Some aircraft in wartime are the focus of publicity and propaganda while others soldier on, superb in many roles. The aircraft that is the subject of this book was of the latter type. Her crews were proud of her, glad of her strong construction; built well and well-built, she struck at the German heartland flown by crews handling their first fourengined bomber. Halifax was her name, she was built by Handley Page — and to her crews she was second to none. Designed to a specification that only the Halifax came near to fulfilling by a team and a firm that was in later years, shattered and killed by Government intervention, the Halifax survived a change of engines, changes in design, changes in role, to emerge again and again as a great aircraft, an aircraft of all seasons and scenarios, until finally, fitted with Hercules engines she was superb.
Unlike some aircraft which were the darlings of one Command, the Halifax served many Commands, was the master of many roles and many climes.
Operating against submarines in the Atlantic, bombing the Ruhr or giving airborne support in Europe, these all came alike to the Halifax and her crews. From the mud and slush of Yorkshire airfields to the hot sands of North Africa, from the cold of Europe to the heat and humidity of the Middle and Far East the Halifax was there — time and again surviving the most severe damage to bring her crews home to fight again.
This book charts the Halifax's history, from the original design concept, through its development and testing and its wartime roles and operations.
by Victor Bingham
Published by Airlife 1986 1st edn. 183pp profusely illustrated with b&w photos and drawings, index, appendix. 19x25 near mint, including d/j.
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"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.
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Halifax at War | Raider: The Halifax and its Flyers |
