HJ711

HJ711 was built by de Havilland at Hatfield as an NF.II night fighter. It served with 141 and 169 Squadrons. On 30 January 1944, flying from Little Snoring, it gave 169 Squadron its first kill when Sqn Ldr J.A.H. Cooper shot down a Bf 110 near Berlin.

Its cockpit later ended up with the Reflectaire collection in Blackpool. Tony Agar bought a Mosquito cockpit at auction there in 1971 for £7. It came from the remains of B.XVI PF498, used for crash-rescue training at Chorley, but carried HJ711's identity.

Agar spent decades collecting parts. The fuselage is TT.35 RS715, saved in 1973 from a Borehamwood film lot where it had been used for 633 Squadron. Wing parts came from T.III VA878 at St David's. Fittings arrived from New Zealand, Canada, the USA and Australia.

Cockpit and fuselage were joined on Agar's driveway in 1972-73. In 1986 the project moved to the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington. A new wing was built there in 1989-91. On 15 May 1991 the aircraft stood on its own wheels for the first time in over 40 years.

Merlin 76s were fitted first, later replaced by the correct Merlin 25s. In 2017 Agar moved HJ711 to East Kirkby to bring it to running condition. It wears 169 Squadron markings as VI-C.

HJ711 is kept at East Kirkby alongside the Lancaster; taxi rides and Mosquito experience days are bookable.