Originally named the "Spider Crab," the aircraft was entirely a De Havilland project, exploiting the company's extensive experience in using moulded plywood for aircraft construction, as used in the Mosquito bomber. It was the last time composite wood and metal construction was used in high performance military aircraft. It had conventional straight mid-wings and a single jet engine placed in an egg-shaped, aluminium-surfaced fuselage exhausting in a straight line. To reduce the losses caused by a long jet pipe the designers used the distinctive tail with twin booms, similar to that of the Lockheed P-38.
It was used by some 31 air forces. Of the major Western powers, Germany and the US were the only ones not to use the aircraft type.
(Source - internet)
The two images below are form 247 Squadron 1946
