RAF 138 Squadron H.P.Halifax B Mk V 1A Special RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire UK named 'Haggis'.

[Roger Freeman]

Are there any H.P. Halifax or television wartime film experts out there ?.
Some time ago I photographed on my television a 138 Squadron H.P.Halifax B Mk V 1A Special (fitted with 4-blade propellors) loading SOE/Resistance Cannisters at what I am pretty certain was RAF Tempsford, probably late in the war 1944/45. For the life of me I cannot remember what the film was but was most likely a documentary on SOE operations from RAF Tempsford ?. I am trying to trace the aircraft serial number of of the H.P. Halifax B Mk V in the two photos I took (both attached but poor quality). The aircraft was clearly named 'Haggis, so one assumes a crew or pilot from north of the border ?. I cannot make out the emblem aft of the navigator/radio operator's windows but it looks like 'Big Eagle' ?. A Short Stirling can also be seen in the background which fits in with RAF Tempsford late war probably belonging to 161 Squadron who shared Tempsford with Stirlings late war when Halifax casualties started to take effect.

 

[Wurger]

IMHO not the "Big Eagle" but "Big Chief".

 

[Crimea_River]

No new info but slightly better photos here: Bomber Command Museum of Canada Nose Art Search

 

[Wurger]

IMHO the emblem could be a head of an Indian ( the Native American or Canadian ) wearing a war bonnet or a hunter's head in the fur hunting cap.

 

[JDCAVE]

The artwork on an aircraft is not sufficient evidence for the true identity of an aircraft. The artwork from an aircraft that is lost is sometimes redrawn/repainted onto succeeding aircraft maintained by the same ground crew.

Jim

 

[mjfur]

If you work backwards you may be able to narrow down the serial number.

What are the serial number ranges for the H.P.Halifax B Mk V 1A Special (fitted with 4-blade propellors)?

Halifax Mk II and V subvariants

The Halifax Mk II and V had three subvariants: the Series I, Series I (Special), and Series Ia. Does anyone have any data on the production numbers of each subvariant? I only have once source on hand which lists such information: Halifax at War by Brian J. Napier (Ian Allan Publishing, 1986)...

ww2aircraft.net

Using this page you can see which serial numbers in that range were assigned to 138 Sqdn.

Form 78 Handley Page Halifax – Bomber Command History

www.lancasterbombers.net