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On 12 September 2026, one of New Zealand’s most remarkable surviving wartime aircraft reached another major milestone at Omaka. For the first time since the 1950s, the John Smith de Havilland Mosquito taxied under its own power. The initial taxi was deliberately carried out as a test rather than a public event, giving the team the opportunity to carefully assess the aircraft and the procedures developed to operate it safely.
The next time it taxis, the public will be there to see it at Marlborough Lines Classic Fighters 2027.
Built in late 1945, this Mosquito FB.VI fighter-bomber arrived in New Zealand in 1947 and later served with 75 Squadron RNZAF during 1951 and 1952. It flew only around 20 hours in RNZAF service before being placed back into storage. In 1956, the aircraft was purchased by aviation enthusiast John Smith and moved to his property at Mapua.
Smith had begun collecting historic aircraft at a time when many important wartime machines were being scrapped. His collection eventually included the Mosquito, an ex-RNZAF P-51D Mustang, a Lockheed Hudson, P-40 Kittyhawks, Harvards, Vampire jets and a Tiger Moth. The Mosquito remained fully assembled in Smith’s shed for decades. One of his more unusual preservation methods was coating the aircraft in pesticide-laced white house paint, which helped protect its wooden structure from borer.
Following John Smith’s death, the aircraft was loaned to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre by the Smith family and moved to Omaka in 2020. Since then, a small team has carried out careful conservation and sympathetic refurbishment.
The Mosquito will never fly again. Returning it to flying condition would require replacing too much of its original structure.
Instead, the project has focused on conserving the aircraft and finding ways to safely bring it back to life on the ground while preserving as much of the original machine as possible. Al Marshall, who oversaw the taxiing process, says the aircraft has continued to surprise the team. “The task of returning her to life was very carefully thought through,” he said. Original critical systems have been left untouched where possible, with adapted or specially designed alternatives used instead. Marshall says much of the credit belongs to John Smith.
“John Smith’s care and preservation initiatives during the 62 years that he owned the Mosquito played a huge part in the aircraft being as she is today.” He added: “As a group we are often surprised at how well she starts, runs and now taxis. She shouldn’t behave as well as she does, but for some reason, she just does.”
The September taxi was an important private test. At Classic Fighters 2027, the plan is for the public to see this remarkable survivor taxi under its own power.
And Friday night will offer something extra. The Mosquito is planned to run after dark, giving spectators the chance to see the flames from its exhaust and those impressive propellor arcs against the night sky.
For anyone who has followed its journey from John Smith’s shed at Mapua to Omaka, it will be another extraordinary chapter in the story of an aircraft that has survived largely because one man believed it was worth saving.
Marlborough Lines Classic Fighters returns to Omaka Aerodrome from 26 to 28 March 2027.
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