The Fence that Jumpstarted the Mosquito's Flight

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito, nicknamed the Wooden Wonder for its plywood construction, was a versatile WWII aircraft whose rapid development and innovative dispersed manufacturing—harnessing cabinetmakers and furniture makers—let it outpace the Spitfire; a Salisbury Hall neighbor reportedly removed a fence so the second prototype could fly to Hatfield, accelerating production across bomber, fighter, and reconnaissance roles and spawning the Hornet variant.