Classic Publications

Handley Page Halifax: From Hell to Victory and Beyond

by  Ken Merrick

Reviewed By  Brian R. Baker, IPMS# 43146

MSRP: $56.95 ISBN 13: 978-1-906537-06-7 Review copy provided by Specialty Press Website: www.specialtypress.com The Aircraft The Handley Page Halifax was the World War II development of the British heavy bomber which began with the 0/100 biplanes of World War I. Going through many stages of evolution up to the Heyford biplane bomber of the mid thirties, the Halifax specification was issued in 1935, and although this was first envisioned as a two engine aircraft, the end result, much like the Manchester-Lancaster program, was the four engine heavy bomber that was produced in greater numbers than any other wartime British 'heavy", a total of 6,176 being built. The Halifax, once the temperamental Rolls Royce Merlins were replaced by more reliable Bristol Hercules radials, became the most versatile bomber in the RAF's arsenal, where it was used not only as a heavy bomber, but also for anti-shipping and anti-submarine work, radar countermeasures, troop transporting and glider towing, ECM duties, and as an experimental test bed not only in the ETO, but also in the Middle East and Far East areas of operation. In addition, many went to the French, where they were used in military operations for several years after the war, and others were sold as surplus to civilian operators, such as BOAC, who used them until designed-for-the-purpose aircraft replaced them in the late forties. Some were even used in the Berlin Airlift. Bomber Command operated Halifaxes as soon as they became available, at first against targets in France and Germany, and later in the tactical bombing role after the beginning of the invasion in 1944. Later, they were operated by Coastal Command and other specialized units. Other technological developments, such as "Oboe" and "Gee" led to more accurate bombing attacks and better defenses against Luftwaffe night fighters, and although at first, losses were fairly heavy, but as the German defenses were worn down, losses went down dramatically. They were mostly used for night bombing, although later in the war, some daytime missions were flown. The aircraft was popular with its crews, and boasted the highest survival rate for any bomber in RAF service. While the Lancaster, like the Boeing B-17, received better press and publicity, the Halifax was more like its B-24 counterpart, underpublicized but more versatile in its eventual roles. Unfortunately, very few survived, and those that did were recovered as wrecks many years later, with an unrestored example, a B. Mk. II, raised from a Norwegian Lake, currently displayed at the RAF Museum, while the Canadian example, a B. Mk. VII, which was also raised from a lake in Norway many years later, has been restored to nearly airworthy condition and is displayed at the RCAF Museum in Trenton, Ontario. A third example was built up from some recovered parts and others of new manufacture by the Yorkshire Air Museum, and it is currently displayed at the former RAF Station at Elvington. It is the Hercules powered version, although it includes parts from several other marks. The Book This book will certainly become the definitive work on the Halifax. On first glance, it looks like an excellent collection of photographs and drawings and very extensive text in very small print, meaning that the book has a lot of information. Fourteen chapters are titles as follows: From Project to Production. Into Battle. Expanding the Halifax Force. Finding the Target. The Battle intensifies. Operations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Italy. Special Duties Operations. Coastal Command. Airborne Forces Operations. Enter the B. Mk. III. Final Operations in Europe. Operations in the Far East. Post-war Military Use. Swords into Ploughshares, 1945-1953 (Civil Operations). In addition, six appendices include such topics as Halifax Training. Production and Repair. Contracts and Serial Numbers. Design Data Halifax Squadrons. Halifax Civil Register. References notes and an impressive index follow. The chapters give a very extensive and detailed account of nearly every operation that Halifaxes were involved in, even to the damage assessments and fates of the crews that went down over enemy territory. The photographs are well reproduced, with a few even in color. One thing that was particularly impressive was the amount of information contained in the captions, which were sometimes several hundred words long. A number of color profiles are included, usually next to the photos of the airplane being illustrated. There is a lot of detail information, such as production photos, interior shots, and a cutaway drawing, so the modeler will not be disappointed in this respect. A lot of crash photos show that the Halifax could certainly absorb a lot of battle damage and still be landed intact. The only drawbacks I found in the book were things that have been covered in less extensive publications on the Halifax. The color drawings were scattered throughout the book, not concentrated, and there are no plan views showing camouflage patterns. Aside from a small manufacturer's concept drawing, there was no large, accurate three view drawing or profile views showing comparative marks side by side for comparison. But, as I said, these appear in other publications that most serious modelers should already have, so it should be no problem.