Penetrating ever deeper into hostile territory, securing the photographs necessary to monitor the enemy's intentions and collecting the information required to conduct attacks on his vital industries. Such were the prospects offered by the de Havilland Mosquito in the photographic reconnaissance role with the wartime RAF, once teething troubles had been ironed out and deliveries speeded up. Once it started to supplement the Spitfires of No 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit in the summer of 1941, the type's range and high cruising speed offered the prospect of being able to operate far and wide across Europe. The unit's Mosquitos were doing just that by 1942, although they were still relatively few in number. In Scotland, 'H' Flight of No 1 PRU flew from Leuchars and ventured to Norway and the eastern Baltic, while at Benson a second Mosquito flight had been formed at the end of 1941 for operations over the remainder of the Continent. Initially known as 'J' Flight, it was soon redesignated as 'L' Flight, and by the summer of 1942 it had been brought up to full strength. Its aircraft were often detached overseas for special tasks requiring longer range.
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