Editing Focke-Wulf Ta 154 Moskito (section)

===Background===
The origins of the Ta 154 ''Moskito'' is closely linked to the wartime demands of the ''[[Luftwaffe]]''. In 1942, it had become increasing clear that, amid increasingly intense [[Area bombing directive|Allied bombardment of Germany]], a new type of [[night fighter]] was desirable to replace both the [[Messerschmitt Bf 110]] and [[Junkers Ju 88]].<ref name = "smithkay 211"/> One such aircraft, the [[Heinkel He 219]], was already in development, however, during September 1942, the [[Ministry of Aviation (Nazi Germany)|''Reichsluftfahrtministerium'']] (RLM) issued a fresh requirement that called for a specialised night fighter that, unlike the He 219, would be primarily constructed out of wood. The intended benefit of this decision was not only as an economic measure to minimise the use of [[metal]] but also to take advantage of Germany's available [[Labour (human activity)|labour]] pool, which had numerous skilled woodworkers that had not effectively transitioned to metalworking.<ref name = "smithkay 211">Smith and Kay 1972, p. 211.</ref>

This requirement was received by the German aircraft manufacturer [[Focke-Wulf]], who quickly decided to undertake work towards fulfilling it.<ref name = "smithkay 211"/> A [[Bremen]]-based design team at the firm, headed by [[Kurt Tank]], set about studying a fast attack-[[bomber]] aircraft that had been initially designated Ta 211 (due to its planned use of an uprated [[Junkers Jumo 211|Jumo 211R]] engine). The envisioned ''Ta 21'' bomber was a high-wing twin-engined design, built primarily of [[plywood]] and bonded with a special [[phenolic resin]] adhesive called [[Tego film]].<ref>Goodman 1998, p. 47.</ref> The material composition of the basic design included approximately 57 per cent wood, 30 per cent [[steel]], and 13 per cent [[duralumin]]. Both single-seat and twin-seat variants were proposed at a relatively early stage.<ref name = "smithkay 211"/>

Due to the scarcity of steel tubing, both the primary and auxiliary [[Spar (aeronautics)|spar]]s made use of wood box construction while extensive use of wood bonding was made across the whole airframe.<ref name = "smithkay 211"/> A retractable nose-wheel [[landing gear|undercarriage]] was selected, the main gear of which retracted rearwards into recesses within the engine [[nacelle]]s while the nose gear pivoted backwards into the fuselage. Furthermore, it was fitted with broad diameter [[Tyre (wheel)|tyre]]s as to permit the aircraft to use grass airstrips.<ref name = "smithkay 2112">Smith and Kay 1972, pp. 211–212.</ref> It had a stepped cockpit canopy, the windscreen of which was composed of armoured glass; an additional 150&nbsp;kg of armour was strategically distributed around the cockpit to protect its occupant(s). Dependent upon the variant, the cockpit contained a single pilot and a radio/[[radar]] operator, the latter just aft of the former.<ref name = "smithkay 212"/> Fuel was housed in a pair of fuselage tanks, one was located directly aft of the primary wing spar while the other was just behind the auxiliary spar.<ref name = "smithkay 212">Smith and Kay 1972, p. 212.</ref>

By 14 October 1942, the basic calculations were complete; layout drawings were completed five days later.<ref name = "smithkay 211"/> The RLM warmly received Focke-Wulf's proposal and promptly issued a general development contract. It was at this stage that the ''Ta 154'' designation was applied to the aircraft; unofficially, it was named ''Moskito'' in reference to its similarity to the [[de Havilland Mosquito]] fast bombers (which was also largely made of wood) already in service with the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF).<ref name = "smithkay 211"/> Around this time, the de Havilland Mosquito, was conducting missions upon Germany itself and was quickly building up an impressive record; in its first 600 bombing missions, only one was shot down, compared to an average of five per cent for the RAF's [[Medium bomber|medium]] and [[heavy bomber]]s.<ref>Longmate 1983, p. 236.</ref> [[Erhard Milch]] personally requested a purpose-built German answer, and selected the Ta 154. Infighting within German circles started almost immediately, because the RLM and night fighter units — as well as [[Ernst Heinkel]] himself — still wanted the [[Heinkel He 219]]. Milch took this personally, and spent the better part of the next two years trying to have the He 219 program terminated, partly against Ernst Heinkel's wishes.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

During the aircraft's development, it became apparent that the most suitable engine to power the Ta 154 was the more powerful [[Junkers Jumo 213|Jumo 213]], and that Junkers could not deliver the originally-desired Jumo 211R engine on schedule due to technical and production difficulties.<ref>Merriam 2017, {{page needed|date=October 2024}}.</ref>