Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax B.Mk.V Srs.I (Special)

Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax B.Mk.V Srs.I (Special)

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This is very unusual model of Halifax, as will be learned by reading the following remarks.

08/01/2002. Remarks by Carlo Soliani: "The B.Mk.V differs from the B.Mk.II only for the installation of a Dowty landing gear (instead of Messier). The aircraft belongs to the 'Special' sub-version because the nose turret has been removed and a metal fairing has been installed.

This aircraft includes also a later change introduced retrospectively to all Halifax, involving the replacement of the triangular fins by larger units of quadrilateral shape. This modification was introduced after several losses of aircrafts that flew with one engine damaged or out of service; in this condition was possible for the Halifax to enter an uncontrollable spin. The Manufacturer delayed this modification and decided to proceed only after a Polish test pilot was killed in an accident caused by this abnormal behaviour of the aircraft.

The photograph shows clearly the Dowty landing gear legs (of circular section and thinner than the Messier ones); note also the cowlings of the radiators removed."

11/01/2002. Remarks by Chris Pinn: In a book titled 'Halifax Squadrons of WW II' by Jon Lake, there is a colour drawing of a Halifax in just the same configuration. This was DG250, a B.Mk.V Srs.I of 1674 HCU, still sporting a Coastal Command colour scheme from its earlier days with 58 Squadron. Tantalizingly this aircraft was described as 'almost unique', although this may have been because of the 4-bladed props and Hudson mid-upper turret! But no photo. So the hunt was on to find photographic evidence of the beast and you have provided it!

The text by Carlo Soliani indentifies the aircraft quite correctly as a B.Mk.V. The Holmsley South aircraft in the sketch would have probably been an A.Mk.V with towing gear under the fuselage, which photo No. 351 definitely does not have. So that suggests there were at least 3 of these aircraft! I presume photo No. 351 has a mid-upper turret, which is not visible. The A.Mk.V would probably have had none."

11/15/2002. Remarks by Ron Dupas: "In corresponding with Mr. Pinn, closely inspection of the original photo made out three numbers near the tailplane, 424, preceded by one or two illegible characters."

11/30/2002. Remarks by Chris Pinn: "There is as a real possibility that this could be DG 424 which was a late build B.Mk.V Srs.I, i.e. in the same series as the similar DG 250 mentioned above, although Jon Lake's book shows DG 253 without rectangular fins!"


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This is very unusual model of Halifax, as will be learned by reading the following remarks. 08/01/2002. Remarks by Carlo Soliani: "The B.Mk.V differs from the B.Mk.II only for the installation of a Dowty landing gear (instead of Messier). The aircraft belongs to the 'Special' sub-version because the nose turret has been removed and a metal fairing has been installed. This aircraft includes also a later change introduced retrospectively to all Halifax, involving the replacement of the triangular fins by larger units of quadrilateral shape. This modification was introduced after several losses of aircrafts that flew with one engine damaged or out of service; in this condition was possible for the Halifax to enter an uncontrollable spin. The Manufacturer delayed this modification and decided to proceed only after a Polish test pilot was killed in an accident caused by this abnormal behaviour of the aircraft. The photograph shows clearly the Dowty landing gear legs (of circular section and thinner than the Messier ones); note also the cowlings of the radiators removed." 11/01/2002. Remarks by Chris Pinn: In a book titled 'Halifax Squadrons of WW II' by Jon Lake, there is a colour drawing of a Halifax in just the same configuration. This was DG250, a B.Mk.V Srs.I of 1674 HCU, still sporting a Coastal Command colour scheme from its earlier days with 58 Squadron. Tantalizingly this aircraft was described as 'almost unique', although this may have been because of the 4-bladed props and Hudson mid-upper turret! But no photo. So the hunt was on to find photographic evidence of the beast and you have provided it! The text by Carlo Soliani indentifies the aircraft quite correctly as a B.Mk.V. The Holmsley South aircraft in the sketch would have probably been an A.Mk.V with towing gear under the fuselage, which photo No. 351 definitely does not have. So that suggests there were at least 3 of these aircraft! I presume photo No. 351 has a mid-upper turret, which is not visible. The A.Mk.V would probably have had none." 11/15/2002. Remarks by Ron Dupas: "In corresponding with Mr. Pinn, closely inspection of the original photo made out three numbers near the tailplane, 424, preceded by one or two illegible characters." 11/30/2002. Remarks by Chris Pinn: "There is as a real possibility that this could be DG 424 which was a late build B.Mk.V Srs.I, i.e. in the same series as the similar DG 250 mentioned above, although Jon Lake's book shows DG 253 without rectangular fins!"