The Reason Why Only 16% Of Pilots Had A Chance To Survive This Plane

First taking the skies on September 25, 1939, the Handley Page Halifax quickly became the pillar of the British Bomber Command. However, it soon proved to be slow, vulnerable, and flew lower altitudes than expected.

What’s worse is that it was a flying coffin – Halifax airmen had a measly 16% chance of surviving a tour.

Conventional for Its Era

Setting aside its four-engine configuration, the Halifax’s design was conventional for its era. A mid-wing monoplane with a tail unit enhanced with twin fins and rudders, the air frame mirrored most bombers of the time.

It had an all-metal construction with smooth, stressed skin covering most of the exterior. Its four Merlin engines were mounted with two on each wing giving it a more balanced look. 

The Halifax had a top speed of 265 mph at 17,500 ft. which is significantly slower than its contemporaries like the Avro Lancaster which can reach 282 mph at similar altitudes.

This lack of speed made the Halifax vulnerable to enemy fighters and anti-aircraft fire.

Plagued with Issues

Pilots criticized the Halifax’s handling characteristics, which were less responsive and more challenging to fly than the Lancaster.

The Halifax’s Mk I’s bomb load capacity was also another issue.

Although it could carry up to 13,000 pounds of bombs, the practical load for long-range missions is much less than that, which significantly reduced its effectiveness as a strategic bomber.

Abysmal Survival Rates

As the war went on, significant enhancements were made to its engines, air frame, defensive armament, and operational capabilities.

As the modifications were being developed, pilots flying the early version suffered abysmal survival rates in the RAF. During the first months of British bombing operations, Halifax crews faced increasingly deadly odds.

Halifax airmen only had a 16 percent chance of surviving a 30-sortie tour

From Deathtrap to a Well-loved Aircraft

Things started to improve as Handley page started rolling out newer aircraft versions, with one of its most impactful upgrades being the introduction of more powerful engines.  

The Halifax’s air frame was also redesigned to enhance its aerodynamics and handling. Meanwhile, upgrades on the plane’s defensive capabilities improved the plane’s payload capacity and range.

As the bomber improved and its crew became more adept in leveraging its advantages and minimizing its flaws, the Halifax went from a plane that was considered a deathtrap to a bomber that was beloved by airmen across the Commonwealth.