Well, the fastest variants of the Mosquito was naturally the PR ones, which un-armed and well fueled, flew long distances and great heights...they were usually very 'on their toes...'- The bomber/pathfinders were also un-armed, and depending on their role, may have carried bombs, or else flares and TI's [target indicators], which weren't as heavy...My contention is the one's shot-down by He 219's were possibly these. -You say that that was the He 219's Job, shooting down bombers...The NF/Intruders were a different breed, and being hunters, probably kept their eye's-peeled for their 'opponents'. - I'm not exactly sure , just at this point , whether these variants carried 'tail-warning radar';- the books I've originally read on these chaps, I don't presently have, to check on this now; - But I suspect that some NF variants did carry this type of equipment, as the radar started to improve about the time Mosquitos took over the NF role from Beaufighters, and IFF was starting to come on line. - As Lanc says, the crews knew they had a superb aircraft, and yes, they weren't invulnerable, but they could take enormous damage, and still return....There is alot of documentation to support this, it was a special feature of the wooden design that it 'could take damage', but especially, how easily repaired they could be in most circumstances...- In a nutshell, I feel about the Mosquito, the way you feel about the Lightning, LG...-They were both exceptional aircraft, in their chosen roles...the Lightning particuarly as a single-seater;- the Mosquito, for firstly the 'un-armed' aspect of it's Bomber/Pathfinder/PR variants;.. and the hitting-power and all-round aspects of the Fighter/Bomber variants.....- I saw you 'drooling' over the comment I made about 'putting Griffons' in the Mosquito... -Your immediate comment was 'what about the Lightning too...' - [let alone Merlins..! ].. -They were exceptional aircraft, Mosquitos, considering they were only supposed to last for a few missions....