Halifax help needed

[Dave Wadman]

Gentlemen,

I'm currently looking for some information on Halifax W7707 LQ-K of 405 Sqn RCAF which failed to return from a sortie to Cologne on 31 May 1942.
According to the serial it was a Mk II and I'm currently trying to establish if it was a series i, ii etc and whether or not it was one of those fitted with a Tollerton nose fairing.

TIA for any help

Dave

[Graham Boak]

Working backwards, it definitely is not the solitary Series 2, and the date would be about 18 months early for a Mk.II Ser.1a. It is about six months too early for the Z fairing or Tollerton nose, so won't have been a Series 1 Special. The aircraft will be a Mk.II Series 1 with forward and dorsal turrets, as delivered, and a near sister of 405 Sq. is photographed in Merrick's Halifax book. Excuse the odd progression but that's how I came across the info!

It is perhaps too early for the other drag reduction modifications too, so it probably would represent a Halifax at its very worst state.

[Dave Wadman]

Thanks for that Graham,

I guessed it might've been a series 1 but couldn't narrow the serial down close enough.

Cheers

Dave

[Graham Boak]

I'm not sure the serial would have helped that much, as the Z mods were applied in service. I don't know if the dorsal turret started disappearing before the nose fairing, let alone the lesser stuff such as landing lights, but the date is fairly indicative that she was "as delivered", especially with the back-up of the photo. Maybe there are other photos of 405 in this period, but I didn't go dredging for them.

[Vraa84]

Hi

Dont know if it helps, but according to Bob Baxters Bomber command site, W7707 was build at Handley Page Ltd Cricklewood & Radlett.

Cheers

Nick

[Dave Wadman]

Thanks Nick.

Dave

[Vraa84]

Hi

Found in a book of mine, that sister ship W7710, LQ-R also of sqn 405 RCAF, was a B. II series I, w. original nose and mid upper turret. So its fits perfectly in w. Grahams info, that W7707 was a B. II series I.

Cheers

Nick