The 'Wooden Wonder' multi-purpose aircraft of the 2nd World War was built almost entirely of wood, which was very unusual by that time. The idea was that a combination of massive power (from two RR Merlins) and wood would result in high speed with high manoevrability. Over 3000 were built at de Havilland Hatfield, where Alan Pyle's father worked on them as a carpenter. See Thread W10/14