Handley Page Halifax

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Halifax

Halifax W1057 ZA-X of No. 10 Squadron RAF. During April and May, 1942, this aircraft took part in a number of raids on the German battleship Tirpitz in Fættenfjord near Trondheim, Norway.
Type	Heavy bomber
Manufacturer	Handley Page
Maiden flight	24 September 1939
Retired	1961 (Pakistani Air Force)
Primary users	Royal Air Force RCAF, RNZAF, RAAF
Produced	1940-1946
Number built	6,176

The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engine heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during Second World War. 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.

1 Design and development
2 Operational service
3 Variants
4 Specifications (Mk III)
5 Operators
- 5.1 Halifax Operators
- 5.2 Halton Operators
6 Survivors
7 External links
8 References
9 Related content

[edit] Design and development

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" (following the practice of naming heavy bombers after major towns, in this case, Halifax, West Yorkshire); 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 "off the drawing board" before the first prototype even flew. The maiden flight of the Halifax took place on 24 September 1939, shortly after the start of the war.

The Halifax production subsequently began at English Electric's site at Samlesbury, Lancashire with over 2,000 bombers being built at the factory during the war.

The Mk I had a 22 ft long 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. The Halifax Mk I series had a serious flaw in the design of its tail units that caused it to go into a steep, uncontrollable spin if the aircraft was flung about vigorously. This fault undoubtedly caused a number of fatal crashes.

Introduction of 1,390 hp Merlin XX engines and a twin .303-in dorsal turret instead of waist guns resulted in the B Mk II Series I Halifax. The Mk II 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 de Havilland 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 C Mk 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). A transport/cargo version of the Halifax was also produced, known as the Handley Page Halton.

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(Rootes Securities Ltd.) and the London Aircraft Production Group. Peak production resulted in one Halifax being completed every hour.

[edit] Operational service

The Halifax entered service with No. 35 Squadron RAF at RAF Linton on Ouse in November 1940 and its first operational raid was against Le Havre on the night of 11-12 March 1941.

In service with RAF 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, electronic warfare aircraft for No. 100 Group RAF and special operations such as parachuting agents and arms into occupied Europe. Halifaxes were also operated by RAF Coastal Command for anti submarine warfare, reconnaissance and meteorological roles.

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

[edit] Variants

HP.55 : Proposed twin-engine bomber aircraft. Pre-Halifax design. Never built.
HP.56 : Proposed twin-engine bomber aircraft, fitted with two Rolls-Royce Vulture engines. Pre-Halifax design. Never built.
HP.57 : The first Halifax prototype
Halifax Mk I : The Halifax Mk I was the second prototype.
- Halifax B Mk I Series I : Four-engined long-range heavy-bomber aircraft; the first production version.
- Halifax B Mk I Series II : Stressed for operating at a higher gross weight.
- Halifax B Mk I Series III : Re-engined with Merlin XX engines, introduced new upper turret in place of beam guns, with revised undercarriage and additional centre-section fuel tanks.
HP.58 - Halifax Mk II Projected variant with revised armament including 20-mm cannons and no tail turret. Due to problems with the new armament the project was cancelled and the Mk II designation given to HP.59.
HP.59 Halifax B.Mk II New variant with increased takeoff weight, fuel and weapons carriage
- Halifax B Mk II Series I First series of the bomber variant; from March 1942 onwards, these were fitted with TR1335 navigation aids
- Hailfax B Mk II Series I (Special), SOE Special version for SOE used to drop supplies over Europe. Nose armament and dorsal turret removed, the nose being faired over, as well as changes to the fuel went pipes and exhaust shrouds
- Hailfax B Mk II Series I (Special) Generally similar to the aircraft used by the SOE, these were employed in the bombing role. These aircraft were more varied in appearance, especially concerning the fitting of dorsal armament with some aircraft retaining the standard Boulton Paul "C"-turret in different mounts with others mounting an "A" -turret. There were also examples with no dorsal turret, similar to the SOE-aircraft.
- Halifax B Mk II Series IA Modified with new glazed nose section, new radiators and new "D" fin and rudder. The dorsal turret was changed to a four-gun Boulton Paul A.Mk VIII, and there were improvements to the bomb bay door sealing. Some aircraft were fitted with the H2S radar.
- Halifax B Mk II Series I, Freighter A few Mk IIs were employed in the transport role in Great Britain (unmodified SOE-aircraft) and in the Middle East (simple modifications to allow carriage of engines or Spitfire fuselages).
- Halifax B Mk II Series II Single aircraft (HR756) modified with three-blade Rotol propellers and Merlin 22 engines. Rejected in favour of Mk III.
Halifax A.Mk II According to some sources, a handful of the airborne forces Halifaxes were converted B.Mk IIs. If this is true they might have been designated A.Mk II or may have retained their bomber designations.^[1]
Halifax GR.Mk II Coastal Command variant of the Halifax Mk.II
- Halifax GR.Mk II Series I A handful of aircraft converted from Series I or Special to GR.Mk II-standard, having differences in dorsal armament. The main difference was the fitting of a ASV.Mk 3 radar in a H2S type fairing. Sometimes, a .50 calibre machine gun was fitted in the faired nose.
- Halifax GR.Mk II Series IA Definitive Coastal Command variant of the Mk II with glazed nose mounting .50 calibre machine gun, Merlin XX or 22 engines, "A"-type dorsal turret and extra long-range fuel tanks in fuselage. A ventral turret holding a single .50 machine gun was mounted on most aircraft's although some were instead employing the ASV.Mk 3 radar in its place.
- Halifax Met.Mk II Some sources suggest that there were a meteorological variant of the Mk II, designated Met.Mk II, but this is unlikely.^[2]
HP. 61 - Halifax B Mk III Main production variant, fitted with Bristol Hercules engines.
- Halifax A Mk III
- Halifax C Mk III
H.P. 63 - Halifax B Mk V Series IA
- Halifax B Mk V Series I (Special)
- Halifax A Mk V
- Halifax GR Mk V
- Halifax B Mk VI
- Halifax C Mk VI
- Halifax GR Mk VI
- Halifax B Mk VII : Four-engined long-range heavy-bomber. Powered by four 1,615-hp (1204-kW) Bristol Hercules XVI radial engines.
- Halifax A Mk VII : Halifax Mk VIIs converted into paratroop transport and glider tug aircraft
- Hailfax C Mk VII Halifax Mk VIIs converted into transport aircraft.
H.P.70 - Mk C VIII : Cargo and passenger transport aircraft.
H.P.71 - Mk A IX : Paratroop transport, glider tug aircraft.
H.P.70 - Halton Mk I : Interim civil transport version; postwar, a number of Hailfax bombers were converted into civilian transport aircraft.
H.P.70 - Halton Mk II : VIP transport aircraft for the Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda.

[edit] Specifications (Mk III)

General characteristics

Crew: 7
Length: 71 ft 7 in (21.82 m)
Wingspan: 104 ft 2 in (early MKs had span of less than 100ft to fit through standard Hanger doors) (31.75 m)
Height: 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m)
Wing area: 1,190 ft² (110.6 m²)
Loaded weight: 54,400 lb (24,675 kg)
Powerplant: × Bristol Hercules XVI radial engines, 1,615 hp (1,205 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 282 mph (454 km/h) at 13,500 ft (4,115 m)
Range: 1,860 mi (3,000 km) combat
Service ceiling: 24,000 ft (7,315 m)
Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
Wing loading: 45.7 lb/ft² (223.1 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.12 hp/lb (195 W/kg)

Armament

8 x .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns (4 in dorsal turret, 4 in tail turret), 1 x .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun in nose
13,000 lb (5,897 kg) of bombs

[edit] Operators

[edit] Halifax Operators

An Australian Halifax at RAF Foulsham in 1945

Australia

Royal Australian Air Force
- No. 462 Squadron RAAF
- No. 466 Squadron RAAF

Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force

Egypt

Royal Egyptian Air Force

France

Armee de l'Air

New Zealand

Royal New Zealand Air Force

Pakistan

Pakistan Air Force

Poland

Polish Air Forces on exile in Great Britain

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force

[edit] Halton Operators

United Kingdom

Air Freight
Alpha Airways
BOAC
Bond Air Services
British American Air Services
Chartair
Eagle Aviation
Lancashire Aircraft
London Aero and Motor Services, (LAMS)
Payloads
Skyflight
Westminister Air services

[edit] Survivors

Halifax Mk VII NA337

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

There are only two fully restored Halifax bombers in the world. One is a composite aircraft located at the Yorkshire Air Museum, on the site of the Second World War airfield, RAF Elvington.

The other Halifax, 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 built by Rootes Motors, Liverpool and resides at RCAF Memorial Museum at CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario, near Kingston, Ontario.

A 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. It is displayed in its "as recovered" condition in the Bomber Command display at the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon in London.

On 26 November 2006, archaeologists from the Warsaw Uprising Museum, Poland, presented remains of another Halifax (JP-276 "A") from no. 148 RAF Squadron, which was found in southern Poland, near the city of Dabrowa Tarnowska. It was shot down on the night 4-5 August 1944 while coming back from the "air-drop-action" during the Warsaw Uprising.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Handley Page Halifax

[edit] References

^ Lake 1997, p. 131.
^ Lake 1997, p. 132.

Halifax at War: The Story of a Bomber (76 min. DVD). Toronto: Nightfighters Productions Inc., 2005. ISBN 1-55259-571-4.
Lake, Jon. Halifax Variants. "Wings of Fame, vol. 8". London: Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-86184-009-8.
Stachiw, Anthony L. and Tattersall, Andrew. Handley Page Halifax. St. Catharine's Ontario: Vanwell Publishing Limited, 205. ISBN 1-55125-085-3.