Louis:

The Lanc actually carried roughly four maybe even 5 times the bomb load of the B17. It could carry the 22000 lb Tallboy (10 Long tons). Due to the B17's wing spar the bomb bay could only carry 500 lb bombs, so max load was roughly 4000 lbs. Now the Mosquito (made of plywood) could carry 4000 lbs with two men, 100 mph faster, roughly the same range, did not need the Norden bomb sight (read about the Gestapo HQ raid where they put the bombs through the front door! ) and did not need to be armed or escorted. Dave_n

PS Until the Merlin engine was put into the P51 it was only marginally better than the P40.