Handley-Page Halifax Mark III

Handley-Page Halifax Mark III Royal Canadian Air Force 1944

The most numerous Halifax variant was the B Mk III of which 2,091 were built. First appearing in 1943, the Mk III featured the Perspex nose and modified tail of the Mk II Series IA but replaced the Merlin engines with the more powerful 1,650 hp Bristol Hercules XVI radial engine. They were fitted with transparent nose dome with single machine gun, Boulton Paul dorsal turret with four guns and tail turret with four guns, and in some cases a .50 cal machinegun in a belly turret. The model shown is from RCAF 425 Alouette” Squadron, and has the belly gun replaced by a radome. This particular aircraft was damaged by flak, then shot down by a German night fighter, about 50 miles west of Hanover. The entire crew managed to parachute safely.