A Mosquito in Salsbury Hall (working title) is a WWII era historical fiction novel surrounding the secret development of the de Havilland Mosquito, a British multi-role combat aircraft that played a significant role in the allied victory in Europe.
For my story, the Mosquito is one of the main characters. The secret design work was performed in Salsbury Hall surrounded by a host of characters that risk life and limb to complete their task in the face of German night bombing raids and espionage. Salsbury Hall is located in the countryside just outside the village of London Colney, Hertfordshire, England about 20 kilometers northwest of downtown London.
Concepts for the design of the Mosquito actually began in 1936. Shortly after production was approved the program was shut down for a time when the design team was denied the raw materials to build their prototype. A lack of aluminum inspired an ingenious design utilizing a composite and wood lamination, not unlike the construction of PT boats. In 1941, when the Mosquito entered production, it was the fastest operational aircraft in the world. When outfitted as a fighter-bomber it had a top speed of 368mph, faster than any German fighter.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the de Havilland Aircraft company was headed by Geoffrey de Havilland, cousins of the feuding actress-sisters, Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine. I am still working on character development but hope to weave these real-life beauties of the day into the story somehow.
More to come...
To understand how successful the Mosquito was at thwarting the Germans, following is a 1943 quote about the Mosquito from German Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring;
"In 1940 I could at least fly as far as Glasgow in most of my aircraft, but not now! It makes me furious when I see the Mosquito. I turn green and yellow with envy. The British, who can afford aluminium better than we can, knock together a beautiful wooden aircraft that every piano factory over there is building, and they give it a speed which they have now increased yet again. What do you make of that? There is nothing the British do not have. They have the geniuses and we have the nincompoops. After the war is over I'm going to buy a British radio set - then at least I'll own something that has always worked."