Handley Page Halifax B.III
Handley Page · United Kingdom · first flew 1943 · bomber
The Halifax B.III re-engined the design with Bristol Hercules radials, curing the directional instability and performance shortfalls that had plagued the earlier Merlin-powered marks.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 21.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Bristol Hercules radial engines give short, broad, blunt cowlings with prominent exhaust collector rings — very different from the slim inline cowlings of Mk.I/II
- Revised D-shaped fins replacing the triangular earlier fins — taller and more rounded top edge
- Enlarged rectangular fins and a frameless perspex nose replacing the glazed framed Mk.I nose
The radial cowlings of the B.III are immediately distinctive against the narrow-chord Merlin cowlings of the Mk.I and Mk.II; the revised taller D-shaped fins also separate the B.III from earlier angular twin fins.
Specifications
- The Handley Page Halifax B.III has a length of 21.4 m (70 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 30.1 m (99 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 454 km/h (282 mph).
- Typical crew: 7.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in early 1944, the B.III became the definitive Halifax variant and was produced in the largest numbers. The Hercules XVI offered improved altitude performance and reliability compared to the Merlin XX of the Mk.II, restoring Bomber Command confidence in the type after a period of poor loss rates.
Variants
The B.VI and B.VII were broadly similar with improved Hercules marks; the C.VIII and A.IX were transport and airborne-forces variants on the same airframe.
Where you'll see it
The sole surviving Halifax, Friday the 13th (LW682), a B.II, is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum Halifax, Nova Scotia; no B.III survives intact.
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