de Havilland DH98 Mosquito I (prototype) W4050 RAF | Rob Vogelaar
The world’s only surviving World War II prototype. Built here at Salisbury Hall and transported by road to nearby Hatfield airfield on 03-Nov-1940. First ever flight of a Mosquito was 25-Nov-1940 when Geoffrey de Havilland Jnr lifted W4050 from Hatfield’s runway. Painted overall yellow for easy identification, W4050 proved the performance of the ultra-fast fighter/bomber. This prototype eventually retired and has been on display here since 15 May 1959.