https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_Halifax
The Handley Page Halifax was a four-engined heavy bomber operated by the British
Royal Air Force during World War II. The Halifax remained in service until the
end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing. It was a
contemporary of the Avro Lancaster. The Halifax was also operated by the Royal
Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Free French Air Force and Polish
forces. After World War II it was flown by the Royal Egyptian Air Force, the
The definitive version of the Halifax was the B Mk VI, powered by the 1,800 hp
(1,300 kW) 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/3,630 kg
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.
Role
Heavy bomber
Manufacturer
Handley Page
First flight
25 October 1939
Introduction
13 November 1940
Retired
1961 (Pakistani Air Force)
Primary users
Royal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
Free French Air Force
Produced
Number built
6,176
Air Chief Marshal Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, was scathing in his
criticism of the Halifax's performance compared to the new Avro Lancaster,
primarily of its bomb-carrying capability: it was calculated that an average
Halifax would drop 100 tons of bombs in its lifetime compared to a Lancaster's
154. The fact that later Hercules-engined Halifaxes had lower loss rates and
higher crew survival rates after abandoning the aircraft than Lancasters, and
came very close to its speed and altitude performance, did not alter his
opinion. Also, unlike the Lancaster, the Halifax's bomb bay could not be adapted
to carry the 4,000 pound "Cookie" blast bomb which was an integral part of
Harris's fire-bombing tactics. It was progressively outnumbered in frontline
service over occupied Europe as more Lancasters became available from 1943
onwards, with many squadrons converting to the Lancaster. Halifaxes continued to
be built because it was considered more efficient to allow existing
manufacturing facilities to continue producing them efficiently, rather than
stop production for an unknown period while they converted to the Lancaster,
while new manufacturing facilities were devoted to the Lancaster. Halifax
bombers were progressively relegated to secondary theatres such as North Africa
and Italy, while many were converted to or built new as glider tugs, transports
and maritime reconnaissance.
Harris's view of the Halifax changed sometime after spring 1942. In a reply 2
June 1942 reply to a telegram sent by Frederick Handley Page congratulating him
on the success of the first 1000 bomber Cologne raid, he stated: "My Dear
Handley Page. We much appreciate your telegram of congratulation on Saturday
night's work, the success of which was very largely due to your support in
giving us such a powerful weapon to wield. Between us we will make a job of it."
Specifications (Mk III)
General characteristics
Crew: 7 (pilot, co-pilot/flight engineer, navigator, bomb aimer, radio
operator/gunner, two gunners)
Length: 71 ft 7 in (21.82 m)
Wingspan: 104 ft 2 in (31.75 m)
Height: 20 ft 9 in (6.32 m)
Empty weight: 37,870 lb (17,178 kg)
Loaded weight: 54,400 lb (24,675 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 65,000 lb (29,484 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 282 mph (454 km/h/246 kn) 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)
Power/mass: 0.12 hp/lb (195 W/kg)
Armament
Bombs: 13,000 lb (5,897 kg) of bombs
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