Stockholm Mosquitos - Secret WW2 British Airways Flights

British Airways ran a highly successful and secret courier service between the UK and Sweden during WW2, the Stockholm Express. Find out what it was used for and why De Havilland Mosquitos flew this dangerous route.
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[@AlistairSaldanha]

From Wikipedia: "On the 10th anniversary of the Nazis' seizure of power in 1943, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station while Hermann Göring was speaking, putting his speech off the air." That mission has Mark Felton written all over it. I hope you're working on it, Mark. Godspeed!

[@stonehaven]

"You'll be sitting on the bomb bay doors. Speak nicely to the pilot and navigator."

[@bigblue6917]

So what's this lever. Oops You've done it again skipper.

[@KaitlynnUK]

I was thinking that too :)

[@Hockeyfan9884]

That"s a good one, lmao.

[@soapek7949]

?

[@wirelessone2986]

I think speaking rudely and screaming at them would test there true metal as british officers...slapping them would also be recommended during this test

[@VulcanDriver1]

My uncle flew this route. He was an RAF pilot that had to resign so he could fly for BOAC. He retired from BA as a senior 747 captain.

[@bennylofgren3208]

From Mosquito to 747. Not bad. 😃

[@johnmeyer4803]

British Air Militia

[@colliedogjoy]

What a story! Bravo, Mark. My uncle, Mark Pryor, was an entomologist at Cambridge during the war. He discovered that insects pump their wings up with a 2 part epoxy when they unfurl them for the first time. He invented Araldite, which these planes were built with. The insect he studied was none other than the Mosquito.

[@bennylofgren3208]

colliedogjoy Thank you, this was a really interesting little tidbit!

[@doctortom2001]

The converted bomb bay unironically sounds more comfortable than modern economy class airline seats

[@Dave-sy3rg]

No kidding. No screaming toddlers to deal with either.

[@user-do5zk6jh1k]

@@Easy-Eight Would you really want to listen to contemporary music for an entire flight?

[@skydiverclassc2031]

@@Easy-Eight In fact, bringing a weapon on board was probably encouraged at times.

[@paoloviti6156]

accustomedcheese yes, it was quite comfortable but if I recall correctly there was no window vanes so it was quite dark inside but many of the flights was done in the night!

[@biz4twobiz463]

that's funny!! LMAO

[@maxkennedy8075]

Swedes: What the hell is that British warplanes doing in Stockholm? British pilot: B A L L B E A R I N G S

[@william2599]

E P I C

[@arsletirott]

vad i helvete?!

[@k.r.baylor8825]

It's all ball bearings now...

[@gameghost2010]

SPINNERS!!!

[@thrillseekanz7874]

It's great down here in New Zealand we are rebuilding these things back to flying condition. Several times now have watched ex RNZAF spitfires flanking a mossie. I'm a commercial pilot myself and the sound of those merlins is unlike anything else. Pure sex

[@007JHS]

RAF Medmenham was to aerial photography what Bletchley Park was to code breaking. They needed another highly complex and fragile piece of optical kit for stereo photography only made in Switzerland. An order was placed and the equipment was shipped (I kid you not) to Sweden across Germany as rail freight on the German's own rail network. Dismantled it was then flown to Britain on these unarmed mosquitoes.

[@rubovia]

There was a similiar courier service , consisting of civilian manned Merchant Navy registered Motor Gun Boats running between Hull and Sweden also conveying ball bearings and other war essential materials , crewed by Hull trawlermen, it was featured in a documentary broadcast by local radio BBC Humberside a couple of years ago when survving crew members were interviewed , apparently in Stockholm Swedish Police had to be on hand to keep British Merchant Seaman seperated from German Merchant Seaman who were carrying out a similiar role. Sometimes seamen from both countries ended up lodged in the same hotel.

[@colanitower]

Yet another good World War II story I knew nothing about. No passenger would have survived without the coffee and sandwiches ;-)

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

If the coffee kicked your bladder into overdrive, just intercomm the pilot to open the bombay just a * smidge *....

[@MadMonk_]

Not mentioned, but possibly one of the best contributions of the "Stockholm Express" was importing the optical equipment used by the RAF to identify the V1 and V2 instalations and secret German factories. Definately helped to not only shorten the war, but reduce civilain casualties in the UK.

[@gwine9087]

I worked, for many years, with a gentleman who flew Mosquitos, during the war. He had many very interesting stories about that wonderful machine. To me, it was not only incredibly versatile but the prettiest military aircraft of its day.

[@grunt167]

The Mosquito is a spectacular plane and just beautiful.

[@cjsimmons9294]

Wish I could buy a first class ticket for a mosquito flight in 2019...

[@jhfdhgvnbjm75]

It would certainly be a better experiance then flying economy in 2019...

[@scrubsrc4084]

Theres one down in new Zealand and one currently under construction in the uk so you never know

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

@@jhfdhgvnbjm75 Hah yeah, the leg room would be far better.

[@barrysimmons4724]

Along with a P 38. 😎🇺🇸❤

[@chrisneedham5803]

You may have to pay for your ticket in gold coins

[@tonyhaines1192]

The De Havilland Mosquito deserves more credit than it gets here in the US.

[@peterscrafton5592]

Then you should support The People's Mosquito restoration project!

[@DaveGIS123]

@@peterscrafton5592 ...Or the Calgary Mosquito Society kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGaVkquqac2Ai8U

[@threestepssideways1202]

I think it deserves more credit here in the UK too. It really is one of the most under-rated aircraft of WW2 in regards to it's versatility and impact.

[@Wallyworld30]

As an American I've heard nothing but praise about the Mossy. I think it already has a well deserved high credit score. There are plenty of planes that are under rated but the Mossy is hardly one of them. The western world (UK included) do hear more about the Spitfires and Hurricanes because of the Battle of Britain. It's less to do with the planes themselves but the actions they took part in. The Bearcat was one of the finest Piston Driven fighters ever built but since it didn't take part in any major actions nobody really cares. The Mossy was one of the most versatile allied aircraft. What else comes close? The P47 Thunderbolt and the Typhoon are the only planes that can give it a run for its money.

[@danielf1313]

Anything that wasn’t “Made in ‘Murica” during WW2 is generally underrated in the US, a problem perpetuated by Hollywood rubbish such as “U-571” and the almost complete absence of British and Canadian forces in the great majority of D-Day related films. The Soviet contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany is also largely ignored.

[@davidrendall7195]

My uncle Siegfried flew this route, got a gong from the King of Norway and we never knew why? He was pre-war BOAC and got his skippers ticket on Mosquitos. Ended up as fleet captain on VC-10s. There was one VC-10 he flew, his son flew later and his granddaughter flew as a tanker with the RAF.

[@Roller_Ghoster]

Scramble! It's Mark Felton Productions time. Don't forget to hit that like button below his video!

[@2Quietus]

These WWII "fill in the blank" snippets of historical events are, by and far, one of the most favorite things I indulge whilst Interwebbing. Never stop, Mr. Felton. Your contributions are priceless!

[@TheRoybeasley]

I (sort of) knew a little bit about this, but yet again Mark Felton manages to produce a sub-10 minute video which somehow gives a real historical insight into what was going on, often "behind the scenes" during WW2. The likes of the History Channel would doubtless pad this out to a full hour (including commercial breaks) without providing half the detail that Mark does and simultaneously annoying the hell out of me by repeating and reviewing the same material umpteen times (because their typical audience is judged to have the attention span of a goldfish with dementia). All I would say is "More of the same, please" while also clicking the Paypal link to chuck a few quid into the kitty.

[@slick4401]

Niels Bohr escaped in the bomb bay of a Mosquito!!!! I didn't know that.

[@heesofi]

He even fell asleep and accidentally removed his oxygen mask. Survived though - obviously...

[@kieranororke620]

Yes, and could have died for it as he didn't put on his flying helmet because it was too small for his rather large head. Consequently, he didn't hear the pilot's instructions to put on his oxygen mask and passed out at high altitude, unbeknown to the crew, and only revived when the aircraft descended.

[@cogman62]

Yep, he WAS the bomb!

[@heesofi]

" the physicist Niels Bohr, who was evacuated from Stockholm in 1943 in order to join the British Mission on the Manhattan Project. The flight almost ended in tragedy since Bohr did not don his oxygen equipment as instructed, and passed out. He would have died had not the pilot, surmising from Bohr's lack of response to intercom communication that he had lost consciousness, descended to a lower altitude for the remainder of the flight. Bohr's comment was that he had slept like a baby for the entire flight." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Mosquito_operational_history...........

[@malcolmpotts4789]

@@kieranororke620 I knew Mr Jenk who was part of the DAnish resistance and also shared the story of the cold and lack of oxygen, Malcolm Potts.

[@bluetv6386]

“Yes Sir, we can do Bohr bearing too.”

[@WarReport.]

Strange I was playing a ww2 game as the united kingdom and had a mosquito, then watched a design doc and it brought up the mosquito, then found out my city in Canada has a mosquito society and now here is Mark with a mosquito video. All in less than 24 hrs. Mosquito syncronicity.

[@bokhans]

Watching this video I can see planes landing and taking of at that particular STOCKHOLM airport. I used to work there. Now I have to find out more about this and need to see a mosquito in the flesh.

[@bennylofgren3208]

Yes, they mostly flew to Bromma (ESSB) I believe.

[@paoloviti6156]

Hans Bjorkman what airport it was as I've been landing many times at the old and the new airport! As far I understood there three airport but one was strictly military!

[@paoloviti6156]

Hans Bjorkman I think you are mentioning the old Arlanda airport!

[@bigearl3867]

I was first introduced to this aircraft by the ,"666 Squadron", movie and have been fascinated by them since. It must have been an interesting chase given by those JU-88s night fighters. Being an old street racer, I can say Nitrous Oxide gives engines crazy short range performance boost, but is hell on an engines internals over time.

[@rolandharmer6402]

Fascinating, many thanks. Apparently BOAC flew to Bromma airport near Stockholm. The airport was also used by the Luftwaffe so air traffic control had to space the flights out.

[@Ammo08]

A former Scout leader of mine was an American pilot who flew diplomatic missions between the UK and Sweden. He said it was very strange to be sitting in the same cafe with German and Italian officers...and everybody made nice.

[@Dave_Sisson]

Portugal was the same, lots of British and German spies in the same Lisbon cafes.

[@timareskog2418]

Yet another fantastically interesting piece of Military History. Thank you Mark. My Dad grew up in Sweden and remembers these flights happening once every 3 days.

[@SibbTigre]

Now I might have to buy a second mosquito model kit just to do one in BOAC service.

[@oldesertguy9616]

If I could buy any aircraft I wanted, this would be it. I've always been fascinated with the Mosquito.

[@connorcore7008]

I imagine being a BOAC pilot during the war would have been quite an experience.

[@r2gelfand]

No medals though.

[@ivorbiggun710]

They also flew a number of diplomatic missions to the Soviet Union. Potentially, because of the route, these trips were even more hazardous.

[@SupesMe]

I can never see A mosquito 🦟 Without thinking of 633 squadron with Cliff Robertson. That movie really embeds them in your head

[@stephen9869]

Mosquitoes were wicked planes, can't beat Merlin power. Shame there's so few flying today. Can't say I have ever seen one and I regularly go to airshows like Fairford. A video on WW2 planes carrying unusually large guns would be interesting, e.g Henschel Hs-129

[@paoloviti6156]

I know the story of those flights with the magnificent Mosquitos. As I'm hard of hearing perhaps I didn't hear it but those Mosquitos was used both for transporting high quality roll bearings and couriers and diplomats to mantain contacts between the two countries!

[@howardbull9001]

The Mossie was a fantastic aeroplane which was totally underestimated by the government until they witnessed its phenomenal performance first hand.

[@thejudge-kv2jk]

"Is there anything I can get you sir?" "Sandwiches, coffee and er, oxygen please. Thank you!"

[@MelkorRules]

GOLD for ball bearings. When needs MUST.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

It's like Miami Vice, but in WW2 Sweden! 😎

[@bennylofgren3208]

I don't think the exchange rate in weight was 1:1 though. 😃

[@Not_An_Alien]

Value is a weird concept, ball bearings actually perform a function.

[@Idahoguy10157]

The DH was probably the most versatile fast high performance aircraft of the war

[@knutdergroe9757]

There is a few, That would give it a run in versatility. The J88 being the closest..... Of course this is just opinion. No argument for me, on the Mosquito being one Hell of a Aircraft.

[@psup8]

It set the standards and is the grandpa of all modern day multirole fighter jets .it was way ahead of its time .

[@GB-vn1tf]

Another fantastic video. The DH Mosquito is my personal favourite WW2 aircraft. Probably the best twin engined aircraft of WW2 before the Me262 jets started operating.

[@dobypilgrim6160]

The P38 would give it a run for its money though.

[@bennylofgren3208]

Doby Pilgrim At least in the fighter role.

[@guywiththeprojector]

@@dobypilgrim6160 I would argue the Mosquito wins because of cheapness of production, higher versatility and also Sir Geoffrey De Havilland was a legend.

[@Activated_Complex]

Awesome video. Thank you. The story of Niels Bohr’s escape could be a good topic in itself.

[@melvyncox3361]

The DeHavilland Mosquito.A truly marvellous aircraft!Again,A great job Mark❤😎👍

[@davehardie4991]

The photograph of the pilot in the white overalls about to climb aboard a BOAC mosquito, is Captain Louis Alfred Wilkins, he was the senior pilot who set up the ball-bearing flight and was recognised by Churchill. He and his copilot/navigator Harold Beaumont, seen standing to his left, were killed when they hit high ground , northeast of Leuchars in their mosquito G-AGGF on the night of 17 August 1943. The aircraft was returning due to an unknown technical trouble.

[@witkocaster]

Jan Nowak Jeziorański, courier of Polish Underground State flew with Mosquito to England.

[@obelic71]

The Mosquito the granddaddy of all composite aircraft today! Boarding a BA Airbus 320 to Stockholm is the modern equivalent

[@knutdergroe9757]

A very good point. The sandwich of plywood and balsa wood was composite. The Mosquito was a Hell of a plane.

[@obelic71]

@@knutdergroe9757 By the general public a very underestimated aircraft for what it did in the war and post war aviation industry

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

Richard Smeets no that was the DH.91 Albatross.

[@vvvppp6021]

I remember i loved that aircraft in a PS2 game named ''Secret weaponds over normandy'', Exellent plane!

[@bigchungus4349]

You never disappoint us, Mark! Keep it up!

[@omnivorouscarbon4234]

Shrek Is My Religion can i Join your religion

[@bigchungus4349]

OmnivorousCarbon Sure

[@youtubestaffishellagay8640]

All hail the holy swamp

[@jmartin9785]

Out over all those miles of danger infested, cold waters, it must have put a smile on their faces to hear those Rolls Royce Merlins purring like a pair of kittens at about 2/3 throttle, and knowing that they had a lot of giddyup left! Thanks Mark, Great video! Gotta love those Skeeters!😊

[@hshs5756]

I love how Mark Felton consistently produces stories which most of us, even war and aviation buffs, have never heard of. And the "wooden wonder"... the more I learn about it, the more it takes it's place as my favorite WWII aircraft.

[@dobypilgrim6160]

The cost of the project was worth it just to get Niels Bohr out. Everything else was cake

[@camsmeltzer9388]

Mr. Felton please do an episode on the Shetland bus. I had relatives who participated in that during the war.

[@pdallen8355]

BAOC Mossies were also used on the West Africa routes during the same time frame.

[@robertdraper5782]

Up till the late 60's a Mosquito used to fly out of Speke Airport in Liverpool daily to check the weather and sea conditions in Liverpool bay and the Irish Sea. I lived just off the river and saw it regularly on my way to school, it sounded as good as it looked.

[@FLPLASTICSURG1]

Another tale of courageous pilots from the UK and their state of the art planes.

[@sarjim4381]

De Havilland was working on a duralumin version of the Hornet, the successor ot the Mosquito, at the end of the war. The engineering calculations showed it would have been the fastest piston engine aircraft in the world at the time with a top speed of about 550 mph. The work was overtaken b De Havilland's own Vampire jet fighter and never got into the prototype phase. Still, not bad for an aircraft that could trace it's roots back to 1938.

[@bsc4344]

Everything in me says I WAS BORN TOO LATE IN LIFE. I love everything about these planes, people, and era regardless of the trials and threats.

[@shawngilliland243]

There seems to have been no end to the wonders wrought by the Mosquito! Thank you for another superb video; as the French say, "I can go to bed less stupid."

[@ruaml69]

Great stuff mark really enjoying your work 👍👍👍👍👍

[@kyle857]

This is an awesome bit of forgotten history. Thanks.

[@melvingduncan]

Hard to believe that Ballbearings were in such demand and of such value , Mark you know your history and thanks for sharing it is always very interesting.

[@bennylofgren3208]

melvin duncan Think about it - with the number of moving parts in engines, each Merlin for example would have contained dozens of bearings, and they would need to be manufactured to extremely high precision and be made of the best high-strength steel money could buy. Exactly the stuff Sweden was and is specialized in.

[@the5thmusketeer215]

The “Bill of Lading” document for each “Stockholm Express” flight, listed the following cargo: *Ball Bearings* in the converted cargo hold... *Balls of Steel* in the cockpit. ✌️😎😎👍🇬🇧

[@silvergtotwinturbo9984]

My dad told me that as a boy his first ever sighting of a Mosquito was when him and a group of lads were on Dovers Hill, Glos. during the war. They would go to one of the lookouts that recorded plane movements across the country. These would be logged and the daily reports would be collected by a m/cycle courier. However, they had nearly got to the lookout when they heard a plane approaching really fast. Apparently it came banking around Broadway Tower in the Cotswolds, dropped down really low. He said it was a bit of a muggy day and could see contrails come off the wing tips. The navigator was looking out and the lads were waving at them and the nav waved back. When he told us this my brother said, he'd never have seen you to which my dad said, if we could see him that close he could damn well see us. Also it took weeks for the identification to come through as it was top secret at the time.

[@davidgillettuk9638]

A lot of the RAF guys switched to BOAC after the war, including my uncle Tony who retired flying 747s having started on pathfinder lancs.

[@ZEZERBING]

Hope they put tape, or something, on the "bombs away" swtch.

[@scottfuller5194]

It also secretly transported escaped British/allied POWS from Sweden back to England......!

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

Another fascinating story that I never knew about. This channel is amazing with the history one can learn. Thanks again Mark.

[@alexmarshall4331]

Imagine that you get to fly in a very lightly loaded Mosquito from Scotland to Sweden...preferably up the front..what a ride👍💎👜

[@bennylofgren3208]

If you fly in that direction, I'll do the return trip. Even if I would have to swim back home to Sweden afterwards it would be worth it. 😊

[@davepearce6359]

Brilliant Video Mark. Hugely enjoyable watching. 😊

[@Henke3000]

Great channel Mark! Keep up the good work, greetings from Sweden!

[@aceroadholder2185]

I've read that one of the things the British bought in Sweden were German Leica cameras. I had wondered how they got them back to the U.K.

[@kyleh3615]

Just what I needed to brighten the day! Another grear video

[@aaronlopez3585]

Dr Felton I so much enjoy your videos. You remind me of a history teacher I use to have, who made the subject exciting. You are even better, you could describe paint drying and make it sound magnificent!!

[@kilo21swp]

I interrupted AC/DC to watch this. Worth it. Thanks, Mark.

[@wideyxyz2271]

A lot of people don't realise Mozzys often bombed Berlin on a regular basis. This action was known as the Berlin Express.

[@colingibson8018]

Thank Mark , another pice of for gotten history. You and the history guy should get together sometime. You two are the most look forward too channels on here.

[@bennylofgren3208]

Also Drachinifel if you are interested in WWI+II naval warfare.

[@TheKulu42]

I never realized how fast the Mosquito was until I watched it here in action.

[@janra8653]

I am from Sweden and this is new to me. For some reason this was never out in public it seems.

[@terrystephens1102]

Another outstanding episode, thanks Mark.

[@skipjack646]

Your content is absolutely top notch, Mr. Felton. Always.

[@bigblue6917]

I had heard about these trips but once again you have provided the missing details. Thanks. How about looking at the Royal Navy's contributions to this. I know they did a few trips in MTB/MGBs and I seem to remember something about the silent service getting involved.

[@charleswilson925]

Thanks for posting, love these little bits of unknown history!

[@itsjohndell]

01:13 nice demonstration of the contra-rotating engines, also used in the American Lockheed P-38

[@KaitlynnUK]

Informative as per usual.

[@Binkygetsby]

Great history! I really look forward to new videos from you.

[@andyrichardsvideovlogs8835]

The original multi-role combat aircraft, one of the best aircraft of all time. And it started out as a private venture.

[@M3au]

Yet another wonderful and interesting historical factoid .. thank you Mark, your channel is a treasure.

[@0Zolrender0]

I love your channel. I learned something new tonight. You are a legend.

[@brianmoore1820]

Such interesting stuff. You can always learn something new and this was well worth the look see. Thanks

[@owlgothic248]

I don't know about this until I view your documentary video 📹 thank you so much for your information ℹ

[@peterruiz6117]

But But....I thought the P-51 won the war ALL BY ITSELF.......!? Another very interesting , and extreme moment in history you have put fourth . Aawsuuum.

[@qotsacovers6115]

Mosquitos are always a pain in the ass regardless of their size I suppose...

[@tombristowe846]

At the 16 sec point a crewman comes out and immediately goes the wrong way.....hope that's not the navigator!

[@bennylofgren3208]

Tom Bristowe 😂😂

[@BuzzSargent]

Another neat storytelling between the sheets of history. The craftsmanship required to make an all wooden airship would make a great video story. Happy Trails

[@mastathrash5609]

Now I wanna learn more about NOS systems in ww2 planes!

[@michaeldougfir9807]

Am always glad to learn more about the Mosquitos.

[@simonkevnorris]

Another bit of slightly bizarre war history - interesting facts though. Thanks for these videos.

[@samievans9632]

Excellent information, thank you

[@torpaninternational8351]

Another WW2 daring exploit given by Mark , more please!

[@mouser4290]

Wow 9 min after this video posted it has 816 views! As always you do awesome work sir THANK YOU.

[@johnfewings6520]

Thank you for another interesting video on a little-known WWII episode. Perhaps you might like to put another one together concerning the Gibraltar B-24 crash and the death of General Vladislav Sikorski as well as the disappearance of his daughter?

[@redram5150]

“You’re our super-secret passenger. You’re gonna ride in the bomb bay of this converted bomber. No, you don’t get a parachute. But don’t worry, we aren’t going to drop you if things get serious. We promise!”

[@28ebdh3udnav]

I'm a simple man. I see a new Mark Felton video. I click.