RAF photo-reconnaissance Mosquito aircraft make an accidental flight over Mount Everest and Makalu in the Himalayan mountain range.

Aircrew board an RAF Mosquito PR Mk XVI. Ground crew remove a tarpaulin and refuel the aircraft. Mosquito 'Y' NS503 taxis away. Mosquito 'A' NS703 takes off. Aircrew boarding. Mosquito 'V' RG125 starts up and taxis. Mosquito 'F' takes off. Low-flying aerial footage. The pilot at the controls. Air-to-air views of a Moquito in flight interspersed with views of mountain peaks breaking through cloud, cloudscapes, and the pilot at the controls. Mosquito landing with a train passing in the background. Mosquito 'Y' landing.

Notes

Aircraft seen are of RAF 684 Squadron, based at Alipore airfield, Calcutta.

Photographs from RAF flights near Everest can be found under the references below.

Dopesheet stresses that this was an accidental flight, due to heavy clouds forcing a change of course, and that 'RAF planes never fly over Everest without special permission'.