Handley Page Halifax
Handley Page · United Kingdom · first flew 1939 · bomber
One of the RAF's two great four-engined heavy bombers of the Second World War, flying alongside the Lancaster over occupied Europe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin oval fins on a slab-sided fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four piston engines on a broad straight wing
- Twin oval fins on a slab-sided fuselage
- Glazed nose and a deep belly housing the bomb bay
Four piston engines, a broad straight wing and twin fins distinguish it from twin-engined types. Against the Lancaster, look for the Halifax's more upright twin fins and deeper, more slab-sided fuselage.
Specifications
- The Handley Page Halifax has a length of 21.8 m (72 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 31.7 m (104 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 450 km/h (280 mph).
- Typical crew: 7.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Handley Page's heavy bomber first flew in 1939 and entered Bomber Command service in 1941, initially with Merlin engines and later the more powerful Bristol Hercules radials. It flew tens of thousands of sorties over Germany and was widely used for special operations, glider towing and paratroop dropping.
Variants
Early Merlin-powered marks gave way to the radial-engined B.III with its rounded fins, the definitive wartime version. Coastal Command, transport, glider-tug and meteorological variants extended its service well beyond the bombing role.
Where you'll see it
A frontline RAF and Commonwealth heavy bomber, the Halifax served Bomber Command, Coastal Command and the airborne forces throughout the war; preserved and restored examples are cherished British aviation heritage at museums such as Yorkshire Air Museum and the RAF Museum.
Related aircraft
- Handley Page Hampden
- Handley Page Halifax B.III
- Handley Page Marathon
- Handley Page H.P.42
- Avro Manchester
- Bloch MB.170
- Bloch MB.174
- Breguet 693
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