Great that the Mosquito is getting well deserved attention again.
I am afraid Serial HK119 was in fact a NFXII. Production serials for the Mk.XII started with HJ945 and HJ946 and then a run between HK107 and HK235.
The known code for this 85 Squadron Mosquito NF Mk XII serial HK119 is VY-S.
This specific aircraft was regularly flown by the top-scoring Mosquito night-fighter ace, Wing Commander Branse Burbridge, during the summer and autumn of 1943 while stationed at RAF West Malling and RAF Hunsdon.
85 Squadron transitioned from defensive night fighting to offensive bomber support operations in May 1944, hunting Luftwaffe night fighters over Europe. Upon receiving the Mk.XIX variants, the aircraft required further fitting with Monica tail-warning radar and Gee navigation equipment before flying operational sorties. The squadron operated these Mk.XIX night fighters as part of No. 100 Group, conducting crucial night-bombing support and intruder operations over occupied Europe during the latter half of 1944 with their main base RAF Swannington but transferred to RAF West Malling for anti-diver Ops.
For 85 Sqn Mosquito NF Mk.XIX VY-B the serial mumber was MM637 with history shown below.
The following are NF Mk.XIX known to have been assigned to 85 Sqn (however briefly) with Sqn codes where known:-
NB. Sqn codes were frequently swapped. Aircraft required regular maintenance to maintain operational effectiveness whilst others had minor battle or accident damage. The aircraft coming out of the repair shop might take on the code of the one going in. Senior pilots might take with them their preferred code when issued with a new regular mount. 85 Sqn. shared RAF Swannington with sister 157 Sqn. and many aircraft were swapped between the two.
MM624 NFXIX DH/85. Missing 7.11.44. Prototype of the Mk. Mosquito MM624/Q: Took off at 17:30 hrs for support of the Main Force operation against Koblenz. 06/11/1944. The aircraft was hit by ‘friendly’ fire from a British bomber which set one of its engines in flames before an unidentified night fighter gave it the coup de grace NNE of Koblenz. The Mosquito impacted at Hachenburg around 19:35 hrs.
Crew:
F/Lt (115785) Michael Henry Clarmont PHILLIPS DFC (pilot) RAFVR - PoW (NCO:1100064 Commission Gazetted : Tuesday 24 March, 1942)
F/Lt (116688) Derek Viney SMITH DFC (nav.) RAFVR - PoW (NCO:1337418 Commission Gazetted : Tuesday 23 June, 1942).
85 Squadron Code: VY:Q
MM625 NFXIX 85. Engine shut down overshot landing and hit hedge Swannington 2.7.44.
85 Squadron Code: VY-P The wreckage was later recovered and its components were combined with what remained of serial PZ474.
MM626 NFXIX 85/157/169. Sold to DH 27.10.48 for Sweden.
85 Squadron Code: VY-L.
MM627 NFXIX 85/157/169 Sold to DH 18.8.48.
85 Squadron Code: VY-J.
MM628 NFXIX 85. Mosquito came down at 20:00hrs, 1km SW Laren, 5km NW Lochen, likely the victim of a night fighter.
Crew:
Pilot: 658783 Flt Sgt Joseph Potts - Laren (Barchem) General Cemetery Plot 2 Row A Grave 12.
Navigator: 1600555 Flt Sgt Peter Frederick John Copp - Laren (Barchem) General Cemetery Plot 2 Row A Grave 13.
85 Squadron Code: VY-V.
MM629 NFXIX 85/157. Shot down in error by Mosquito MM630 and abandoned on night patrol 21.11.44. This specific aircraft was notably flown by the top RAF night fighter ace, Wing Commander Branse Burbridge, between June and November 1944.
85 Squadron Code: VY-Y.
MM632 NFXIX 85. Mosquito MM632/E: Took off at 04:40 hrs for OPS patrol /Anti Diver Patrol. 13/08/1944. Destroyed a V-1 and missing North Sea. May have been a victim of friendly fire.
Crew:
W/Cdr (34189) Henry De Clifford Anthony 'Paddy' WOODHOUSE DFC & AFC (pilot) RAF - killed.
F/Lt (110.543) Walter WEIR (nav.) RAFVR - killed.
85 Squadron Code: VY-E.
MM633 NFXIX 85/157/169. Missing from bomber support mission to Stuttgart 16.4.45.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?
MM634 NFXIX 85/157/1692. Flt Overshot abandoned take-off Great Massingham 25.5.45 DBR.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?
MM635 NFXIX 85/157. Sold to DH 27.10.48 for Sweden.
85 Squadron Code: VY-D
MM636 NFXIX 85/157. Sold to DH 27.10.48 for Sweden.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?.
MM637 NFXIX 85/157/169. One of the AC flown by Wing Commander Branse Burbridge when the Sqn flew anti-diver patrols from West Malling. Flew into high ground on low level navex in cloud nr Hove Sussex 6.5.45
85 Squadron Code: VY-B.
MM639 NFXIX 157/85. Overshot single-engined landing returning from intruder sortie and u/c collapsed Swannington 7.10.44. First Op. and initial normal crew Pilot: Fl/Lt. Goucher; Nav/Radar Op. Fl/Lt Bullock Later this specific aircraft was flown by the famous Norwegian pilot Stein Meum while serving with No. 85 Squadron.
85 Squadron Code: VY-D (06-44) later G.
MM640 NFXIX 85/157/169. Crashed nr Coltishall presumed shot down by intruder 4.3.45
Squadron Code: VY-?.
MM641 NFXIX 85/157/169. SS 21.2.49.
85 Squadron Code: VY-M.
MM642 NFXIX 85/157/169 Sold to DH 27.10.48 for Sweden. This specific de Havilland Mosquito NF Mk XIX (serial MM642) was flown by Squadron Commander Wg Cdr Charles Miller when he achieved a victory over a Luftwaffe Bf 110 on June 11, 1944.
85 Squadron Code: VY-X.
MM644 NFXIX 85/157/169. Sold to DH 27.10.48.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?.
MM645 NFXIX 85. To 5810M 6.2.46. AC flown by Wing Commander Branse Burbridge.
85 Squadron Code: VY-Y.
MM648 NFXIX 85. Dived into ground on AI exercise East Barsham Norfolk 26.9.44 cause not known.
85 Squadron Code: VY-T.
MM650 NFXIX 85. Dived into ground on AI exercise East Barsham Norfolk 26.9.44 cause not known.
85 Squadron Code: VY-B.
MM685 NFXIX 85/157/169. Sold to DH 27.10.48 for Sweden.
85 Squadron Code: VY-P.
TA393 NFXIX 85/157/1692. Flt Sold to DH 18.8.48.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?.
TA394 NFXIX 157/85/157/169. Crashed on take-off Swannington 24.3.45.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?
TA397 NFXIX 157/85/157/1692 Flt. To 5814M 7.2.46.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?
TA398 NFXIX 85/157. Caught fire after landing Swannington 29.9.44.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?.
TA400 NFXIX 157/85. It was later lost on a night bomber support mission on October 19, 1944, after taking off from RAF Swannington. The aircraft crashed near Oberwittstadt, Germany, after a suspected friendly fire incident involving a fellow Mosquito from No. 157 Squadron.
85 Squadron Code: VY-J.
TA402 NFXIX 157/85/157. Missing from night intruder mission 15.2.45.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?.
TA403 NFXIX 85/157/1692 Flt. Sold to DH 10.8.48.
85 Squadron Code: VY-?.
