ? 090948: allocated to Blu 090948: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000051: 10Sqn (uncoded) 000051-000056: 10Sqn (ND-J) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain MB-16 RAF-Serial: NT387 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 190145: delivered RAF 200245-150645: RAF No 456 Sqn (RAAF) (RX-D?) 160948: allocated to Blu 161048: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000056: 10Sqn (ND-K) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain MB-17 RAF-Serial: NT501 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 280245: delivered RAF 240345-040146: RAF No 219 Sqn (FK-D) 211248: Taken on Charge BAF 000000: 11Sqn (KT-R) 221251: Returnrd from overhaul at Fairey, Ringway Airport (Manchester) 000048-000051: 10 & 11 Sqn 000051: 11Sqn (KT-R) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain MB-18 RAF-Serial: MM757 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 72 engines) 260744: delivered RAF 180844-111044: RAF No 410 Sqn 000000: crash in Royal Air Force-service, was repaired 211248: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-141050: 10Sqn (ND-I) 141050: While doing an evening mission during exercise "Emperor" the aircraft collided with a RAF Wellingen near Birchinton (Kent) and crashed into the sea 5 miles North of Margate. The Wellington crashed in a swamp area between Birchington and Herne Bay. Both the Belgian crew of two and the RAF crew of five were killed in this accident. Kapt.vl.Christian Henrard+Sgt.nav.Joseph Tytgat. 251050: Struck of Charge Collection Laurent Heyligen MB-19 RAF-Serial: NT275 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 021244: delivered RAF 090245-160645: RAF No 410 Sqn 211248: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000051: 10Sqn (uncoded) 000051: 10Sqn (ND-A) 280651: Returned from overhaul at Fairey, Ringway Airport (Manchester) 041252: Heavy landing at Beauvechain due to lack of hydraulic pressure on the brakes, left main landing gear collapsed. (also 051252 has been given as a possible date !) 220153: To Arsenal Evere and declared Cat.5 291053: Struck of Charge and sold for scrap (tt 489:45hrs) Photo Belgian Air Force MB-20 RAF-Serial: NT330 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 111244: delivered RAF 080145-240745: RAF No 85 + 239Sqn 07-080245: Shoots down a Messerschmitt Bf110 near Goch (Germany) during a night mission. 170345: Shoots down a Junkers Ju188 over Nürenberg (Germany) 211248: Taken on Charge BAF 000048-000051: 10Sqn (ND-E) 000000: 10Sqn (ND-L) 000051-000000: 10Sqn (uncoded) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain Collection Laurent Heyligen MB-21 RAF-Serial: MM687 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 72 engines) (first build NF.30) 310544: delivered RAF 000000: used by De Havilland 091244-260345: RAF No 456Sqn 000445-150645: RAF No 456Sqn (RAAF) (RX-Z) 000000: crash in Royal Air Force-service, was repaired 210149: Taken on Charge BAF 000049-000051: 10Sqn (ND-J) 000051: 10Sqn (uncoded) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain MB-22 RAF-Serial: NT332 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 091244: delivered RAF 281244-260645: RAF No 456 Sqn 210149: Taken on Charge BAF 000049-000051: 11Sqn (uncoded) 000051-000056: 11Sqn (KT-M) 000556: Struck of Charge 171056: Sold for scrap at Beauvechain MB-23 RAF-Serial: RK935 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 050545: delivered RAF, never used operationally, spend all its RAF-life in Maintenance Units 291151: Allocated to Belgian Air Force 110653: Crashed in the United Kingdom during a pre-delivery flight (tt 3:05 hrs) 000000: Transferred to Sheppards Grove. 081253+141253: Transported to Wevelgem by two C119s (CP1 & CP5), then to Arsenel, Evere and stripped for spares MB-24 RAF-Serial: RK952 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 220545: First flight 250545: Delivered RAF and transferred to 218 MU at Colerne where the radar and electronics were fitted, was never used operationally 110745: Stored at 10 MU Hullavington 311051: Sold to Belgian Air Force 040953: Taken on Charge after a complete overhaul at Fairey Aviation, Ringway (Manchester) 000053-000055: 10Sqn (ND-N) 180855: Last Mosquito-flight (crew Capt.Jos Wijnen + Henri Boels) 171056: Struck of Charge at Beauvechain (Lot N°13) 170357: Transferred to Royal Army Museum, Brussels 000068: Repainted at Koksijde and displayed for the occasion of the 50th Anniversay of the Belgian Military Aviation. 000068-000079: Displayed in the Royal Army Museum, Brussels 000079: Restauration is started by a team of volunteers, one of the engines is overhauled 000084: After the repaint the restauration is stopped, a large number of parts is not refitted. 000097: A new restauration is started, main task is to fit all the missing parts, including the radar which was missing when the aircraft arrived in the museum. 000006: Preserved Brussels Air Museum Collection Laurent Heyligen ----- RAF-Serial: NT450 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 090245: delivered RAF 270245-221145: RAF No 125 Sqn (VA-B) 221145-160546: RAF No 264 Sqn 230148-090848: RAF No 504Sq (RAD-O) 000000: crash in Royal Air Force-service, was repaired 060149: Taken on Charge BAF 100149: Prepared for transfer to Technical School, Tongeren 240249: Transferred to Technical School, Tongeren and used as instructional airframe 000051: Last noted at Tongeren 080852: To Arsenal Evere 291053: Struck of Charge at Evere and sold for scrap (tt 343:45 hrs) Tongeren - Photo Rudy Binnemans ----- RAF-Serial: NT563 Built at Leavesden under contract 1576/SAS/C.23(a) (dated 0343) as Merlin NF30 (Merlin 76 engines) 040445: delivered RAF 210445-250845: RAF No 141 Sqn 230348-090848: RAF No 504 Sqn 000000: crash in Royal Air Force-service, was repaired 000000: RAF No 58 MU 101248: Taken on Charge BAF 030349: Transported from Brustem to Technical School, and used as instructional airframe 080852: To Arsenal Evere 291053: Struck of Charge at Evere and sold for scrap (tt 128:40 hrs) Tongeren - Photo Rudy Binnemans

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