HP Halifax B Mk V Series 1a Serial LK743 138 Squadron RAF Tempsford.

[Roger Freeman]

As part of my ongoing research into Handley Page Halifax B Mk V Series 1a Serial No LK743 that crashed on the 8th January 1944 at Tetworth Hill Bedfordshire I wondered if any 'Halifax experts' out there were familiar with the Fairy Aviation Co Ltd files/documents that the RAF Museum, Hendon, has under Ref AC 73/30 ?.

I am specifically looking for production batch manufacturing details for this aircraft as to how it was delivered to 138 Squadron RAF Tempsford on the 4th January 1944 (e.g. did it have a full plexiglass nose or 'Tollerton' nose, did it have four blade Rotol propellers, did it have the later 'D' type rudders or the original trangular rudders ?.

HP Halifax LK743 was built by contractor Fairy Aviation Co Ltd at their Cheadle Heath factory at Stockport near Manchester between August 1943 and December 1943 as part of Contract AC/891 and it was delivered to 138 Special Duties Squadron at RAF Tempsford, Bedford shire on the 4th January 1944.

I am endeavouring to find out specific factory production manufacturing/modification details of the aircraft and would hope that these could be contained under the RAF Museum Ref AC 73/30 documents for Fairy Aviation Co Ltd based on their HP Halifax B Mk V production period August 1943 to end December 1943.

I already have the manufacturing details below for HP Halifax LK743 :

LK743 was a H.P.Halifax B/Met.Mk.V Series 1a aircraft manufactured by Fairy Aviation Co Ltd at their 'Heaton Chapel' factory in Stockport, Manchester, England between August 1943 and December 1943. (RAF Contract Cards LK743 Halifax V, allocated to RAF 138 squadron, allotment number 6309, delivered 4 January 1944, counted as January production, part of contract 891/SAS/C4C (also AC/891) built by Fairey Aviation. Original Requisition 1/E1/41 but other requisitions were made against the order, which ultimately became for 1,030 aircraft). HK743 was built within a batch of 96 H.P.Halifax B/Met.Mk.V Series 1a aircraft manufactured by Fairy Aviation Co Ltd in a production run between Serial No's : LK626 to LK746.

The attached photograph of Halifax LK640, of 'Iroquois' Squadron RCAF, is of the same production batch as LK743. It is the nearest I have been able to get of a Halifax B Mk V Series 1a and what LK743 'may' have looked like. As can be seen LK640 has 'Dowty' U/C, three blade DH propellers, the full plexiglass nose, but the original triangular rudders. It also has the relatively unusual 'Lancaster type' twin ribbed tail wheel ?.

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[Geoffrey Sinclair]

As already noted Fairey changed to series Ia in late June 1943. LK743 mark V series Ia, with all the changes introduced in 1943, transparent nose, D fins, lower 4 gun mid upper turret, etc.. To 138 squadron 4 January, lost 8 January. Merlin 20 engines.

Correction time, despite the contract card note saying January 1944 the Ministry of Aircraft Production considers LK743 to be a December 1943 aircraft, with LK746 the last Fairey built mark V and LK747 the first mark III, with the first 2 mark III built in December, along with the final 13 mark II.

As of December 1943 Lancaster, York and Halifax used the Dunlop AH8013 tail wheel, the Lancaster, York and Halifax V used the 12.50-10 T.C. tyre, the Halifax II, III and VI the 12.50-10 tyre.

When it comes to propellers the Halifax II and V as of January 1943 were 3 blade Rotol of "various" model types. In January 1944 comes the first reported production of Rotol 4 blade propellers for Halifax II and V, 242 for the month. In February the last Rotol 3 blade for Halifax. The 4 blade propellers running at around 400 or more a month to mid 1944, down to 186 in October and 85 in November when the model number is given for the first time R7/4B5/4, it means over 3,000 were made during 1944.

LK640 was delivered 31 August 1943. There is a photograph captioned LK735 dated February 1944 in Handley Page Halifax Part 2 by Peter Allam, page 61.

The D fins were tested at A&AEE in June 1943 and introduced into production a couple of months later. The fins, like the propellers, could be retro fitted and there are photographs of Halifax with a pair of 3 blade and a pair of 4 blade propellers.

To be a Met aircraft required post production conversion. Aircraft in 138 squadron had modifications for supply and personnel dropping.

No idea what the RAF Museum Fairey Documents hold.

 

[Roger Freeman]

As already noted Fairey changed to series Ia in late June 1943. LK743 mark V series Ia, with all the changes introduced in 1943, transparent nose, D fins, lower 4 gun mid upper turret, etc.. To 138 squadron 4 January, lost 8 January. Merlin 20 engines.

Correction time, despite the contract card note saying January 1944 the Ministry of Aircraft Production considers LK743 to be a December 1943 aircraft, with LK746 the last Fairey built mark V and LK747 the first mark III, with the first 2 mark III built in December, along with the final 13 mark II.

As of December 1943 Lancaster, York and Halifax used the Dunlop AH8013 tail wheel, the Lancaster, York and Halifax V used the 12.50-10 T.C. tyre, the Halifax II, III and VI the 12.50-10 tyre.

When it comes to propellers the Halifax II and V as of January 1943 were 3 blade Rotol of "various" model types. In January 1944 comes the first reported production of Rotol 4 blade propellers for Halifax II and V, 242 for the month. In February the last Rotol 3 blade for Halifax. The 4 blade propellers running at around 400 or more a month to mid 1944, down to 186 in October and 85 in November when the model number is given for the first time R7/4B5/4, it means over 3,000 were made during 1944.

LK640 was delivered 31 August 1943. There is a photograph captioned LK735 dated February 1944 in Handley Page Halifax Part 2 by Peter Allam, page 61.

The D fins were tested at A&AEE in June 1943 and introduced into production a couple of months later. The fins, like the propellers, could be retro fitted and there are photographs of Halifax with a pair of 3 blade and a pair of 4 blade propellers.

To be a Met aircraft required post production conversion. Aircraft in 138 squadron had modifications for supply and personnel dropping.

No idea what the RAF Museum Fairey Documents hold.

Geoff,
Many thanks for your informative reply to my queries. Gradually the pieces regarding the final days of Halifax LK743 are coming together. The only 138 Squadron records I can find so far are that Halifax LK743 was delivered to them at RAF Tempsford on Tuesday 4th January 1944 and this appears to be direct from the Cheadle Heath factory (Ringway airfield) and not via a RAF MU. I have planned to visit the UK again this October (pending the outcome of the Iran War on my flight booking from Australia of course) and will investigate as part of my research as to if the RAF Museum Fairy Aviation document files AC 73/30 can bring up anything new ?.
Interesting to note that the 'Lancaster AH8013' tail wheel was used for a couple of months late 1943 on the Halifax B Mk V.

Best Regards,
Roger F.