British Forces

Mosquito by night

Imperial War Museum

A de Havilland Mosquito NF Mark XIII of No. 256 Squadron RAF, caught in the beam of a Chance light on the main runway at Foggia Main, Italy, (today Foggia “Gino Lisa” Airport), before taking off on a night intruder sortie over enemy territory. Previously based in Great Britain and equipped with Defiant, in Spring 1943 the No. 256 Squadron (Squadron code JT from November 1940 to September 1946) was converted to the Mosquito night fighter. In particular the Mosquito’s Mark employed by No. 256 are: XII (May 1943-September 1945) XIII (February 1944-September 1945), IX (March-August 1945). In July 1943 a detachment moved to Malta, to help provide cover for the invasion of Sicily, where it protected the Allied troops against attack by night bombers. Afterwards the Squadron moved to Italy. In May 1944 the Spitfires VIII and IX of the Gibraltar Defence Flight joined the No 256 Squadron, operating alongside the Mosquitoes for the rest of the war. From then until the end of the war the squadron flew night intruder missions over the Balkans. The squadron moved to Egypt in September 1945, then to Cyprus in July 1946, before being disbanded on 12 September 1946. The No 256 Squadron’s bases in Italy was Alghero (Sardinia), July-September 1944; Foggia (Southern Italy), September 1944-February 1945 (date of this photo); Forlì (Northern Italy) February-June 1945; Aviano (North-East Italy), September 1945. Victor Sierra