Handley Page Halifax under the stars

Welcome to this latest edition of Aerodrome and our regular look at the fascinating world of aeroplanes and the historic aviation scene in the UK.

With another UK Airshow season now well and truly behind us, the nation's legions of aviation enthusiasts are going to have to look a little harder to find opportunities to keep their cameras in good running order over the next few months, but as long as we wrap up warm and do a little prep, these opportunities can often be just as rewarding. With an even keener eye on the weather forecast than usual, we might decide to head down to either our local airport for some civilian aviation action, or a military airfield and take our chances on what we might see on any given day. Alternatively, we might take the opportunity to enjoy some static historic aviation sights and visit one of the many interesting museums we are fortunate enough to have here in the UK, perhaps even visiting one we have never been to previously, or not been to for several years.

Another option which is becoming increasingly popular these days, is to book a place on one of the many specialist photography events arranged by several professional groups in the UK, events which cover the length of the country and offer that something a little bit different for the photographer. Replacing the hustle and bustle of the average Airshow for lower group numbers and the opportunity to think more about composition and creativity, these events are run by people who know what they are doing and are determined to serve up a memorable event for those joining them on the day.

In this latest edition of Aerodrome, please join us as we make a long-overdue return to the Yorkshire Air Museum and a nightshoot event which featured an aircraft which for many people is not just this museum's prize exhibit, but is actually one of the most significant historic aircraft in Britain today. Representing more than 6,000 Halifax bombers which flew with Bomber Command during WWII, the museum's 'Friday the 13th' is a stunning representation of an aircraft which allowed Britain to strike back during WWII, one of three British four engined heavy bomber types which took to the skies night after night, as the Allies strove for a hard fought victory. What makes a visit to Elvington all the more memorable is the fact that Halifax bombers actually operated from this station during the Second World War and this is the only place where you will see a complete Halifax (although she is a composite build) on its own undercarriage in the UK. If you haven't been to see 'Friday the 13th' at her Elvington home yet, you don't know what you are missing. Anyway, on with our nightshoot review.

Halifax - The pride of Yorkshire

One of the jewels in the crown of Britain's historic aviation scene, Handley Page Halifax 'Friday The 13th' has definitely helped to put Elvington and the Yorkshire Air Museum on the map.

When it comes to British bomber aircraft of the Second World War, most people think that this particular story begins and ends with the Avro Lancaster, but whilst the Lancaster was undoubtedly a magnificent aircraft, it only formed part of the Bomber Command story. Britain began WWII with several twin engined bomber types in RAF service, with aircraft such as the Blenheim, Hampden, Whitley and Wellington all forced to carry a heavy operational burned during the early years of the war. Indeed, the Vickers Wellington was the most heavily produced British bomber of WWII by some margin, with these aircraft already having dropped many thousands of tons of bombs on enemy targets before the first Lancaster raids took place in March 1942.

Having said that, many military historians believe that one of the main reasons why the Allies prevailed over Axis powers in the Second World War was Germany's inability to develop and introduce large numbers of effective four engined heavy bombers, something the Allies managed to do from early 1941 onwards. The second of the RAF's four engined bomber to enter service, the Handley Page Halifax started to appear on operational airfields just three months after the introduction of the Short Stirling and interestingly, would actually be the first four engined type to drop bombs on the German homeland.  

Originally, the Halifax had been designed as an advanced twin engined bomber, using the powerful new Rolls Royce Vulture 24 cylinder engine as its powerplant of choice, however, persistent development problems with the engine resulted in an eleventh hour re-design to incorporate four of the proven Merlin engines which were in ready supply. This decision would also necessitate a re-design of the wings, extending their span, which resulted in an obvious increase in overall weight for the new aircraft. The Halifax had a large bomb bay, with additional bomb cells in the wing roots and in order to defend itself, it was equipped with, two powered gun turrets front and rear and positions for a further two .303 inch Vickers machine guns in the waist position of the aircraft. Later models would also be equipped with a Boulton Paul ventral turret.

Historically overshadowed by the later and arguably more capable Avro Lancaster, the Halifax was actually not specifically developed to just perform a bombing role, as Handley Page design engineers were challenged to produce the most adaptable aircraft they possibly could. In this regard, they were extremely successful in their endeavours as the deeper, more spacious almost slab sided fuselage of the Halifax proved to be highly adaptable and resulted in the aircraft being used in a variety of different operational roles. From a manufacturing perspective Handley Page used their existing modular construction method to produce the Halifax, with many different sites producing sub-assembly components, all of which were sent to Radlett for final assembly and flight testing. It was felt that by continuing with this manufacturing method, they might mitigate the possibility of production disruption due to Luftwaffe bombing raids.

If you go down to the woods today! If you are at Elvington, you might not stumble across a teddy bear's picnic, but you might just see a Halifax bomber.

As with most new aircraft designs, the service introduction of the Halifax was not without its challenges, but as this introduction was taking place during wartime conditions, these problems proved to be particularly costly for Bomber Command's brave Halifax crews. Initially, RAF commanders were of the opinion that these heavily armed bombers would be able to easily undertake daytime operations autonomously, without the need for dedicated fighter escort, however, this quickly proved to be disastrously over-optimistic and required immediate action. Engine power issues would also plague the early service career of Halifax bombers, but by far the most significant issue that came to light was the worrying flight control problems crews had to contend with.  

The twin rudder arrangement of the early Halifax bombers were almost triangular in appearance and whilst adequate in most phases of flight, was found to have a tendency to lock if overloaded during violent manoeuvres. It was later found that the early rudder design was flawed and under certain circumstances actually resulted in aircraft crashing, as pilots simply could not control of their aircraft. The issue was quickly identified and rectified, but not before a number of aircraft were lost due to what were described as ‘unknown circumstances’ at the time. When this was combined with the relatively low altitudes at which the Halifax was operating and the associated heavy loss rates, it's not difficult to see why the Halifax wasn't initially regarded as a particularly successful aircraft.

The flexibility of the Halifax design would eventually prove to be one of its most valuable attributes and throughout its service life, would see it continually modified and upgraded to fulfil a number of different roles. The rudder control issue was rectified, but only following the introduction of the much improved Halifax Mk.II variant and the adoption of a completely re-designed rectangular dual rudder unit. The even later introduction of the Mk.III saw the definitive version of the Halifax entering Royal Air Force service, which was considered the equal of the celebrated and highly successful Avro Lancaster, and even championed by its crews as the superior aircraft. With more powerful Bristol Hercules engines, better defensive armament and longer, more rounded wing tips, the Mk.III version of the Halifax was an excellent aeroplane and would become the main production variant of this important British bomber.

A bomber posting not for the superstitious

Intended to address a base superstition head on, Handley Page Halifax LV907 was adorned with as many unlucky charms as the crew could thing of. It turned out to be an idea which possibly saved the lives of many a Bomber Command crew.

During the early months of the RAF bomber offensive against Germany in WWII, the men of Bomber Command would suffer heavy losses at the hands of Luftwaffe air and ground defences. Flying the Handley Page Halifax bomber, No.158 Squadron based at Lissett airfield in East Yorkshire, did not escape these punishing losses and recorded many crews failing to return from bombing operations throughout 1943 and on into 1944. Highlighting the many dangers facing bomber crews, the squadron had lost a succession of aircraft carrying the individual code ‘F for Freddie’ during this period, a situation which was beginning to affect the morale of crews at the station. In fact, no fewer than seven different aircraft wearing the letter ‘F’ had been lost during this period and resulted in some superstitious crews flatly refusing to fly in a Halifax wearing the F code. As the latest ‘F for Freddie’ replacement aircraft arrived at RAF Lissett (serial number LV907), many of the crews stationed on the base were determined to avoid the aircraft like the plague.              

Despite the growing superstition surrounding Lissett based ‘F for Freddie’ Halifaxes, LV907 seemed as if it was determined to change this association right from its first mission, actually threatening to turn it on its head. On the night of 30th March 1944, LV907 was due to fly a mission with the rest of No.158 Squadron against targets around the German city of Nuremberg, but initially, didn't have a crew assigned to it.  Pilot Joe Hitchman was on a rest day that day, but as this was to be a maximum effort raid, had been called back to base to take part in the raid. Unfortunately for him, his usual aircraft ‘G for George’ had been assigned to his Squadron Leader for the raid, which left him flying the newly delivered LV907 ‘F for Freddie’ and with something of a scratch crew. As mission preparations go, could things have been more worrying for him?

As the new crew of Halifax LV907 raced down the runway at RAF Lissett bound for Nuremberg, they would have been working almost by instinct to ensure that everything on the aircraft was as it should be. If they did find a moment to think about the coming few hours, they must have contemplated the fate befalling previous ‘F for Freddie’ marked aircraft in the squadron, but how there was nothing they could do about that now.

The Nuremberg raid of 30th/31st March 1944 would prove to be particularly costly one for Bomber Command. Crews had been told to expect significant cloud cover for the duration of the raid, something which would help protect the bombers from Luftwaffe nightfighter attacks whilst over Europe, but what they were actually met with was a cloudless night sky and a brilliant full moon. Ordinarily, conditions such as these would see operations cancelled due to the additional dangers it placed crews in, but on this occasion, the 'Met men' just got it terribly wrong. As this mighty force of some 795 RAF bombers crossed the coast of Belgium, the cloud cover was nowhere to be seen and illuminated by the light of the full moon, they knew the Luftwaffe's nightfighter force would be waiting for them. As far as the German nightfighter pilots were concerned, this was perfect hunting weather.

Arriving at Elvington earlier that the advertised event time allowed me to get a few pictures of the Halifax set up, in what have to be described as changeable weather conditions.

The raid would be a disaster for Bomber Command, with no fewer than 95 bombers failing to return to their home bases, a figure which represented an 11.9% loss rate, one which proved to be amongst the highest attrition rates of the entire war. Tragically, when considering that each of these aircraft had a crew of seven men, the magnitude of this disaster is difficult to comprehend. How on earth could the brave men of Bomber Command recover from something like this?

It was under such devastating circumstances as these, that the Halifax which had inherited No.158 Squadron's unlucky tag, LV907 ‘F for Freddie’, successfully brought its crew home from the carnage of the moonlit Nuremberg raid and from that mission onwards, embarked on one of the most interesting bomber stories of the entire war.  As pilot Joe Hitchman checked in for mission de-brief following his arrival back at Lissett, he was told the terrible news that his usual aircraft ‘G for George’, which had been flown by his Squadron Leader that night , was one of the aircraft which was missing, presumed lost.

This is where the story of Halifax LV907 really begins and how it would become one of the most famous examples of its type to see Bomber Command service. Following the Nuremberg raid, the aircraft sat in a revetment at RAF Lissett awaiting the allocation of a new crew. Perhaps understandably, the unfortunate loss of previous ‘F for Freddie’ Halifaxes at the station brought with it some trepidation for anyone even slightly superstitious, however, this bomber had to be used operationally and a crew would have to fly her. LV907 would be allocated to Pilot Officer Cliff Smith and his crew, and being a no nonsense sort of chap, he instinctively knew what he had to do. 

He decided that this bomber needed a new name and some nose artwork, something which would directly challenge the unwanted reputation 'F for Freddie' coded Halifaxes at Lisset and change the fortunes of this aircraft and its new crew. In a development which must have caused quite a stir amongst the other crews, not to mention his own, he christened the bomber 'Friday The 13th' and in addition to this, had artwork depicting the Grim Reaper and a lucky horseshoe painted the 'unlucky' way round on the front fuselage of the bomber. He must have thought that if he was taking on luck itself, he might as well cover all the bases!  One final artwork addition proved to be a step too far ... quite literally. He had the representation of a ladder painted on the aircraft above the crew access door to symbolise that the crew would be walking under a ladder every time they entered the aircraft, something which was just too much for the base commander to bear, who ordered it to be removed immediately.

Despite staring luck and superstition squarely in the face, Halifax LV907 ‘Friday the 13th’ would go on to become known as one of the luckiest aircraft in Bomber Command.  For the remaining months of the air war, ‘Friday the 13th’ would host many different crews on bombing missions deep into enemy territory and despite the horrendous perils they faced on each and every sortie, she always brought her crews home safely. Significantly, the aircraft nobody initially wanted to fly went on to complete an impressive 128 missions during the final months of conflict, a record unmatched by any other Halifax during WWII.

Following the end of hostilities, the story of this now famous bomber began to circulate amongst the general public and she would become something of an aviation celebrity.  Forming an imposing centrepiece for victory celebrations, Halifax LV907 ‘Friday the 13th’ was put on public display outside the bombed out Lewis’ department store in Oxford Street, London, where tens of thousands of people went to see and touch her, paying their respects to this incredible machine and the brave crews who flew her during the war. Unfortunately, this time in the national limelight was relatively short-lived and the bomber was soon taken back to Yorkshire and scrapped without further ceremony.  Like so many RAF Halifax bombers before it, ‘Friday the 13th’ was taken to the Handley Page operated York Aircraft Repair Depot and simply broken up for scrap. A sad end for an aircraft which served so faithfully during the latter stages of WWII.

Yorkshire needs its own Halifax

Yorkshire and the Handley Page Halifax are inextricably linked, something the newly established Yorkshire Air Museum wanted to commemorate when it was established in the early 1980s. 

With the establishment of the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington airfield during the early 1980s, a committed group of enthusiasts were determined to preserve the proud aviation heritage of the York area and its links with RAF Bomber Command operations.  One of their most ambitious plans was to hopefully see a Halifax bomber a returning to Yorkshire, the county which not only gave the bomber its name, but also played host to so many of them during the wartime years. Unfortunately, with the lack of a suitable aircraft on which to base such a project, this was not going to be a simple task and could take years to achieve, if at all.

Not to be deterred, the team pressed ahead, but soon realized that this project would be more of a Halifax composite representation than a traditional aircraft restoration. The team searched for, and secured as many Halifax related items that they possibly could, casting a very wide net and requesting donations to their ambitious project, even going so far as to recover parts from Halifax crash sites. As the project began to gather pace, the major components they managed to secure were:

The rear fuselage section of Halifax B.Mk.II HR792. This aircraft had made a forced landing at Stornoway airfield, whilst flying with No.58 Squadron Coastal Command on 13th January 1945. The aircraft was scrapped, however, this section of fuselage was saved and had been used as a crofter's hen house for more than 40 years, prior to being rescued by the Elvington team.

The propellers and hubs from Halifax LW687. This aircraft was tragically lost on the disastrous Nuremberg raid of 30th/31st March 1944, however these vital components were recovered and would form an integral part of this magnificent re-construction.

The wings were taken from Handley Page Hastings C.1A TG536. This four engined freight and troop carrying aircraft donated its wings to this ambitious Halifax re-creation project.

Although basically a composite aircraft, the Yorkshire Air Museum's Halifax 'Friday The 13th' is a magnificent aircraft, in addition to being a unique tribute to the men of Bomber Command and the Halifax crews who flew from stations around Yorkshire during the Second World War.

With what little they had available to them at the outset, this project to return a Handley Page Halifax bomber to Yorkshire would take over twelve years of hard work to complete, but what this team of volunteers managed to achieve was nothing short of miraculous. Using the collection of components they managed to amass over the years, they created an aircraft which has to be described as something of a hybrid, but one which definitely looks just like a Halifax bomber and to all but the most cynical, is a Halifax bomber. Once the project had been completed and in order to commemorate Yorkshire’s most famous Halifax bomber, the aircraft was finished as LV907 ‘Friday the 13th’ - could there have been a more appropriate subject aircraft?

With the eyes of the historic aviation world fixed firmly on this former RAF Bomber station, Halifax 'Friday The 13th' was unveiled at a special ceremony in 1996, appropriately enough on Friday 13th September. Although some might argue that what the team impressively managed to produce was not actually a real Halifax, it is as near as they were going to get and she looked quite magnificent. What certainly can't be questioned is how she now serves as a unique tribute to the men of Bomber Command and the Halifax crews who flew from stations around the fair county of Yorkshire during the Second World War.

For anyone with an interest in military history, or for those who had relatives who flew Halifax bombers operationally during WWII, a visit to the Yorkshire Air Museum really is a must and can be quite an emotional experience for many. It isn't uncommon to see people visibly moved when standing beneath the mighty Halifax, a testament to the thirteen years of hard work, determination and steadfast dedication committed by the restoration team back in the 1980s. Usually, 'Friday The 13th' is safely tucked away under the protection of her hangar, but on very special occasions, she is allowed time outside at this historic location, which is an experience many enthusiasts simply cannot miss.

Such a photogenic aircraft, Halifax 'Friday The 13th' should have everyone with even the slightest interest in aviation history making the trip to Elvington and the Yorkshire Air Museum.

It has to be said that taking the Halifax outside does not delight everyone, as the team currently responsible for looking after her are much less enthusiastic than the rest of us, as such excursions can create lots of additional maintenance work for them, especially if the weather turns bad, which of course as we all know it never does in Yorkshire! For this reason, enthusiasts are always grateful to have the opportunity to photograph the aircraft during one of these rare outings, which is actually the reason why I made this recent, long overdue visit to the Yorkshire Air Museum. Signing up to take part in this specially arranged Halifax nightshoot event, I was excited to see this beautiful aircraft once more and to take some valuable pictures of her latest night under the stars. As I always like to do whenever possible, I arrived well before the event was due to start, as I knew the museum team would be preparing the aircraft for the nightshoot and this may offer a few more unique photo opportunities, if I was lucky.

The event itself was extremely enjoyable and for once, the fine weather held right until the very end of the shoot. The team behind the even had arranged for a full crew of reenactors to be present for the nightshoot, however, as it was taking place on a Friday evening (no, not the 13th), traffic problems prevented several of them from making it to Elvington, so we had a skeleton crew for the night. Those who did make it put in a sterling effort and helped make this one of the most memorable events of the year - we even got smoke machines at the end of the shoot! All the images shown here were taken at this latest Halifax nightshoot event, which was extremely enjoyable and comes highly recommended for those yet to attend one.

For an aircraft which is very much one of the stars of the UK's historic aviation scene and commemorates such an incredible wartime story, one which has its links to the wider Yorkshire area, any visit to Elvington to see Halifax 'Friday The 13th' is something to look forward to and if you get to see her outside on this historic airfield, then that really is an experience worth making an effort for. This most recent visit made me realise what I had been missing in recent times and for this reason, it won't be long before I am in this neck of the woods once again and I will be sure to compile a visit review for the enjoyment of Aerodrome readers.

A final selection of images taken during what turned out to be an enjoyable few hours in the company of this famous bomber, the aviation pride of Yorkshire.

I’m afraid that’s it for another edition of Aerodrome, but we will be back in four weeks’ time with more aviation related content for your enjoyment. 

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The next edition of Aerodrome is scheduled to be published on Friday 9th December, although we may try and squeeze in an extra blog if we get chance.

Thank you so much for your continued support of our Aerodrome blog.

MC

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