Handley Page Halifax in Luftwaffe service?

[cz_raf]

Hi all, I would like to ask if the Luftwaffe had anytime during the WWII a captured Halifax in an airworthy condition?
So far my research showed that Luftwaffe has not operated a Halifax.

TIA

Pavel

[Tom Willis]

Unfortunately no - Given the German's special interest in anything Allied with 4 engines the Halifax appears to have alluded them.
What is your interest into this side of Luftwaffe research?

[cz_raf]

Hi Tom, thank you for your reply. My interest is only marginal - I have read an account of Halifax pilot who stated that they met a Halifax on their return from air raid and as they escaped from a dogfight with German night fighters shortly before, his rear gunner was convinced the Halifax is German decoy and he wanted to open up on it. After beeing told this, the skipper manouvered quickly to avoid the possible friendly fire.

Pavel

[brewerjerry]

Hi
this maybe of interest, it says it is
German manual titled "Flight Instructions for the British Bomber Halifax III", dated february 1945. The manual was translated from "Pilot's Notes for Halifax III" of March 1944.
https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/thread...manuals.55236/

maybe done for a captured example ?

olso old thread here

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=27749

cheers
jerry

[Graham Boak]

Be prepared, just in case? Advice on capabilities of opposition?

[Tom Willis]

This is a German assessment and copy of the British Reports.
The only ever study of a Halifax was a shot down example that was mostly intact but in a wrecked condition - I do not a date but must have been mid/late 1943.

[brewerjerry]

Hi
in that old thread i linked to



"As posted on Luftwaffe Experten Message Board

"I remember one morning a British Halifax coming back from Italy landed by mistake on our airfiled [Théville, Normandy, France]. The crew was surprised when seeing german soldiers and more when looking at victory bars on Schnell's plane rudder. These airmen (...) belong to N°35Sq who made an important attack on Torino. (...). F/O Williams lands his machine (...) in ennemy territory. So JG 2 is able to capture seven airmen and to give a Halifax in perfect state to Rechlin test center. Three Wellingtons are lost this 10 to 11 September [1941] night and the famous Halifax TL-R intact is the only 4-engines plane not to go back in England"

E. MOMBEECK ; J.L. ROBA : "Histoire de la JG 2 Richthofen" Vol.2 p.171 (La Porte d'Hove, 2008)

I find that the only missing aircraft was L9566, described as crashlanded in France, navigational error. Given all that has been published on the Rechlin trials of Allied aircraft, I find the suggestion that there was a Halifax there as well somewhat surprising. "


i wonder what happened to it

Beuteauswertung Nr22, has a couple of pages on halifaxes, one page has three photos of a bellylanded Halifax V, they only show nose, tail and mid upper ( which might show some damage), from this I think it is apparent it would need repairs for it to fly.
The date of the report is 1 sep 43, previous issue 5 aug 43, so presumably a/c crashed in between these dates.

cheers
jerry

[brewerjerry]

Hi
just found this at Kew u fortunately not digital, but mentions photos

https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ls/r/C16924832

cheers jerry