The Story of a Daring Pilot Who Guided His Nearly Destroyed Mosquito Back Home

On February 21, 1944, Squadron Leader Arthur Oxlade and Navigator Lieutenant Donald Shanks of the Royal Australian Air Force’s 464 Squadron prepared for a mission that would become the most challenging of their careers. They were flying a de Havilland Mosquito Mk VI with the tail number MM-401. This aircraft was no ordinary Mosquito; it was equipped with an experimental Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder, designed to mimic a German aircraft’s radar signature, allowing it to avoid detection by long-range German radar systems. Their objective was a tactical strike on a heavily fortified V-1 flying bomb site near Calais, France. These launch sites had been responsible for launching devastating attacks on England, and neutralizing them was critical to the war effort.

Their journey began at RAF Hunsdon in Hertfordshire. As the sun set, they took off, flying at nearly 400 miles per hour. The Mosquito’s wooden construction made it stealthy against radar detection. By staying at sea level, they could evade enemy defenses while remaining almost invisible. Their flight path took them over the English Channel, avoiding land until they reached the coast of France. Once there, they planned to attack the target and retrace their path back to England. Timing was everything—they had only five minutes to execute the mission before enemy aircraft could scramble.

Entering Hostile Territory

As they crossed into French airspace, the challenges began. Calais was one of the most heavily defended areas in occupied Europe. The skies lit up with searchlights, and the ground was bristling with anti-aircraft defenses. Oxlade described the area as a “hornet’s nest,” with more guns than he had ever encountered. To hit their target, they had to climb from sea level to an altitude of 250 feet. The ascent brought them into the range of the searchlights, and within moments, they were illuminated and vulnerable.

Every anti-aircraft battery in the vicinity opened fire. The Mosquito’s only defense was speed and maneuverability. Oxlade piloted the aircraft in an unpredictable pattern to make it harder for the gunners to target them. Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t escape unscathed. A flak burst tore through the starboard wing, removing a significant portion of it. The aircraft shuddered violently, but Oxlade managed to maintain control. Moments later, another explosion destroyed the number one engine on the port side, leaving the Mosquito with only one working engine. The radio was also damaged, leaving them unable to call for help.

Against All Odds

Despite the severe damage, they pressed on. The target—a V-1 launch site—came into view, and Oxlade dived the Mosquito to increase speed. With remarkable precision, they released their bombs, destroying two large hangars, several V-1 rockets, and a command center. On their way out, they strafed the area with the Mosquito’s nose-mounted guns, taking out anti-aircraft batteries and other defenses.

The damage to their aircraft was becoming more apparent. A flak burst had destroyed the port-side landing gear, and the single working engine was overheating. With the Mosquito heavily damaged and losing power, they had to make a critical decision. Returning directly to Hunsdon was too risky given the aircraft’s condition, so they aimed for RAF Friston, an emergency landing ground near the English coast.

The Struggle to Return

Crossing the English Channel with only one engine and a damaged airframe was a daunting task. The remaining engine was losing power, and the Mosquito could barely maintain altitude. Oxlade and Shanks dumped as much fuel and unnecessary weight as they could to lighten the load. Flying at a reduced speed, they managed to cross the 30 miles of open water to reach the English coastline.

As they approached RAF Friston, they prepared for a landing without knowing whether the landing gear was functional. Extending the gear produced a grinding noise, and Oxlade suspected it wasn’t fully operational. Nevertheless, they had no choice but to attempt a landing. The Mosquito touched down smoothly at first, but it quickly began to tip to one side due to the damaged port-side gear. Using careful control of the ailerons, Oxlade kept the aircraft from veering off the runway.

A Miraculous Outcome

Once the Mosquito came to a stop, Oxlade and Shanks climbed out to survey the damage. The sight was sobering: half the starboard wing was gone, one engine was destroyed, and the landing gear was barely functional. Despite the odds, they had completed their mission and brought their crippled aircraft back to safety.