- Yes
- No
J 30: de Havilland D.H. 98 Mosquito NF Mk XIX
Summarized background History:
The J 30, also known as the de Havilland D.H. 98 Mosquito NF Mk. XIX, was a Swedish night fighter used during the late 1940s and into the early 1950s. The J 30 was the first night fighter aircraft operated by the Swedish Air Force. Initially, the plan was to modify existing SAAB 18s (B 18/T 18B bombers) into night fighters, with the designation BJ 18B or J 18C.
However, as the Second World War was coming to a close in Europe in 1945, a significantly large stockpile of aircraft from various countries became available for purchase, which was a much cheaper alternative than modifying existing aircraft. One of these options was the British de Havilland D.H. 98 Mosquito NF Mk. XIX.
In July of 1948, the Swedish Royal Air Force Materiel Administration (later amalgamated into the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) ordered 60 of these de Havilland Mosquitos from British surplus stocks, and they were delivered that same year to Sweden, subsequently designated as J 30 and incorporated into F 1 (Västmanlands flygflottilj).
The J 30 was equipped with the S-band radar SCR-720, which received the Swedish designation of PS-20. One notable difference between the British variant and the Swedish version of the Mosquito was the aircraft’s propellers, which were changed to four-bladed propellers instead of the original three-bladed ones, as they were in poor condition and had to be replaced (the engine itself remained the same).
Once in service with the Swedish Air Force, the J 30 was well-liked by its pilots and crew for its ability to fly in poor weather conditions and darkness. It was also favored for its speed and the long-range distances it could cover during sorties.
However, between 1949 and 1950, several fatal and, in some cases, unexplainable accidents occurred with the J 30 Mosquito, which gradually made the aircraft less favorable among its crew. This was one of the reasons why the J 30 Mosquito had a relatively short service life in the Swedish Air Force. One notable accident occurred in May 1949, when an aircraft broke up in mid-air and literally exploded.
After several more fatal accidents involving the J 30, investigations suggested that the likely cause was vibrations in flight, combined with material fatigue under adverse conditions. This could cause the elevator balance lever to disengage, which in turn led to the elevator fully extending, subjecting the aircraft to such stress that it broke apart. This entire sequence of events happened in just a few seconds, making it almost impossible for the pilot to react in time.
Because of these accidents, the J 30 Mosquito’s service life was shortened significantly faster than intended. The original plan had been to replace the J 30 in the mid-1950s with the more advanced J32B Lansen. Instead, the Swedish Air Force had to find an immediate replacement for the J 30. Its replacement was the J 33: de Havilland Venom, which completely replaced the J 30 Mosquito by 1954. Unfortunately, no Swedish Mosquitos were preserved after they were retired from service.
Specifications:
| J 30: de Havilland D.H. 98 Mosquito NF Mk XIX | |
|---|---|
| Weight (Empty Weight): | ~6725 Kilograms |
| Weight (Max Weight): | ~9550 Kilograms |
| Length: | 12.68 meters |
| Width: | 16,52 meters |
| Height: | 4,65 meters |
| Wing area: | 41.3 m² |
| Crew: | 2 crew members |
| Climb rate: | 14 ~ 15 m/s |
| Max Speed: | 600~700 km/h |
| Service ceiling: | ~12000 meters |
| Engine: | 2 x RR Merlin 25 engines, 2 x 1655 hp |
| Max Range: | ~5600 km |
| Armament (Offensive): | 4 x 20 mm akan m/46A (Hispano MK.II mod 46) |
| Ammunition Capacity: | Offensive Armament: 150 round per cannon: 600 Rounds |
| Number in Service: | 60 |
Sources:
J 30 MOSQUITO - Sammanställning och haverier (List of accidents)
Flygradar PS-20. Notis 2 (PS-20 Radar)
Flygradar PS-20. Notis 1 (PS-20 Radar)