Does anyone know about this?
Source: RNZAF Contact Magazine, March 1945
Quote:
Dusting Mosquitoes
A number of Douglas A-20 Havoc two-motor bombers of the U.S.A.A.F. flying in the Mediterranean area have been converted for dusting mosquitoes with insecticide. Up to 3000lb. of powder can be carried by each Havoc. Other aeroplanes are fitted with oil sprays for covering small areas of water infested with mosquitoes.
This snippet in the news column is rather interesting, I've not heard before of this sort of work by bomber squadrons, except No. 30 (TBF) Squadron RNZAF who had sprayers fitted to spray oil on Japanese crops to taint them.
Does anyone know where these Havocs and 'other aeroplanes' were based? Which squadrons? Was this a widespread thing? Or just in certain really badly infested areas?
Did the Havocs have hoppers fitted? Or how was the powder dropped if not? Did any Havocs go on to do this same work on crops after the war? Were the other aeroplanes also Havocs or did the oil sprayers get fitted to another type/s?
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