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The name Handley-Page had been associated with the building of bomber aircraft since World War 1, thus it was no surprise that in 1936 the British Air Staff awarded the company with a development contract for another new aircraft. Four out of every ten heavy bombers built in Great Britain were Halifaxes, and together with the Avro Lancaster they shared the RAF's strategic night bombing offensive from 1941 through to the ultimate crescendo in 1944. Though perhaps not as shapely as the Lancaster, its deeper and more spacious slab-sided fuselage made it more suitable for a much wider variety of roles. The type served with RAF Bomber Command on high and low level attacks over occupied Europe and...
The second of Britain's four-engined bombers to enter frontline service during World War II (1939-1945), Handley Page's Halifax has forever lived in the shadow of Avro's superb Lancaster. However, it was a Halifax which became the first RAF 'heavy' to drop bombs on Germany when No 35 Sqn raided Hamburg on the night of 12/13 March 1941. Between 1941-45, the Halifax completed some 75,532 sorties [compared with the Lancaster's 156,000] with Bomber Command alone, not to mention its sterling work as both a glider tug and paratroop carrier with the Airborne Forces, maritime patrol mount with Coastal Command and covert intruder with the SOE.
The Avro Lancaster was a four-engine heavy bomber used by the RAF in 1942 and, together with the Handley Page Halifax, was the main strategic bomber of the RAF and other air forces of the Commonwealth countries. It was mainly used as a night bomber. Around 7,378 were realized Lancaster (excluding prototypes), 430 of them in Canada and they were lost in action 3,932. The Handley Page Halifax was a major British four-engined heavy bombers, remaining in service until the end of the conflict, with numerous tasks in addition to bombing. Halifax's career began in November 1940 and continued until the end of the war. These four engine, however, continued to operate, albeit in minor roles, until 1954-56. In practice, however, the Lancaster showed better performance and as soon as it was available in sufficient numbers, he replaced the Halifax. The Short S.29 Stirling was a British heavy bomber, the first in its class. Along with Lancaster and the Halifax constitute the three main bombers used by Britain in World War II with capacity of bombs from 6,000 kg to 10,000 kg Bomb Grand Slam, one of the heaviest bombs ever built.
This title contains detailed research into events on 102 Squadron, an RAF bomber squadron, listings of targets, call signs, routes flown and bomb loads are provided for each operation flown. It also recounts individual stories of six crewmen drawn from different corners of the world.
A World War II veteran details wartime life in Yorkshire and his postwar efforts to build a museum and restore a Halifax bomber. Between 1935 and 1945, Yorkshire became home to 41 military airfields, the majority located in the Vale of York. The area was often referred to as a land-based aircraft carrier. At 16, Ian Robinson began working for the Handley Page aircraft manufacturer at their repair depot at Clifton, York. There, Halifax bombers used by 4 Group RAF and 6 Group Royal Canadian Air Force were repaired and test flown. During the Second World War, about 30 squadrons operated from these Yorkshire airfields, and the Book of Remembrance in York Minster records more than 18,000 names of...
The Halifax became the second of the new generation of four-engine heavy bombers to enter service with RAF Bomber Command in the Second World War. It flew its first offensive operation in March 1941 and by 1944 it had become the exclusive equipment for Bomber Command's 4 Group and 6 (Canadian) Group, as well as being used in smaller numbers by 100 (Bomber Support) Group. The Halifax flew on virtually all the main raids of the night offensive between 1942 and 1945 and the last occasion when Bomber Command Halifaxes operated in strength against the enemy was on 25 April 1945.
First published in 1993, this accomplished history of Royal Air Force Bomber Command 4 Group has been unavailable for many years. The group will be forever associated with Yorkshire, where it was based for 11 years from 1937 to 1948. The core of the book focuses on the tremendous efforts made by the squadrons allocated to 4 Group during World War II. Backed by hard-working and loyal ground crew, night after night, many hundreds of brave young men flew off into the unknown in Whitleys, Wellingtons and Halifaxes to bring retribution to the Third Reich. Aircraft from 4 Group were the first to fly over Berlin, much to the embarrassment of Goering. They were also the first to bomb Italy. The casualty rate was horrific, especially in the early years of the war when a bomber crew rarely completed a full tour of 30 operations. Interest in the men, machines and operation of RAF Bomber Command has always been considerable.
This is the story of the air war over Western Europe, much of it told by the Halifax pilots and air crew who took part. It spans the period between 1942 and 1945 and covers the encounters between the Luftwaffe and the air forces of Britain and the Commonwealth. Many unique experiences are recounted concerning the daily bombing raids that were hurled against Hitler's war machine. The author has sought the experiences of RAF and German fighter pilots, who explain how they stalked their prey before pouncing to catastrophic effect. This book contains vivid accounts of some of the most heroic actions in the history of air warfare.