Halifax MKII HR864 Series 1 or Series 1A

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Again, it is the radiator that defines series Ia, nothing else. More on when the Halifax mark II or V series Ia entered production at each of the 5 manufacturers.

Extracts from the Bomber Command damaged aircraft reports for late August 1943 to January 1944 indicate Handley-Page went to series Ia in late February 1943 (around HR716, 723 and 726), Fairey late June (around DK235), London Aircraft Production early July (around JN885), Rootes in mid October (around LK955) and English Electric late July (around JD412). The form 78 aircraft cards contradict this for Rootes saying mid July (LK890 versus around LK955) and Handley-Page saying May (HR841 versus around HR716, 723 and 726) while no English Electric cards are marked Ia.

Cross referencing the numbers of series Ia reported lost by the night raid reports with the W R Chorley Bomber Command Losses books, which do not give series information, looks like it supports the above change over times.

First mention of Halifax II or V series Ia in the night raid reports is 3 April 1943, with 10 sorties, 45 sorties on 28 April, 68 on 27 May, a general decline in sorties until a pick up in late July, 78 sorties on 27 July and 118 on 23 August. Handley-Page Halifax II production February to May 1943 was 29, 34, 33, 37, the April and May sorties sent on a given night say the line was building series Ia that were going straight to squadrons.

Change over, aircraft cards / loss and damage reports
Handley-Page, May / February
English Electric, never / July
Fairey, both sources agree
London Aircraft Production, both sources agree
Rootes, July / October.

If HP changes to series Ia on 1 February 1943 then by end June there is a surplus of 425 Ia radiators, if all other lines switch to Ia on 1 July then 420 more radiators are needed than their production July to September inclusive, after which radiator production always exceeds 4 times the numbers of Halifax II and V being built. Handley-Page built 29 mark II in February 1943, Rootes built 23 mark V and English Electric 64 mark II in July, total 116, given 70 to 80 were built as series I, this allows enough Ia radiators for production and spares July to September. Though it is rather close to a just in time system.

Current conclusions, Handley-Page went to series Ia in late February 1943, Fairey late June, London Aircraft production early July, Rootes in mid July and English Electric late July, with a chance of an occasional series I being built after the change overs. It is currently not possible to give the serial of the first series Ia, only a range, hopefully extracts from the damage reports for February to August 1943 and January 1944 on can refine this.

 

[CrazyCanuck]

Hi Ben, from the movement cards I see that all Hallies isued to 405 Sqn with construction numbers starting with HR were issued with Merlin 22's. Therefore I assume that they were all 1a's. Delivery started on May 18 1943. During the month of May a total of 15 Series 1a were delivered. HR864 was delivered on 25 May. Tomczaks first operation was on May 23 so he couldn't have flown HR864 then. In the ORB he was flying LQ-H, but right above this entry it is stated that P/O Smith was also flying "H". A typing error? Tomczak must have flown at least one and maybe more operations on older Halifaxes.
His second Op was on 25 May and he was flying M for Mother then. It seems reasonable that he was still flying one of the older aircraft as 405 Sqn was in the transition to the new Series 1a. That might explain the photo of the Halifax with the "Z" fairing. The photo with his crew on the wing shows also an older type with the antenna boom on top of the fuselage.
All in all, i'm convinced that HR864 was a Series 1a but that Tomczak started his operational career on Mk. II's and somewhat later the Series 1a.
I hope this helps. Nick

Nick: Thanks again for the insight. I have been away from the forum for a while due to work etc. so am just catching up with the trail of messages. As I've said before, I hope that one day an image will emerge with HR864 in the foreground so that I can have a definitive image of Mickey's kite "Tomcat".

Cheers, Crazy Canuck