The de Haviland Mosquito was perhaps the most versatile aircraft in the European theater. Among it's roles was as a light bomber,photo reconaisance aircraft and night fighter. Called the "Wooden Wonder" it was constructed of plywood and balsa,which allowed it, with it's twin Merlin (the best aircraft engine of the war) engines to reach speeds of over 400 MPH. It was so fast that initially no defensive weapons were included,later when it was deployed as a night fighter they were added. The illustration shows Mosquitos bombing a prisoner of war camp in France, RAF intelligence learned that 200 prisoners were about to be executed,and this raid was hastily put together. The raid allowed the prisoners to escape!
Hermann Goering tried to ridicule the Mosquito by saying that they were made in piano factories.