The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engine heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing. The Halifax was also operated by squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Polish Air Force.

The Halifax entered service with No. 35 Squadron RAF at RAF Linton on Ouse in November 1940 and its first operational raid was against Le Havre on the night of 11-12 March 1941. In service with RAF Bomber Command, Halifaxes flew 82,773 operations, dropped 224,207 tons of bombs and lost 1,833 aircraft. (Wings Encyclopedia of Aviation, Orbis, 1979) In addition to bombing missions, the Halifax served as a glider tug, electronic warfare aircraft for No. 100 Group RAF and special operations such as parachuting agents and arms into occupied Europe. Halifaxes were also operated by RAF Coastal Command for anti submarine warfare, reconnaissance and meteorological roles.

Total Halifax production was 6,176 with the last aircraft delivered in November 1946. In addition to Handley Page, Halifaxes were built by English Electric, Fairey Aviation, Rootes Motors and the London Aircraft Production Group. Peak production resulted in one Halifax being completed every hour.

Post-WWII, Halifaxes remained in service with the RAF Coastal Command and RAF Transport Command and the Armee de l'Air until early 1952. The Pakistan Air Force which inherited the planes from the RAF continued to use the type until 1961. A transport/cargo version of the Halifax was also produced, the Handley Page Halton.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a Handley Page Halifax A Mk. V heavy bomber that was attached to No.295 Squadron, Army Cooperation Command, which participated in Operation Elaborate during June 1943.

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 17-1/4-inches
Length: 12-inches

Release Date: January 2008

Historical Account: "Operation Elaborate" - On September 18th, 1943, No. 295 Squadron participated in Operation Elaborate, the ferrying of Horsa gliders from Portreath to Rabat, Morocco. Halifax DG 396/GG, piloted by Flying Officer Arthur Norman, and its towed Horsa (No. HS 102) were attacked by German Junkers Ju 88s from V/KG 40.

The glider pilot cast off the tow line so that the Halifax could evade three Ju 88s making strafing runs on the pair of aircraft. The Halifax faired better, downing one Ju 88 in the water, thanks to Sergeant John Grant, the rear gunner and only gunner on board the lumbering Halifax. The Horsa, on the other hand, was shot down by Oberleutnant Dieter Meister (V/KG 40), although the three men on board the glider safely managed to get out of the plane.

For this exploit, Flying Officer Arthur Norman received a DFC and Sergeant John Grant a DFM.