Handley Page Hampden

Handley Page · United Kingdom · first flew 1936 · bomber

The Handley Page Hampden was a British twin-engine medium bomber famous for its exceptionally narrow, deep fuselage that gave it an unmistakable silhouette in the early years of World War II.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Extraordinarily narrow fuselage nicknamed 'the flying suitcase'
T — Tail	Twin fin

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Spot it by:

Extraordinarily narrow fuselage nicknamed 'the flying suitcase'
Twin tail booms with twin fins and rudders
Mid-mounted tapered wing with Bristol Pegasus radial engines

Instantly recognisable by the razor-thin fuselage that is deeper than it is wide, the twin-tail boom arrangement, and the long-span mid-set wing; no other aircraft of its era has such a distinctive cross-section.

Specifications

The Handley Page Hampden has a length of 16.33 m (54 ft).
It has a wingspan of 21.08 m (69 ft).
Its maximum speed is 426 km/h (265 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

One of three main RAF bomber types at the outbreak of war alongside the Wellington and Whitley, the Hampden flew its first operational sorties in 1939. It served in Bomber Command until 1942 and then with Coastal Command as a torpedo bomber until 1943.

Variants

The Hampden I was the standard bomber; the Hereford was a variant with Napier Dagger engines built in limited numbers; Hampdens were converted to torpedo-carrying Hampden TB.1 for Coastal Command use.

Where you'll see it

Served with RAF Bomber Command on raids over Germany and occupied Europe, and later with Coastal Command on anti-shipping patrols; a highly recognisable British type of the early war period.

Related aircraft

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