| Halifax | |
|---|---|
 Handley Page Halifax B.III | |
| General information | |
| Type | Heavy bomber |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Handley Page |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 6,178 including 2 H.P.57 prototypes[1] |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1940–1946 |
| Introduction date | 13 November 1940 |
| First flight | 25 October 1939 |
| Retired | 1961 (Pakistan Air Force) |
TheHandley Page Halifax is a BritishRoyal Air Force (RAF) four-enginedheavy bomber of theSecond World War. It was developed byHandley Page to the same specification as the contemporary twin-engineAvro Manchester.
The Halifax has its origins in the twin-engineH.P.56 proposal of the late 1930s, produced in response to the BritishAir Ministry'sSpecification P.13/36 for a capablemedium bomber for "world-wide use." The H.P.56 was ordered as a backup to theAvro 679, both aircraft being designed to use theRolls-Royce Vulture engine. The Handley Page design was altered to use fourRolls-Royce Merlin engines while the rival Avro 679 was produced as the twin-engineAvro Manchester which, while regarded as unsuccessful mainly due to the Vulture engine, was a direct predecessor of theAvro Lancaster. Both the Lancaster and the Halifax emerged as capable four-enginestrategic bombers, thousands of which were used during the War.
The Halifax performed its first flight on 25 October 1939, and entered service with the RAF on 13 November 1940. It quickly became a major component ofBomber Command, performing strategic bombing missions against theAxis powers, primarily at night.Arthur Harris, theAir Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Bomber Command, described the Halifax as inferior to the rival Lancaster (in part due to its smaller payload) though this opinion was not shared by many of the crews that flew it.[2] Nevertheless, production of the Halifax continued until April 1945. During their service with Bomber Command, Halifaxes flew 82,773 operations and dropped 224,207 long tons (227,805 t) of bombs, while 1,833 aircraft were lost. The Halifax was also flown in large numbers by otherAllied andCommonwealth nations, such as theRoyal Canadian Air Force (RCAF),Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), andFree French Air Force.
Various improved versions of the Halifax were introduced, incorporating more powerful engines, a reviseddefensive turret layout and increased payload. It remained in service with Bomber Command until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing. Specialised versions of the Halifax were developed for troop transport andparadrop operations. After the Second World War, the RAF quickly retired the Halifax, the type being succeeded as a strategic bomber by theAvro Lincoln, an advanced derivative of the Lancaster. During the post-war years, the Halifax was operated by theRoyal Egyptian Air Force, theFrench Air Force and theRoyal Pakistan Air Force. The type also entered commercial service for a number of years, used mainly as afreighter. A dedicated civil transport variant, the Handley Page Halton, was also developed and entered airline service; 41 civil Halifax freighters were used during theBerlin Airlift. In 1961, the last remaining Halifax bombers were retired from operational use.
In the 1930s, theRoyal Air Force (RAF) was primarily interested in twin-enginebombers. These designs put significant demands on engine production and maintenance, both of which were already stretched with the introduction of many new types of aircraft into service. Power limitations were so serious that the British invested heavily in the development of huge engines in the 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) class to improve performance. However, during the late 1930s, none of these engines were ready for production. Meanwhile, the United States, France, Germany and the Soviet Union were developing bombers powered with four engines with favourable results, including excellent range and lifting capacity. Accordingly, in 1936, the RAF decided to investigate the feasibility of a four-engined bomber.[3]
During the mid-1930s, the BritishAir Ministry releasedSpecification P.13/36, seeking a twin-engineheavy-medium bomber suitable for "world-wide use". Further requirements of the specification included the use of a mid-mountedcantilevermonoplane wing and all-metal construction, and encouraged use of theRolls-Royce Vulture engine then in development.[4] In response,Handley Page produced the twin-engineH.P.56 design to meet Specification P.13/36.[5] Handley Page aircraft designerGeorge Volkert had responsibility for the design.[citation needed]
Other candidates were submitted for the same specification, including theAvro 679, and designs fromFairey,Boulton Paul andShorts. All submissions used two engines, using the Rolls-Royce Vulture,Napier Sabre,Fairey P.24 orBristol Hercules engines. All of these engines were under development and while four-engined bomber designs were considered for specification B.12/36 for a heavy bomber, wings mounting two pairs of engines required additional testing at theRoyal Aircraft Establishment (RAE). A stronger wing also required additional strengthening of the overall aircraft structure, increasing design weight.[6]
In February 1937, following consideration of the designs, the Air Ministry selected Avro's submission, with Handley Page's bid chosen as "second string". Accordingly, during April 1937, the Air Ministry ordered two prototypes of each design.[7][4] The introduction of the successful P.13/36 candidates was delayed by orders forArmstrong-Whitworth Whitley andVickers Wellington bombers. In mid-1937, it was decided to order both the Avro 679 and H.P.56 designs "off the drawing board" in order to speed up delivery timetables.[citation needed]
During July 1937, Handley Page was instructed to redesign the H.P.56 to use four engines. The Vulture had already been suffering reliability and performance problems. The rival Avro 679 proceeded into service as theAvro Manchester powered by a pair of Vulture engines, but was only built in limited quantities after suffering substantially from engine trouble.[citation needed] The four-engine redesign increased its wingspan from 88 ft (27 m) to 99 ft (30 m) and added 13,000 pounds (5,900 kg) of weight. In September 1937, the Ministry specified the use of fourRolls-Royce Merlin engines; according to aviation author Phillip J. R. Moyes, this redesign to four Merlin engines was done "much against the company's wishes".[4]
Towards the end of the year, a full-size mock-up was assessed and production of a pair ofH.P.57 prototypes commenced in March 1938.[8] Further design modifications resulted in the definitive aircraft, now considerably enlarged and powered by four 1,280 hp (950 kW)Rolls-Royce Merlin X engines. Such was the promise of the new model that, in January 1938, the RAF chose to place their first production order for the type, ordering 100 Mk.I Halifaxes "off the drawing board", at which point the serials which had already been assigned to the H.P.56 were switched to the H.P.57.[4]
The first prototype was built at Handley Page's facility inCricklewood,London, It was then dismantled and transported by road toRAF Bicester (the nearest non-operational RAF airfield with suitable facilities) for reassembly. The first flight of the first prototype Halifax, serial numberL7244, was performed by chief test pilot Jim Cordes with E A 'Ginger' Wright as flight test observer on 25 October 1939. During this flight, the undercarriage was locked down as a safety precaution.[9] On 17 August 1940, the first flight of the second prototype,L7245, now complete with full armament and operational equipment, was made fromRadlett Aerodrome. The H.P.57 was given the service nameHalifax upon acceptance. This name followed the practice of naming heavy bombers after major towns, which in this case wasHalifax inYorkshire. In September 1941, a production Halifax Mk.I participated in an official naming ceremony of the type, officiated byLord Halifax and Lady Halifax.[4]
Series production of the Halifax began at Handley Page's factory at Cricklewood and atEnglish Electric's site inSamlesbury,Lancashire. In order to speed up production, Handley Page implemented several new manufacturing techniques, including two pioneering approaches: photo-lofting and split construction. In the latter capacity, each Halifax was built from various sub-assemblies.[10] Surface panels were flush-riveted, although the matt black night bomber camouflage negated its benefit.[11]
Handley Page built the assemblies and components at Cricklewood and the aircraft were assembled and flown fromRadlett Aerodrome. The first production aircraft flew from Radlett on 11 October 1940.
The sizeable production run envisioned required the involvement of several other companies in addition to Handley Page. The resultingHalifax Group was established to oversee the manufacturing programme, comprising English Electric (who had previously builtHandley Page Hampdens), various firms within theLondon Aircraft Production Group,Fairey Aviation, andRootes Motors.[10] Because of this scheme, Halifaxes were manufactured at sites across the British isles.
The Halifax was produced in large numbers during the war and over 40%, or 4,046 of the 10,018 heavy bombers produced in Britain between 1940 and 1944 were Halifaxes. In all, 6,178 Halifaxes were built, the last delivered in April 1945.[10][12] At the peak, 41 separate factories and dispersed units were involved in production, along with 600subcontractors and 51,000 employees, with one Halifax completed every hour.[10] The first English Electric-built aircraft was flown from Samlesbury on 15 August 1941.
The first production standard Halifax, the Mk.I, had a 22 ft (6.7 m) long bomb bay and six wing bomb cells, and could carry a 13,000 lb (5,900 kg) load. Defensive armament consisted of two .303 in (7.70 mm)Browning machine guns in aBoulton Paul Type Cnose turret, with an additional four in a Boulton Paul Type Etail turret. Some aircraft included two additional .303 in (7.70 mm)Vickers K machine guns in beam (side, or "waist") positions. Subtle modifications distinguished the Mk.I aircraft. Aircraft of the first batch of fifty Mk.I Halifaxes were designated Mk.I Series I.[citation needed]
| Manufacturer | Location | No. |
|---|---|---|
| Handley Page | Radlett | 1,589 |
| English Electric | Preston | 2,145 |
| Fairey Aviation | Stockport | 662 |
| London Aircraft Production Group | Leavesden[a] | 710 |
| Rootes Securities | Speke | 1,070 |
| Total | 6,176 |
Handley Page were initially disappointed with the performance of the Halifax which was below their predictions, much of this was because they had under-estimated the aircraft's drag. The Mk.III Halifax had a wider span of 103 ft 8 in (31.60 m) and had significantly improved performance. Arguably the Merlin engine did not suit the Halifax as much as the Hercules (fitted from the Mk.III on) which suited the Halifax better both aerodynamically and in power.[14]
The Halifax Mk.I was quickly followed by 25 of the Mk.I Series II; these featured an increased gross weight from 58,000 lb (26 t) to 60,000 lb (27 t) but with maximum landing weight unchanged at 50,000 lb (23 t). The Halifax Mk.I Series III featured increased fuel capacity (1,882 imp gal (8,560 L; 2,260 US gal) and larger oil coolers, the latter of which having been adopted in order to accommodate the Merlin XX engine. A dorsally-mounted two-gun Boulton Paul Type C turret replaced the beam guns.[15]
Introduction of 1,390 hp (1,040 kW) Merlin XX engines and a twin .303 in (7.7 mm) dorsal turret instead of waist guns resulted in the Halifax B Mk.II Series I. The Mk.II Series I (Special) achieved improved performance via the removal of the nose and dorsal turrets. The Halifax Mk.II Series IA was fitted with a mouldedPerspex nose (this nose became standard upon future Halifax variants), a four-gun Boulton Paul Type A dorsal turret similar to that used in theBoulton Paul Defiant, and Merlin 22 engines. The rudder overbalance / directional instability with engine(s) out problem was solved on the Mk.III with the fitting of a larger D type fin (40% bigger) and modified rudder.[16] The Mk.III Halifax had satisfactory stability in all axes and was more stable in a dive than a Lancaster. A Lancaster tended to go deeper into a dive whereas a Halifax had to be forced to stay in the dive as the speed increased, i.e. it naturally flew out of a dive.[17]
Owing to a shortage of Messier-builtlanding gear andhydraulics,Dowty-built landing gear were used on some aircraft instead. As it was incompatible with the Messier equipment, this led to these Halifax bombers being given new designations: a Mark II built with Dowty gear was the Mark V.[15] The use ofcastings rather thanforgings in the Dowty undercarriage had resulted in an increased production rate but had also led to a reduced landing weight of 40,000 lb (18,000 kg). The Halifax Mark V were manufactured byRootes Group atSpeke andFairey atStockport; operationally, these were generally used byCoastal Command and for training purposes. Some 904 had been built when Mark V production ended at the start of 1944,[18][page needed] compared to 1,966 Halifax Mk.IIs.[citation needed]
The most numerous Halifax variant was the much improved 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 (1,230 kW)Bristol Hercules XVIradial engine. Other changes included the adoption ofde Havilland Hydromatic propellers and a wider wing span with rounded wing tips.[15] With the coming of the Mk.III the Halifax's performance finally matched that of the Lancaster though the latter had a larger bomb load and could take larger bombs.[19] The B.VI Halifax's performance improved still further with a cruising speed of 265 mph (426 km/h) and a maximum speed (in 'Full Speed' supercharger mode) of 309 mph (497 km/h) at 19,500 ft (5,900 m).[17] Halifax crews, though admittedly not unbiased, considered the Mk.III Halifax to be the equal of any other bomber, including the Lancaster, and further improved versions (with more powerful Hercules engines) to be superior to all.[2] The improvement in the Halifax Mk.III's performance could be measured objectively. In 1943 4 Group's Halifax squadrons flew 11,607 sorties for a loss of 485 aircraft, a loss rate of 4.2%. Halifax Mk.III production started in early Autumn 1943 and for 1944, when the Mk.III constituted an increasing percentage of the Halifax force, 4 Group flew 25,454 sorties for a loss of 402 aircraft, a loss rate of 1.6%.[20]
The Halifax B Mk.IV was a converted B Mk.II non-production design using the Rolls-Royce Merlin 65 engine with a two-stage supercharger and a four-bladed propeller fitted. This resulted in an increase in top speed by 60 mph (97 km/h) to 324 mph (521 km/h) at 19,000 ft (5,800 m). Due to a shortage of Merlins with two-stage superchargers production of the B Mk.IV was not proceeded with.[21]
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.[citation needed]
The remaining variants were the Halifax C Mk.VIII, an unarmed transport that was fitted with an 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) cargo pannier instead of a bomb bay, which could accommodate a maximum of 11 passengers and the Mk A IXparatroop transport, which had space for up to 16 paratroopers and their equipment. A transport/cargo version of the Halifax was also produced, known as theHandley Page Halton.[22]
The Handley Page Halifax was a mostly orthodox design, a mid-wingmonoplane with a tail unit featuring twinfins andrudders. The Halifax featured all-metal construction with a smooth, stressed skin covering the majority of the exterior surfaces; theflight control surfaces were an exception, being fabric-covered instead. The slab-sided fuselage contained a 22-footbomb bay, which contained the majority of the Halifax's payload, while the cockpit was flush with the upper fuselage.[4]
The Halifax was powered by four engines, two on each wing. Early production Halifax bombers were powered by models of theRolls-Royce Merlin engine; later aircraft were commonly powered by the largerBristol Herculesradial engine. To contain and attach the engines to the airframe, Handley Page developed their own design for thepower egg instead of using the typical, slimmer Rolls-Royce counterpart; despite generating increased drag, this in-house design was readily adaptable to the alternative Hercules engine on later aircraft.[4]
Each engine drove aRotol-built compressed woodconstant-speed propeller, enabling the Halifax B.I to attain a maximum speed of 265 mph (426 km/h) at 17,500 ft (5,300 m). With a typical payload of 5,800 lb (2,600 kg) of bombs and 2,242 imp gal (10,190 L; 2,693 US gal) of fuel, it had a range of 1,860 miles (2,990 km). The defensive armaments included power-assisted gun turrets in various positions located across the aircraft. Different models of the Halifax used different numbers and combinations of turrets, effectively trading speed for firepower and vice versa.[23]
The bomb-aimer's position was in the extreme nose with the navigator's table located behind it, with the bomb-aimer additionally serving as the front gunner. Above the navigator's position was the forward gun turret. The wireless (radio) operator was behind the navigator's position, separated by a half-width partition.[24] On the floor just behind the front turret (or later the nose) was the escape hatch. This was 24 in × 26.5 in (61 cm × 67 cm), the same size as the Stirling, and slightly larger than the 22 in × 26.5 in (56 cm × 67 cm) for the Lancaster. On average 25% of Halifax and Stirling crews successfully bailed out from a damaged aeroplane, but only 15% did so from Lancasters.[25]
The pilot sat on the left side in the cockpit above the wireless operator. The flight engineer filled in as a co-pilot, seated on a folding seat to the right of the pilot during crucial manoeuvres such as take-off. Aft of the pilot and set lower than the pilot was theflight engineer's compartment with controls on the bulkhead. Another compartment aft of the flight engineer contained two bunks originally intended for resting crew members, but almost always used for treating and berthing injured crew. This area led to the two-gun dorsal turret. The tail gunner occupied a four-gun turret at the extreme aft end of the aircraft.[24]
Starting with the Halifax Mk.II Series IA and from the Mk.III onwards, the nose turret was deleted; instead the bomb-aimer occupied a streamlined perspex nose containing a single hand-held machine gun. On later-built aircraft, the two-gun dorsal turret was replaced by a four-gunBoulton Paul turret. The maximum bomb load was 14,500 lb (6,600 kg), which was primarily carried in a bomb bay housed within the fuselage, divided into six separate bomb compartments, with three bomb compartments in the inboard sections of each wing; this division of the payload between multiple compartments limited the maximum size of the individual bombs which could be completely enclosed to 2,000 lb (910 kg); when carrying theBlockbuster bomb of 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) and 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) high capacity (HC) bombs the bomb bay doors could not close fully.[26]
In November 1940, the Handley Page Halifax entered service withNo. 35 Squadron atRAF Linton-on-Ouse. Its operational debut occurred on the night of 10–11 March 1941, when six Halifax bombers flew a bombing raid againstLe Havre, targeting the area around the docks and any shipping that might be present.[10][27] The existence of the Halifax was not officially acknowledged until July 1941, after it was used in a daylight attack onLa Pallice,France, against theGerman battleshipScharnhorst. At the end of 1941, the Halifax was withdrawn from daylight bombing operations after intensifying fighter opposition had increased the casualty rates to unsustainable levels.[10]
In the second half of 1942, No. 35 Squadron and four other squadrons were selected to form thePathfinder Force, later expanded to becomeNo. 8 Group.[10] Pathfinder crews flying the Halifax would mark routes and identify and mark targets for the Main Force. Effective marking greatly increased the accuracy and destructive power of Bomber Command. As a Pathfinder and Main Force aircraft, the Halifax was a core part of the bombing offensive against Germany and its Axis allies.[28]
By the end of 1943,No. 4 Group had been entirely equipped with the Halifax, and would continue to operate the aircraft until the end of the war.No. 6 Group, formed ofRoyal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) squadrons, also adopted the Halifax around the same time, and would go on to operate it in each of its 14 squadrons, although it was never solely equipped with the type. At its peak strength, Bomber Command operated a total of 76 Halifax-equipped squadrons.[10]
While the early-built models of the Halifax were heavily used by Bomber Command and made valuable contributions to operations, the aircraft's performance was considered unsatisfactory for the most part, mainly due to the underpowered Merlin engine, which meant that it could not fly at the higher altitudes needed to avoid enemy fighters, which were becoming increasingly effective throughout 1943. This was answered by the Halifax Mk.III, which was powered byBristol Herculesradial engines in place of the Merlins. Introduced into service in November 1943, the Mk.III was first delivered toNo. 433 Squadron andNo. 466 Squadron. By January 1944, the Hercules-powered Halifax was available in quantity and quickly proved to have superior performance in the face of German fighter defences.[29]
Early on, Air Chief Marshal Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, was scathing in his criticism of the Halifax's performance in comparison to the newAvro Lancaster, primarily of its bomb-carrying capability: an average Halifax was calculated to drop 100 tons of bombs in its lifetime, compared to a Lancaster's 154. Harris continued to have a poor opinion of the Halifax, despite the fact that later Hercules-engined machines had lower loss rates and higher crew survival rates after abandoning the aircraft than Lancasters, and came very close to the Lancaster's speed and altitude performance.[30] The Halifax was progressively outnumbered in front-line service over occupied Europe as more Lancasters became available from 1943 onwards; many squadrons converted to the Lancaster.[note 1]
Production of the Halifax continued, supposedly because it was more efficient to keep building it than to stop its production and convert to building another aircraft. But any new facilities were devoted to the Lancaster.[citation needed]
Harris's view of the Halifax changed sometime after spring 1942. On 2 June 1942, in a response to a telegram sent by Frederick Handley Page, congratulating Harris on the success of thefirst 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."[31]
Following the invasion of Europe in 1944, the Halifax resumed daylight bombing operations, performing semi-tactical strikes upon enemy troop concentrations, gun emplacements, and strongpoints of theAtlantic Wall defences along the French coast with a reportedly high degree of accuracy. Other common targets were enemy communications and the launch sites forV-1 flying bombs. Bombing activity became increasingly brazen throughout late 1944 as theLuftwaffe became incapable of putting up effective opposition against allied air forces. The Halifax also found itself being increasingly tasked with transport duties around this time; in one instance, around half a million gallons of petrol was delivered toBrussels in support of the advancingSecond Army, then engaged in heavy fighting atArnhem.[32]
During the latter half of 1944, the bombing of German-held oil facilities became a major priority of the offensive. On 27 August, a force of 216 Halifax bombers, alongside smaller numbers ofde Havilland Mosquitos and Lancasters and a sizable escort ofSupermarine Spitfires, conducted the first major daylight operation by Bomber Command against a target inside Germany that year, attacking the oil refinery atHomberg on theRuhr. In spite of heavy fire fromanti-aircraft defences, no bombers were downed and the refinery was severely damaged in places. Attacks upon oil production facilities throughout Germany would become commonplace within the remaining months of the war.[33]
The onlyVictoria Cross to be awarded to any Halifax pilot went to Cyril J. Barton ofNo. 578 Squadron for displaying great gallantry in bringing his heavily damaged aircraft back after a raid onNuremberg on the night of 30/31 March 1944. Barton continued to fly the Halifax while other crew members bailed out. He was killed in the aircraft's crash-landing, but the remaining crew survived due to his actions.[32]
Large numbers of Halifax bombers were also operated byCoastal Command, which used it to conductanti submarine warfare,reconnaissance andmeteorological operations. The Halifax was heavily used to deploymines in the vicinity of enemy-held ports.[34] It served increasingly in other support capacities as the war progressed, being used as aglider tug, anelectronic warfare aircraft forNo. 100 Group and to conduct special operations, such asparachuting agents and arms into occupiedEurope, for theSpecial Operations Executive (SOE).[35] As a glider tug the Halifax was superior to the Lancaster, the Halifax Mk.III's 59,400 lb (26,900 kg) "tug weight at take off" was higher than a Lancaster Mk.II's 52,800 lb (23,900 kg).[36]
Throughout early 1945, the Halifax was frequently dispatched against cities within the German homeland, includingHannover,Magdeburg,Stuttgart,Cologne,Münster,Osnabrück and others. During these months, infrastructure such as oil facilities andrailways were given a high priority; these targets were attacked right up until the end of the war. According to Moyes, within the final few months, bomber losses had fallen to all-time lows while raids were frequently regarded as having been highly successful. During the final months of the war the improved Halifax Mk.VI and Mk.VII were introduced. In particular, these models had been 'tropicalised' with an eye towards their potential use in thePacific War against theEmpire of Japan. While some of these Mk.VI and Mk.VII machines were deployed to the theatre, they played little meaningful role as thewar ended before larger numbers could be brought to bear against Japanese forces.[35]
On 25 April 1945, the Halifax performed its last major operation against the enemy in WWII during an attack upon coastal gun batteries onWangerooge in theFrisian Islands of theNorth Sea. While the type continued to fly operations after this, these were primarily diversions to other operations and sporadic, uncoordinated attacks againsttargets of opportunity. Upon the end of the conflict, Bomber Command quickly disbanded the majority of its Halifax-equipped squadrons; the aircraft themselves were transferred to Transport Command. During the type's service with Bomber Command, Halifaxes flew 82,773 operations and dropped 224,207 tons of bombs. 1,833 aircraft were lost.[37][38]
By 1947, the majority of Halifax bombers were deemed to be surplus and scrapped.[39] The Halifax remained in widespread service with Coastal Command andRAF Transport Command,Royal Egyptian Air Force and theArmée de l'Air until early 1952.
TheRoyal Pakistan Air Force however continued operating them up till 1961, thusPakistan became the last military user of the type. In 1947, the RPAF inherited two Halifax bombers from the RAF which were later heavily used during the1st Kashmir War in 1948. RPAF Halifaxes flew several sorties in support of Pakistani and Kashmiri forces (notably in theBattle of Skardu) during which they conducted night-timeAirdrop missions. After the war, six ex-RAF Halifax-BVIs were purchased in 1949. Due to their high operational costs, the RPAF Commanders decided not to enlarge the Halifax fleet too much. These airplanes were later transferred to the newly raised No. 12 Squadron PAF, where they were only used in emergency situations. Gradually, they were transferred to long term storage and were later scrapped.[40]
In September 1997 Halifax 57 Rescue of Canada excavated Halifax LW682 from a bog near theRiver Dender inBelgium. The plane was part of RCAF 426 Squadron, and had been shot down nearGeraardsbergen during a raid onLeuven, Belgium on 12 May 1944. During the excavation, the bodies of three crew members were recovered and later given proper burial. Several items from the plane were used in restoration of NA337, while other items were transferred to museums. The airframe was melted down and used to construct the ceiling of theRAF Bomber Command Memorial inLondon, which was unveiled in 2012.[41]
A number of former RAF Halifax C.8s were sold from 1945 and used as freighters by a number of mostly British airlines. In 1948, 41 civilian Halifax freighters were used during theBerlin Air Lift, operating 4,653 sorties carrying freight and 3,509 carrying bulk diesel fuel. Nine aircraft were lost during the airlift. Thelow-cost airline business pioneerFreddie Laker bought and serviced war-surplus Halifaxes forBond Air Services operations in the Berlin airlift.[citation needed] With the airfreight market in decline, most of the civilian Halifaxes were scrapped on their return to England. The last civilian-operated Halifaxes were withdrawn from service in late 1952.
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Of the 6,176 Halifaxes built, three complete examples remain.
| Serial | Geographic location | Institutional location | History | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA337 | Trenton, Ontario | National Air Force Museum of Canada | Built byRootes Motors. Delivered to644 Squadron atRAF Tarrant Rushton 5 March 1945. On 24 March 1945 it towed a glider as part ofOperation Varsity – the airborne operation in support of crossing the Rhine. Completed three supply drops in Norway and Denmark in March and April 1945. On the fourth sortie, 23 April 1945, piloted by Alexander Turnbull, NA337 was sent to drop 13 supply containers and two packages at Mikkelsberget, Norway. After a successful drop, it was hit by flak in the starboard wing at 0131 hours on 24 April. After both starboard engines caught fire, NA337 ditched inLake Mjøsa at 0145 hours. All but one crew member, Thomas Weightman, died of hypothermia. It was discovered in 1991 by Tore Marsoe and Rolf Liberg, and further raised in 1995 by Halifax 57 Rescue. Restoration was completed in November 2005.[52] |  |
| HR792 | Elvington, North Yorkshire | Yorkshire Air Museum | Built by Handley Page. 58 Squadron. Flew 67 sorties, 15 July 1943 – 9 December 1944. Crash landed nearStornoway, 13 January 1945. Fuselage was purchased by a chicken farmer and used as a coop. Recovered and restored in 1984 using parts from Halifaxes LW687 and JP158 as well as wings fromHastings TG536. Painted as LV907 "Friday the 13th" of158 Squadron.[53] |  |
| W1048 | Colindale,London | RAF Museum London | Built byEnglish Electric. Assigned to102 Squadron atRAF Topcliffe on 27 March 1942. Sent to35 Squadron atRAF Linton-on-Ouse on 9 April 1942. On 27 April, it was one of 31 Halifaxes that flew fromRAF Kinloss as part of raid on the German battleshipTirpitz. W1048 made her attack at 03:00 hours, during which she was hit by the intense flak which set the starboard outer engine on fire. Pilot Don MacIntyre made a wheels-up landing on frozenLake Hoklingen inNorway but the aircraft sank 12 hours later. It was discovered by divers in 1971 and recovered on 30 June 1973 by the RAF Sub-Aqua Association. It has been left unrestored.[54] |  |
Halifax NA337 and LW682A have been recovered by a Canadian group, Halifax 57 Rescue. Halifax NA337 was recovered in 1995 from 750 ft (230 m) underLake Mjøsa, Norway before being restored at theNational Air Force Museum of Canada inTrenton, Ontario.[55] In 1997, LW682 was recovered from a bog nearGeraardsbergen, Belgium. Halifax 57 Rescue was also involved the recovery and subsequent burial of three crew members. Parts were used to restore NA337, and the rest was melted down for theLondonRAF Bomber Command Memorial.[41]
In 2023 Halifax 57 Rescue were looking to recover two more aircraft, HR871 nearSweden,[56][57] and LW170 near Scotland.[58] Once recovered, the plan is for HR871 to be moved to theNanton, AlbertaBomber Command Museum of Canada for restoration.
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Data fromHalifax, Second to None,The Handley Page Halifax B.III, VI, VII[59][12]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Avionics
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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