Archival photo of Mosquito T.3 RR299 in RAF CAACU 3 markings. Photographed by Kenneth J A Brookes. Served as a civilian-operated display aircraft until its tragic loss in 1996.
Photo by Kenneth J A Brookes
© Kenneth J A Brookes
This archival photograph captures De Havilland Mosquito T.3 RR299 in RAF CAACU 3 markings, taken by aviation photographer Kenneth J A Brookes. The image showcases the aircraft during its time as the UK’s last flying Mosquito, a beloved warbird that represented the pinnacle of British twin-engine design during and after World War II.
RR299 was acquired by Hawker Siddeley Aviation in 1963 and registered as G-ASKH. It was repainted in wartime camouflage for film work and later became a cherished display aircraft. Operated by British Aerospace and flown by legendary test pilots including Pat Fillingham and John Cunningham, RR299 performed at airshows across the UK and Europe for over three decades.
In its final years, RR299 wore the markings of CAACU 3 (Central Air Communications Unit), representing its role in RAF communications and training. The aircraft was maintained to an exceptional standard and became a symbol of British aviation heritage.
On 21 July 1996, RR299 tragically crashed during a display at Barton Airfield near Manchester, killing pilot Kevin Moorhouse and engineer Steve Watson. The accident marked the end of flying Mosquitos in the UK and deeply impacted the historic aviation community. RR299 remains one of the most photographed and remembered Mosquitos in postwar history.
