Handley Page Halifax

Encyclopedia : H : HA : HAN : Handley Page Halifax

The Handley Page Halifax was one of the front-line, four-engine heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during World War II. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing. The Halifax was also operated by squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Polish Air Force.

Contents

1 Overview
2 Variants
3 Specifications (Mk III)
4 Operators
5 External links
6 Related content

Overview

Handley Page produced the H.P.56, a twin-Vulture engined design to meet Air Ministry Specification P.13/36 but performance was found to be lacking. Modifications resulted in the definitive H.P.57 Halifax design; the aircraft was enlarged and powered by four 1,280 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin X engines. Such was the promise of the new model that the RAF had placed their first order for 100 Mk I Halifaxes (following the practice of naming heavy bombers after major towns in this case Halifax, West Yorkshire) before the first prototype even flew on September 24, 1939, shortly after the start of the war. The Halifax entered service with No. 35 Squadron RAF at Linton on Ouse in November 1940 and its first operational raid was against Le Havre on the night of March 11-12, 1941.

The Mk I had a 22 ft bomb bay as well as six bomb cells in the wings, enabling it to carry 13,000 lb (5,897 kg) of bombs. Defensive armament consisted of two .303-in Browning machine guns in the nose, four in a tail turret and in some aircraft, two waist guns. Subtle modifications distinguished the Mk I aircraft. The first batch of Mk I Halifaxes were designated Mk I Series I. The Mk I Series II increased the aircraft's gross weight (from 58,000 lb to 60,000 lb) and the Mk I Series III increased fuel capacity.

Introduction of 1,390 hp Merlin XX engines and a twin .303-in dorsal turret instead of waist guns resulted in the Mk II Series I Halifax. The Mk I Series I (Special) achieved improved performance by removing the nose and dorsal turrets. The Mk II Series IA had a moulded Perspex nose (the standard for future Halifax variants), a four-gun Defiant-type dorsal turret, Merlin 22 engines and larger vertical tail surfaces which solved control deficiencies (rudder-stall) in the early Marks. The installation of Dowty landing gear and hydraulics (in place of the standard Messier equipment) on the Mk II Series I (Special) and IA produced the Mk V Series I (Special) and Mk V Series IA. A total of 1,966 Mk II and 915 Mk V Halifaxes were built.

The most numerous Halifax variant was the B Mk III of which 2,091 were built. First appearing in 1943, the Mk III featured the Perspex nose and modified tail of the Mk II Series IA but replaced the Merlin with the more powerful 1,650 hp Bristol Hercules XVI radial engine. Other changes included DH Hydromatic propellers and rounded wing-tips. The Mk IV was a non-production design using a turbocharged Hercules powerplant.

Halifax cutaway model at the London Science Museum

The definitive version of the Halifax was the B Mk VI, powered by the 1,800 hp Hercules 100. The final bomber version, the Mk VII, reverted to the less powerful Hercules XVI. However, these variants were produced in relatively small quantities.

The remaining variants were the Mk C.VIII unarmed transport (8,000 lb cargo pannier instead of a bomb bay, space for 11 passengers) and the Mk A.IX paratroop transport (space for 16 paratroopers and gear).

In service with Bomber Command, Halifaxes flew 82,773 operations, dropped 224,207 tons of bombs and lost 1,833 aircraft. ( 'Wings' Encyclopedia of Aviation, Orbis 1979)

In addition to bombing missions, the Halifax served as a glider tug, ECM aircraft for No. 100 Group RAF and special operations such as parachuting agents and arms into occupied Europe.

Halifaxes were also operated by Coastal Command for ASW, reconnaissance and meteorological roles.

Total Halifax production was 6,176 with the last aircraft delivered in November 1946. In addition to Handley Page, Halifaxes were built by English Electric, Fairey Aviation, Rootes Motors and the London Aircraft Production Group. Peak production resulted in one Halifax being completed every hour.

The 35 Sqn Halifax II, W1048, being recovered from Lake Hoklingen, Norway, in 1973

Post-WWII, Halifaxes remained in service with the RAF Coastal and Transport commands and the Armée de l'Air until early 1952. The Pakistan Air Force which inherited the planes from RAF continued to use it until 1961.

There are only two restored Halifax bombers in the world. One is located at the Yorkshire Air Museum, on the site of the WWII airfield RAF Elvington. The other, RCAF NA337 was retrieved from the bottom of Lake Mjøsa in Norway in 1995 after being shot down in April 1945. It was brought back to Canada and restoration was completed in 2005. NA337 is a Halifax A. Mk VII, Special Duties, aircraft and resides at RCAF Memorial Museum at CFB Trenton in Trenton,Ontario, near Kingston, Ontario. The third Halifax, the Mk II, Serial Number W 1048 which was recovered from Lake Hoklingen in Norway where it crashed after being damaged in an attack on the Tirpitz, was recovered by a 'sub aqua' team from the RAF in 1973 and it is displayed in its recovered condition in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Museum at Hendon in London.

A transport/cargo version of the Halifax was also produced, the Handley Page Halton.

Variants

H.P.56 - pre-Halifax prototype
H.P.57 - Halifax Mk I
Halifax B.Mk I Series I
Halifax B.Mk I Series II
Halifax B.Mk I Series III
H.P.59 - Halifax Mk II
Halifax B.Mk II Series I
Hailfax B.Mk II Series IA
Hailfax B.Mk II Series I (Special)
Halifax GR.Mk II
H.P. 61 - Halifax B.Mk III
Halifax A.Mk III
Halifax C.Mk III
H.P. 63 - Halifax B.Mk V Series IA
Halifax B.Mk V Series I (Special)
Hailfax A.Mk V
Hailfax GR.Mk V
Hailfax B.Mk VI
Hailfax C.Mk VI
Hailfax GR.Mk VI
Hailfax B.Mk VII
Hailfax A.Mk VII
Hailfax C.Mk VII
H.P.70 - Mk C.VIII
H.P.71 - Mk A.IX
H.P.70 - Halton Mk I

Specifications (Mk III)

Operators

Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, United Kingdom.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[Special]