Great video as usual, informative and well researched. And as one born on a 13th, April the 13th to be exact, I really enjoyed that belated birthday "present"! ;) Though that was a sunday, so I was born lucky, and if you wonder where all your luck goes on the 13th..........well it goes to us 13th born. ;) :P I wonder though, if the Halifax had a co-pilot unlike the Lancaster where there was only one pilot. Which was why Harris liked it more, because it carried more bombs. (Not going into detail on him, don't really like him based on what I've read on him.) On the whole bomber/ knockout blow debate and the allegedly "guilty Men", I think Thomas Inskip is one of the most maligned characters, as he's described as ineffectual, but was one of the first to nudge in that shift towards an able air defense against bombers from the "knockout blow"/deterrence strategy. He was willing to bet the farm on that new unproven technology called Radio direction finding and building an integrated air defense network, which went against the current thought of his time. We read a really interesting paper on him and his organization in a course, but it's been a few years, I'd have to look it up.
Just dropped by to watch your vid in December 2023. Well done sir! This reconstruction has a special place in my heart, as I researched an Uncle we lost in 1944 who flew aboard a Halifax lll, and discovered this was the only complete model in Britain to be viewed. There were over 1,650 built, but none survive. So to see a complete Hali lll that my uncle flew in was amazing to me. Plus, he served at RAF Pocklington just down the road with 102 Squadron. (I've stood on the very spot he walked to board his plane for the last time). Many thanks for keeping these memories alive. 👍
My father flew about 15 sorties in a Halifax Mk III (another 15 in Lancaster IIs) before being shot down over Normandy in June 1944, 10 days after marrying a York girl, my mother. He evaded capture. Not all his crew made it. His name is etched into that mirror frame at Betty's Bar ( now tea house).
My late Uncle, former Flt Sgt Alf Stokes, was a Rear-Gunner on 158 Sqn at Lissett, 1944-45, & his flying log-book records a couple of trips in the original 'Friday the 13th'. The crews never thought that they would be the ones not coming home. Alf survived to the age of 94. Brave man.
Thanks for this. Born 1937 and Brought up in the area, I watched the crews from 1, 3 and 6 Groups day in and day out. After my own RAF service and some teaching in UK., I came to Canada in 1966 and on one of my visits "home" spent time at the Elvington Museum with a great deal of time around "Friday the 13th." Thanks for the restoration. She and the Lancs are a poignant reminder of the terrible losses experienced by Bomber Command crews. I now live near Nanton and am hoping that before I take the last flight, the Hali project now being undertaken by the Museum will bring the recovered one back to sit alongside the Lanc. What a great memorial to those thousands of men who trained in this area under the BCATP. The memorial to the 50 000 men is a stark reminder of the horrors of war.
There is another restored Halifax in the Air Museum in Trenton, Ontario, Canada. This aircraft was restored from a single aircraft that crashed into a Norwegian Lake and sank.
An old friend of mine called Eddie was a tail gunner in Halifax bombers, he told me some stories about night fighters homing in on them. He told me about a raid when he was stuck in the turret, jammed over to his right watching tracer fire coming in towards him, hoping that the fighter broke to his right so he could get some rounds off at them, and all the time in the knowledge that if the plane was hit and went down, he was going with it, as he couldn't get out. He was still a teenager when he flew his first raid over Germany.
The History Channel is "history" when it comes to true history. These days it's all junk -- space aliens, Big Foot "sightings", Nostradamus pediction, voodoo, etc.
The story of the Halifax tail design would be a program in itself. So many good people were lost owing to rudder overbalancing on the old triangular fins and in the attempts to correct this. The type D fins Mod 814 proved at last satisfactory going onto the B Mk II series II and retrofitted very quickly onto the other Mk II and V.
Thank you on behalf of a former client of mine who trained in Canada for the Halifax and myself, thank you for this Halifax video. I already knew a bit about the Halifax in part because I was asked by the only survivor to paint 'The Loss of Halifax DK 170. DK 170 Halifax heavy bomber aircraft was lost on it's first mission being shot down by a German night fighter that had been radar directed to the interception point. My Painting was commissioned by the late Mr. John Loban eye witness, formerly Flight Sergeant and navigator of that aircraft. I built two models, rearched and John provided me with detailed information even down to the number of rounds the attacking Me 110 fired. You can if you wish to, read more about DK 170 on one of my two websites under 'aviation-aircraft/halifax-heavy-bomber' ... The DK 170 Halifax wreck was identified in Belgium in 2017 . You may also like to know, this year 2022 I've been approached a limited licence to reproduce my painting for a Belgium book about RAF & USAF aircraft that crashed in Belgium.
We have a family member that flew 1 mission in the original Friday 13th. RCAF based in Lisset. Flight Sergeant Bill Dargavel. Bill is now 96 and keeping well in Toronto.
It's a great museum. You are conscious of all manner of atmospheres as you explore. It can be quite eerie. If you are visiting York; in the lower level of Betty's tea rooms, is a preserved mirror in which aircrews etched their names, side by side with framed squadron insignia of several commonwealth airmen. Also, literally a minute's walk away, on the adjoining Coney Street is a plaque commemorating the timely actions of Free French flyer, Yves Mahe, in driving away German raiders.
My Dad. F.O. Norman Gillen. Navigator, 429, Bission SQ, flew 32 combat missions in this plane..I have all his combat charts for all hiss missions..My respects to all that did what he did..He lived till he was 91..
I used to talk often with an ex RAF navigator who started on Lancasters but later transferred to to Halifaxes for the remainder of the war. In his opinion the Halifax was vastly superior for the crew than a Lancaster: easier to move around in, more spacious crew positions, far easier to bail out of and much more durable when suffering battle damage.
Many years ago I read a letter from a Halifax pilot. He said their favourite trick- presumably after a mission, was to cut one of the engines and then race past the nearest Lancaster and show it a clean set of heels!
There were other ways to determine if it was a MkI or MkIII Halifax as well as the engines. The MkI also had a turret fitted in the front, rather than the large plexiglass cone, didn't have the dorsal turret fitted and also had "arrow" shaped tail fins, rather than the large rectangular ones of the MKIII
Great video! Your production quality is increasing every video and you've got a great handle on presenting yourself on camera. Any day becomes a good day when I get notified that Bismarck has a new video online.
Nice work, Bismarck. Thank you for decoding the Air Ministry's specification nomenclature. Laf, the hencoop! That was an interesting restoration story.
Excellent video. I had no idea this museum existed... Ne careful with the number of squadrons operating Halifaxes from Yorkshire.... There were rather more than three. My late mother's first husband was a Halifax pilot flying from Snaith with 51 Squadron. There were others, too. Nonetheless, an excellent video full of detail and painting a very complete picture. I shall make sure I visit the museum. Thank you.
You present your video's with knowledge , confidence with a little, and sometimes mischievous, humour . You also leave most other's in a cloud of dust ! Thank you.
"bismarck"? crikey, this could be awkward. Ah well..... My father was an engineer on one of the early Merlin powered Halifax's for a few trips to Germany (Leverkusen, Berlin, Mönchengladbach & the last trip to Berlin where he got shot down). He was in 428 ghost squadron RCAF based at Middleton St George (across the field from 419 moose sqn where Mynarski of the Canadian memorial Lancaster fame belonged to), anyhow, on the last trip they got hit - I'm told they believed by a night fighter & only the navigator, radio operator, bomb aimer & dad managed to bail out. Pity I never got to visit the York museum or revisit the imperial war museum (seem to recall they had a halifax cockpit there) before moving overseas. Good video dude - as was your other Halifax one. Keep up the good work!
I appreciate the time and effort you have put into this video! Very informative, and nice to know the next generation are still interested in these old aircraft.
My father-in-law checked out a Halifax being refurbished in quebec. He took pictures of these snail shell like assemblies attached to the exhausts which suppressed flames for night missions. Early STEALTH or something. I would be interested in a video on that technology if you've got the time. Thanks for this one as I have loved the Halifax since I was very young.
Great video as always! Can definitely see the quality rising with each one! I'd like to see a video covering the Mosquito as it was such a unique and doubted concept which payed off massively
My Uncle, William Douglas Campbell flew 41 combat missions with 420 Squadron (Snowy Owl) according to war records. He primarily flew Handley Page Halifax 3's. He survived the war under incredible odds only to die of Polio within days of returning home after the war ended. Lest we forget.
So he flew an amazing tally of almost NINE full tours. Many hardly survived more than a couple of sorties let alone a tour. I knew one who flew 3+ - each one in a different kite (Wimpeys, Lancs and Mossies) and that was amazing.
@@duncanjames914 It seemed an incredible set of sorties (not called "missions" in the RAF or it's Commonwealth Air Forces). I wondered also because I didn't think 420 Snowy Owl Squadron - Don't remember where they were stationed (Tholthorpe, Middleton-St-George ???) was in action long enough to fly so many. He was a hero nonetheless. I have met several guys who were #6 Group since coming to Canada. I had grown up in Yorkshire during the War and watched them almost daily from 1942 onwards. I served RAF later so we had lots to talk about.
@@hugmal37 Thank you for the correction on sorties vs missions. I had counted his sorties based upon the Battle Order records I found. However, there was a report done by a historical group in Canada that mentions 167. That must have included other ops (training?). I agree they were all heroes. Thank you for your service. :-)
@@duncanjames914 Wonder if you could access his Log Book. From his first experience as a student pilot til the end of his flying career, every time he stepped into a 'plane would be recorded as to Take Off and Landing Times, Purpose and Destination etc along with any relevant details such as cloud cover, weather or issues with the aeroplane.
RemusKingOfRome5 Unfortunately the Stirling seems to have been designed by a committee and flew like it too. Ceiling height was limited due to the wings being under 100 feet so the aircraft could fit in existing hangars. The under carriage was overly complicated and as for the provision for paratroopers which is more important a proper bomber or a jack of all trades?
I'm so pleased to find this - I just checked my dad's flying logbook - he was an RNZAF navigator, who had flown on this actual aircraft! He was based on 58 Squadron (Coastal Command) based in St David's, Wales. After the D Day landings, the squadron was moved up to Stornaway, on the Isle of Lewis, flying over the North Sea looking german shipping out of Norway. Visiting the Museum to see this aircraft is top of my bucket list!
Hello Peter. Very pleased to see your reference to 58Sqn. My uncle, Fl/lt Abel Baker flew from Stornoway with the squadron. Sadly he was lost with his crew on the night of 20th February 1945, nine of them altogether. It was his first and last operational sortie. Halifax JP173 (BY-H) , understood to have been shot down over the Skagerrak. I was accorded the privilege of being allowed to board Elvington's Halifax some years ago, quite an experience. Small, and I guess unimportant point for Bismark. It's my understanding that the wings employed in the reconstruction of the Halifax were a pair of unused and crated wings, but they had been built for a Handley Page Hastings. I read that they are, in fact, identical. Regards, Tim Parker.
My Great Uncle on my mothers side was Clifford Smith (Macdonald)...he had an elephant as his mascot and flew the original Friday 13th and I believe he came up with the airframes name
Your English is excellent as well as your study of the developments in Military Aviation History around the time of the second world war. It's amazing to me how quickly the destructive technology of aviation advanced all over the world so quickly after the Wright brothers had barely been able to engineer a machine carry itself into the air.
Awesome! From York myself, haven't been to the YAM in ages though. Thanks for covering it. My Gran, when she was alive, said she worked on Halifax's, something about cleaning them after missions if I remember right. Always seemed wrong to ask her for details, even though I wanted to.
I know what you mean. My grandfathers close friend Mr. Ed Hancock was a navigator on a Halifax, and I remember him telling a story about one of his missions. I was too young to really appreciate what he was telling, and I never did ask him any more about it, even after I had gotten older and wanted to. From what I remember about the story, he was on a mission (unknown details) when the rest of his crew was killed or wounded. He, despite being wounded in the leg (and being just a navigator) managed to fly his plane back to Britain safely. I think they gave him a DFC. He, like most of his generation have passed on unfortunately, so I'll never get a chance to just sit down and talk with him. I've always regretted that.
Hellequin same story here, one of my neighbours who's unfortunately since passed away used to be a rear gunner in one; and he actually did tell me lots of stories from the time but I don't remember much of the details, I was young, easily distracted and didn't pay enough attention
Thank you for this video. My grandad was a rear gunner in these in ww2 based out of croydon. But its so hard to find any information on him or the aircraft. Its sad how this bomber is never mentioned.
It's possibly because Arthur 'Bomber' Harris , who was chief of Bomber Command saw the Halifax as inferior to the Lancaster.. The Lancaster having the ability to be modded for special mission work such as 'Upkeep (Dambuster)' and the 'Tallboy' and 'Grandslam' weapons..
Nice video, I've recently been reading the late Paddy Ashdown's account of the French Resistance Operations on the Vercors in 1944 which featured numerous long distance supply drops by RAF Halifax aircraft. This was no easy feat across occupied France which had a Luftwaffe presence yet to be pacified. I've always felt the Halifax was a work horse which didn't receive the credit it deserved. I must get on a train and get up to York and see it after Covid.
I went in august last year with my friend, unfortunately they seemed to be reorganizing the room the Halifax was in and only about 1/2 was full but I did see Halifax and it was incredible, the my favorite heavy bomber in War Thunder finally in real life.
I have always said that the Halifax has been underrated,being eclipsed by the Lancaster. I believe the crew felt very attached to this aircraft,and put a lot of trust in it.
I'm here watching this, as I'm only just learning that my Grandfather was a Flight engineer in one of these beasts between 1942 and 45! Amazing to see this thankyou!
You didn't say what your grandfather's name was. You should. Some people out here (like me, for example) continue our search for families of crew members, and they're hard to find.
@@dthievin Hi Gus...My Grandfathers name was John Hewson Thomas he was a flying officer and flight engineer. He flew with a pilot named Robert Vivian Thomas Tail Gunner Charles Weston, Bomb aimer Charles Ainley. He flew many missions on a Halifax Bomber Named Sugar. If you search his name along with Sugar you will find pics and info there also! let me know if there's any connections cheers!
I've visited this very aircraft many times over the years from when it was just a collection of bits. It's a pity much of it isn't genuine Halifax, but nonetheless, it's fantastic to see in the flesh. About 18 years ago a friend and I took an old chap to an airshow there. He had been on Halifax groundcrew during the war. I took a photo of him standing in front of it, but can as hell find it. Most annoying. By coincidence, there was a meeting of original aircrew there. But also a german fighter pilot who had downed 8 bombers. I have a photo of him stood next to a BF109 replica. It was a surreal experience.
It should be noted that the actual original panels with nose art from Friday The 13th is at RAF Museum London. I think they are being moved as we speak (they weren't there end of March) but should re-appear in the new hangar.
1 of 3 left in the world. And port side is marked up as the only Halifax 100-op aircraft (128 ops) - the original noseart is in the RAF Museum. Would love to see inside it. Fascinating airplane, though opinion is divided in wartime pilots; if you flew Halifaxes, it was faithful enough to its crews - but even they all knew that the Lancaster was the Queen of the Skies :)
While having EVERY thanks and gratitude to those who took on the ‘impossible’ task of recreating the Halifax, is this now enough. Seeing the work being done on Just Jane, should not the ‘short cuts’ taken in creating Friday ( totally justified at the time, to get the plane done) be upgraded. Friday deserves to be the best Halifax ever to emerge from the factory. By the way the wings are ex Hastings, not ‘another Halifax ‘.
Thanks for this. My daughter and I discovered Burn airfield a stones throw from her house near Selby just up the road, where 578 squadron of Halifax bombers were based. We'll be going to Elvington as soon as these draconian covid measures are lifted and the museum reopens.
Great video good sir! I love learning about these ol' birds. I'm currently in Aviation Maintenance School and I hope to be able to work on WWII aircraft when I finish in March 2019. Much support from Oklahoma! 👍👍
VERY GOOD. CLEAR AND INTERESTING POTTED HISTORY OF THE RAF. I REALLY MUST COME AND SEE FOR MYSELF. LAST TIME IN YORK, TOO MANY OTHER ATTRACTIONS FOR ONE WEEK.
Wish I had known you were visiting this museum, I live not far away in Leeds. Should be going to this museum tomorrow or Wednesday now that you've made me aware of it!
Nice history of the Halifax. My uncle piloted one and survived the war, so I was curious. He broke a rule by doing a loop to get away from a German fighter . They should have court marshalled him , but they gave him a medal . Just like Yossarian..
I just came across this. My uncle was the copilot in a Halifax, during a bombing raid over Germany they were hit by flack. The front end of the plane was destroyed but it limped back to the UK. Luckily my uncle survived but the pilot and the front gunner died.
''There was a chance of a German nightfighter, popping up'' So true, unfortunately. A JU88 popped up, and fired on a Halifax Mk3, on the night of May 3rd, 1945. It damaged flying controls, causing a collision with my brother's Halifax. Killing all of both crews, except 3. This was not only, the very last heavy bomber raid, on Kiel Germany, but also the Night Fighter Pilots last mission of the war. I have his details.
jt. schwarm Volunteer American pilots - mercenaries, really, who flew for China against Japan, equipped with P-40s, often decorated with the jaws and eye markings, thus "Flying Tigers".
A much shorter version of this tragic and heroic World War II story involving the complete restoration of a completely authentic Handley Page Halifax A Mk VII aircraft was published in the January 2006 edition of Aircraft Illustrated by Ian Allan Publishing. It was resurrected from a Norwegian Lake in 1995 and meticulously restored for static display in Canada.
Thanks for this good, though a bit short doc about the elegant yet quite tough ''flying tomb'' in which my grandpa (who also was my godfather and greatest hero) survived 33 nightly raids over occupied France and Nazi Germany, as a FO of the RCAF in the 425 ''Alouette'' squadron. The man had alot of ''moral fiber''...
Probably to do with the fact that Harris had very low regard for and a lot of personal enmity for the company’s founder. The Halifax fitted between the first British heavy - the Stirling - and the Lancaster. It lacked the altitude performance of the Lancaster but it was better than the Stirling.
Great video. I have a request. There is no video/documentary on strategic bombers of WW1 (Gotha, various German giant bombers, Handley Page, o/100, o/400, v/1500, Vickers Vimy, DH4, DH9A, Capronis, FE2Bs bomber version, Sopwith one and half strutter - bomber version, Ilya Murometz etc). I think you are the best person who can make a mini series focussing on specific aircraft in each video. Would be great if you consider making such a mini series.
![Inside a Halifax Heavy Bomber: Crew, Turrets and Guns [HP Halifax 2/2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2zypfAVMRJc/mqdefault.jpg)
![Inside a Halifax Heavy Bomber: Crew, Turrets and Guns [HP Halifax 2/2]](/img/tr.png)
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Hope all of you enjoyed this one! Tell us what you thought about this episode and our museum visits below!
Military Aviation History Love the new animations, and tags on images. Looks really clean, and professional
Military Aviation History Loving the new visuals Bismarck! Keep up the good work! :)
Very nice video ;D.
Also,
I hate to ask but when are you doing the promised video about the He 162? I'm just asking out of curiosity :D.
Love your video's Bismarck, also change your name back to Bismarck I miss you ;^(. there is no need to follow MHV's propaganda.
Great video as usual, informative and well researched.
And as one born on a 13th, April the 13th to be exact, I really enjoyed that belated birthday "present"! ;)
Though that was a sunday, so I was born lucky, and if you wonder where all your luck goes on the 13th..........well it goes to us 13th born. ;) :P
I wonder though, if the Halifax had a co-pilot unlike the Lancaster where there was only one pilot. Which was why Harris liked it more, because it carried more bombs. (Not going into detail on him, don't really like him based on what I've read on him.)
On the whole bomber/ knockout blow debate and the allegedly "guilty Men", I think Thomas Inskip is one of the most maligned characters, as he's described as ineffectual, but was one of the first to nudge in that shift towards an able air defense against bombers from the "knockout blow"/deterrence strategy.
He was willing to bet the farm on that new unproven technology called Radio direction finding and building an integrated air defense network, which went against the current thought of his time.
We read a really interesting paper on him and his organization in a course, but it's been a few years, I'd have to look it up.
Just dropped by to watch your vid in December 2023. Well done sir! This reconstruction has a special place in my heart, as I researched an Uncle we lost in 1944 who flew aboard a Halifax lll, and discovered this was the only complete model in Britain to be viewed. There were over 1,650 built, but none survive. So to see a complete Hali lll that my uncle flew in was amazing to me. Plus, he served at RAF Pocklington just down the road with 102 Squadron. (I've stood on the very spot he walked to board his plane for the last time). Many thanks for keeping these memories alive. 👍
My father flew about 15 sorties in a Halifax Mk III (another 15 in Lancaster IIs) before being shot down over Normandy in June 1944, 10 days after marrying a York girl, my mother. He evaded capture. Not all his crew made it. His name is etched into that mirror frame at Betty's Bar ( now tea house).
My late Uncle, former Flt Sgt Alf Stokes, was a Rear-Gunner on 158 Sqn at Lissett, 1944-45, & his flying log-book records a couple of trips in the original 'Friday the 13th'. The crews never thought that they would be the ones not coming home. Alf survived to the age of 94. Brave man.
Thanks for this. Born 1937 and Brought up in the area, I watched the crews from 1, 3 and 6 Groups day in and day out. After my own RAF service and some teaching in UK., I came to Canada in 1966 and on one of my visits "home" spent time at the Elvington Museum with a great deal of time around "Friday the 13th." Thanks for the restoration. She and the Lancs are a poignant reminder of the terrible losses experienced by Bomber Command crews. I now live near Nanton and am hoping that before I take the last flight, the Hali project now being undertaken by the Museum will bring the recovered one back to sit alongside the Lanc. What a great memorial to those thousands of men who trained in this area under the BCATP. The memorial to the 50 000 men is a stark reminder of the horrors of war.
There is another restored Halifax in the Air Museum in Trenton, Ontario, Canada. This aircraft was restored from a single aircraft that crashed into a Norwegian Lake and sank.
I just watched the recovery vid Chad 👍
An old friend of mine called Eddie was a tail gunner in Halifax bombers, he told me some stories about night fighters homing in on them. He told me about a raid when he was stuck in the turret, jammed over to his right watching tracer fire coming in towards him, hoping that the fighter broke to his right so he could get some rounds off at them, and all the time in the knowledge that if the plane was hit and went down, he was going with it, as he couldn't get out. He was still a teenager when he flew his first raid over Germany.
Giving the History Channel a run for its money. Rarely, if ever does one get to see an entertaining presentation of such aloof aircraft.
Cheers, glad you enjoyed it!
You mean the aliens, sasquatch and junk channel?
What do you mean? A bunch of fat guys looking at old stuff is definitely informative and educational!
The History Channel is "history" when it comes to true history. These days it's all junk -- space aliens, Big Foot "sightings", Nostradamus pediction, voodoo, etc.
@@CaptainGyro its pretty despicable how they market superstition as history now adays
The story of the Halifax tail design would be a program in itself. So many good people were lost owing to rudder overbalancing on the old triangular fins and in the attempts to correct this. The type D fins Mod 814 proved at last satisfactory going onto the B Mk II series II and retrofitted very quickly onto the other Mk II and V.
Thank you on behalf of a former client of mine who trained in Canada for the Halifax and myself, thank you for this Halifax video.
I already knew a bit about the Halifax in part because I was asked by the only survivor to paint 'The Loss of Halifax DK 170.
DK 170 Halifax heavy bomber aircraft was lost on it's first mission being shot down by a German night fighter that had been radar directed to the interception point.
My Painting was commissioned by the late Mr. John Loban eye witness, formerly Flight Sergeant and navigator of that aircraft.
I built two models, rearched and John provided me with detailed information even down to the number of rounds the attacking Me 110 fired.
You can if you wish to, read more about DK 170 on one of my two websites under 'aviation-aircraft/halifax-heavy-bomber' ...
The DK 170 Halifax wreck was identified in Belgium in 2017 .
You may also like to know, this year 2022 I've been approached a limited licence to reproduce my painting for a Belgium book about RAF & USAF aircraft that crashed in Belgium.
We have a family member that flew 1 mission in the original Friday 13th. RCAF based in Lisset. Flight Sergeant Bill Dargavel. Bill is now 96 and keeping well in Toronto.
It's a great museum. You are conscious of all manner of atmospheres as you explore. It can be quite eerie.
If you are visiting York; in the lower level of Betty's tea rooms, is a preserved mirror in which aircrews etched their names, side by side with framed squadron insignia of several commonwealth airmen.
Also, literally a minute's walk away, on the adjoining Coney Street is a plaque commemorating the timely actions of Free French flyer, Yves Mahe, in driving away German raiders.
My Dad. F.O. Norman Gillen. Navigator, 429, Bission SQ, flew 32 combat missions in this plane..I have all his combat charts for all hiss missions..My respects to all that did what he did..He lived till he was 91..
Great museum, me and my wife got married at the Yorkshire air museum and Friday 13th was a centrepiece of many of our wedding photos.
That is so cool.
I used to talk often with an ex RAF navigator who started on Lancasters but later transferred to to Halifaxes for the remainder of the war. In his opinion the Halifax was vastly superior for the crew than a Lancaster: easier to move around in, more spacious crew positions, far easier to bail out of and much more durable when suffering battle damage.
Finally, a 'tank chats' style of video but with aircraft! Thank you bismarck!
Many years ago I read a letter from a Halifax pilot. He said their favourite trick- presumably after a mission, was to cut one of the engines and then race past the nearest Lancaster and show it a clean set of heels!
There were other ways to determine if it was a MkI or MkIII Halifax as well as the engines. The MkI also had a turret fitted in the front, rather than the large plexiglass cone, didn't have the dorsal turret fitted and also had "arrow" shaped tail fins, rather than the large rectangular ones of the MKIII
Great video! Your production quality is increasing every video and you've got a great handle on presenting yourself on camera. Any day becomes a good day when I get notified that Bismarck has a new video online.
Nice work, Bismarck. Thank you for decoding the Air Ministry's specification nomenclature.
Laf, the hencoop! That was an interesting restoration story.
Excellent video.
I had no idea this museum existed...
Ne careful with the number of squadrons operating Halifaxes from Yorkshire.... There were rather more than three.
My late mother's first husband was a Halifax pilot flying from Snaith with 51 Squadron. There were others, too.
Nonetheless, an excellent video full of detail and painting a very complete picture.
I shall make sure I visit the museum.
Thank you.
You present your video's with knowledge , confidence with a little, and sometimes mischievous, humour . You also leave most other's in a cloud of dust ! Thank you.
The Armstrong Whitworth Whitley has to be my favorite RAF bomber despite being unknown to most. It's nice that it got a mention here.
"bismarck"? crikey, this could be awkward. Ah well.....
My father was an engineer on one of the early Merlin powered Halifax's for a few trips to Germany (Leverkusen, Berlin, Mönchengladbach & the last trip to Berlin where he got shot down). He was in 428 ghost squadron RCAF based at Middleton St George (across the field from 419 moose sqn where Mynarski of the Canadian memorial Lancaster fame belonged to), anyhow, on the last trip they got hit - I'm told they believed by a night fighter & only the navigator, radio operator, bomb aimer & dad managed to bail out. Pity I never got to visit the York museum or revisit the imperial war museum (seem to recall they had a halifax cockpit there) before moving overseas. Good video dude - as was your other Halifax one. Keep up the good work!
I appreciate the time and effort you have put into this video! Very informative, and nice to know the next generation are still interested in these old aircraft.
You're my favourite history channel on youtube
They have one of these in the Trenton museum here in Ontario. Surprisingly large in person (thats what she said)
My grandfather was pilot in "Maori Chief" 158 squadron Awesome video to give me some insight
My father-in-law checked out a Halifax being refurbished in quebec. He took pictures of these snail shell like assemblies attached to the exhausts which suppressed flames for night missions. Early STEALTH or something. I would be interested in a video on that technology if you've got the time. Thanks for this one as I have loved the Halifax since I was very young.
Great video as always! Can definitely see the quality rising with each one! I'd like to see a video covering the Mosquito as it was such a unique and doubted concept which payed off massively
Goshawk well there is one at that same museum I believe :)
Excellent work; dispassionate and accurate. Very much appreciated.
My Uncle, William Douglas Campbell flew 41 combat missions with 420 Squadron (Snowy Owl) according to war records. He primarily flew Handley Page Halifax 3's. He survived the war under incredible odds only to die of Polio within days of returning home after the war ended. Lest we forget.
So he flew an amazing tally of almost NINE full tours. Many hardly survived more than a couple of sorties let alone a tour. I knew one who flew 3+ - each one in a different kite (Wimpeys, Lancs and Mossies) and that was amazing.
@@hugmal37 Hi, apologies but there was a type on the number of missions. I've corrected the comment above.
@@duncanjames914 It seemed an incredible set of sorties (not called "missions" in the RAF or it's Commonwealth Air Forces). I wondered also because I didn't think 420 Snowy Owl Squadron - Don't remember where they were stationed (Tholthorpe, Middleton-St-George ???) was in action long enough to fly so many. He was a hero nonetheless. I have met several guys who were #6 Group since coming to Canada. I had grown up in Yorkshire during the War and watched them almost daily from 1942 onwards. I served RAF later so we had lots to talk about.
@@hugmal37 Thank you for the correction on sorties vs missions. I had counted his sorties based upon the Battle Order records I found. However, there was a report done by a historical group in Canada that mentions 167. That must have included other ops (training?). I agree they were all heroes. Thank you for your service. :-)
@@duncanjames914 Wonder if you could access his Log Book. From his first experience as a student pilot til the end of his flying career, every time he stepped into a 'plane would be recorded as to Take Off and Landing Times, Purpose and Destination etc along with any relevant details such as cloud cover, weather or issues with the aeroplane.
Nice video! Great museum to visit in my opinion (hoping to visit again this year.)
great picture of the halifax flying over the ieffiel tower
Great Vlog - The 3 big heavies - lancaster, Halifax (names after a lord?) and short Stirling
RemusKingOfRome5 Unfortunately the Stirling seems to have been designed by a committee and flew like it too. Ceiling height was limited due to the wings being under 100 feet so the aircraft could fit in existing hangars. The under carriage was overly complicated and as for the provision for paratroopers which is more important a proper bomber or a jack of all trades?
RemusKingOfRome5 they're named after cities
Even your bloopers were well delivered.
I'm so pleased to find this - I just checked my dad's flying logbook - he was an RNZAF navigator, who had flown on this actual aircraft! He was based on 58 Squadron (Coastal Command) based in St David's, Wales. After the D Day landings, the squadron was moved up to Stornaway, on the Isle of Lewis, flying over the North Sea looking german shipping out of Norway. Visiting the Museum to see this aircraft is top of my bucket list!
Hello Peter. Very pleased to see your reference to 58Sqn. My uncle, Fl/lt Abel Baker flew from Stornoway with the squadron. Sadly he was lost with his crew on the night of 20th February 1945, nine of them altogether. It was his first and last operational sortie. Halifax JP173 (BY-H) , understood to have been shot down over the Skagerrak.
I was accorded the privilege of being allowed to board Elvington's Halifax some years ago, quite an experience. Small, and I guess unimportant point for Bismark. It's my understanding that the wings employed in the reconstruction of the Halifax were a pair of unused and crated wings, but they had been built for a Handley Page Hastings. I read that they are, in fact, identical. Regards, Tim Parker.
Thanks for this. My grandfather flew 33 missions as a rear gunner in the 'faxes
My Great Uncle on my mothers side was Clifford Smith (Macdonald)...he had an elephant as his mascot and flew the original Friday 13th and I believe he came up with the airframes name
Your English is excellent as well as your study of the developments in Military Aviation History around the time of the second world war. It's amazing to me how quickly the destructive technology of aviation advanced all over the world so quickly after the Wright brothers had barely been able to engineer a machine carry itself into the air.
Eyyyyy welcome to York my guy.
beware of the geese in the uni
Awesome! From York myself, haven't been to the YAM in ages though. Thanks for covering it. My Gran, when she was alive, said she worked on Halifax's, something about cleaning them after missions if I remember right. Always seemed wrong to ask her for details, even though I wanted to.
I know what you mean. My grandfathers close friend Mr. Ed Hancock was a navigator on a Halifax, and I remember him telling a story about one of his missions. I was too young to really appreciate what he was telling, and I never did ask him any more about it, even after I had gotten older and wanted to. From what I remember about the story, he was on a mission (unknown details) when the rest of his crew was killed or wounded. He, despite being wounded in the leg (and being just a navigator) managed to fly his plane back to Britain safely. I think they gave him a DFC. He, like most of his generation have passed on unfortunately, so I'll never get a chance to just sit down and talk with him. I've always regretted that.
Hellequin same story here, one of my neighbours who's unfortunately since passed away used to be a rear gunner in one; and he actually did tell me lots of stories from the time but I don't remember much of the details, I was young, easily distracted and didn't pay enough attention
A knowledgeable introduction and well-spoken also no music!
Excellent commentary.. I especially enjoy the aside comments, it gives the object being described a personality.. Bismarck, well done..
Thank you for this video. My grandad was a rear gunner in these in ww2 based out of croydon. But its so hard to find any information on him or the aircraft. Its sad how this bomber is never mentioned.
It's possibly because Arthur 'Bomber' Harris , who was chief of Bomber Command saw the Halifax as inferior to the Lancaster.. The Lancaster having the ability to be modded for special mission work such as 'Upkeep (Dambuster)' and the 'Tallboy' and 'Grandslam' weapons..
Nice video, I've recently been reading the late Paddy Ashdown's account of the French Resistance Operations on the Vercors in 1944 which featured numerous long distance supply drops by RAF Halifax aircraft. This was no easy feat across occupied France which had a Luftwaffe presence yet to be pacified. I've always felt the Halifax was a work horse which didn't receive the credit it deserved. I must get on a train and get up to York and see it after Covid.
Yorkshire fam! Hope you enjoyed it, quite a gorgeous place depending on where you go.
the local accent is the best thing about Yorkshire though
How so? There is really no local accent, it's just simply northern, like the rest of the North of England. :P
Thank you, I enjoyed the video very much. Loved the out-takes at the end!
I went in august last year with my friend, unfortunately they seemed to be reorganizing the room the Halifax was in and only about 1/2 was full but I did see Halifax and it was incredible, the my favorite heavy bomber in War Thunder finally in real life.
I have always said that the Halifax has been underrated,being eclipsed by the Lancaster. I believe the crew felt very attached to this aircraft,and put a lot of trust in it.
Dad's bomber. Lovely to see a museum example. Also one at Trenton in Ontario Canada!
I know the Lanc gets all the attention, but the Halifax also looked cooler to me
Ha the bloopers are great. It really shows the work you put in to make these videos look as professional as they do. Top work 👍.
So happy I found this channel today, It reminds me of what educational channels used to be like, Educational.
Great video and love the museum visits
I'm here watching this, as I'm only just learning that my Grandfather was a Flight engineer in one of these beasts between 1942 and 45! Amazing to see this thankyou!
You didn't say what your grandfather's name was. You should. Some people out here (like me, for example) continue our search for families of crew members, and they're hard to find.
@@dthievin Hi Gus...My Grandfathers name was John Hewson Thomas he was a flying officer and flight engineer. He flew with a pilot named Robert Vivian Thomas Tail Gunner Charles Weston, Bomb aimer Charles Ainley. He flew many missions on a Halifax Bomber Named Sugar. If you search his name along with Sugar you will find pics and info there also! let me know if there's any connections cheers!
I've visited this very aircraft many times over the years from when it was just a collection of bits. It's a pity much of it isn't genuine Halifax, but nonetheless, it's fantastic to see in the flesh. About 18 years ago a friend and I took an old chap to an airshow there. He had been on Halifax groundcrew during the war. I took a photo of him standing in front of it, but can as hell find it. Most annoying. By coincidence, there was a meeting of original aircrew there. But also a german fighter pilot who had downed 8 bombers. I have a photo of him stood next to a BF109 replica. It was a surreal experience.
It should be noted that the actual original panels with nose art from Friday The 13th is at RAF Museum London. I think they are being moved as we speak (they weren't there end of March) but should re-appear in the new hangar.
1 of 3 left in the world. And port side is marked up as the only Halifax 100-op aircraft (128 ops) - the original noseart is in the RAF Museum. Would love to see inside it.
Fascinating airplane, though opinion is divided in wartime pilots; if you flew Halifaxes, it was faithful enough to its crews - but even they all knew that the Lancaster was the Queen of the Skies :)
Looks like I'll be making the trip over the Pennines to my favourite city when its back open! 😏
Wow the quality of this video is amazing. Love your channel Biz
While having EVERY thanks and gratitude to those who took on the ‘impossible’ task of recreating the Halifax, is this now enough. Seeing the work being done on Just Jane, should not the ‘short cuts’ taken in creating Friday ( totally justified at the time, to get the plane done) be upgraded. Friday deserves to be the best Halifax ever to emerge from the factory. By the way the wings are ex Hastings, not ‘another Halifax ‘.
Didn't see this vid until recently and then saw the Halifax - I'm re-enacting at the museum this weekend as the station met officer
Just watched it really enjoyed the video glad I found your channel as I’m a military history buff
Thanks for this. My daughter and I discovered Burn airfield a stones throw from her house near Selby just up the road, where 578 squadron of Halifax bombers were based. We'll be going to Elvington as soon as these draconian covid measures are lifted and the museum reopens.
Excellent...will go to this museum next time I'm in Yorkshire!
Outstanding video and presentation.
I really enjoyed both of your videos and found them very informative.
Great video good sir! I love learning about these ol' birds. I'm currently in Aviation Maintenance School and I hope to be able to work on WWII aircraft when I finish in March 2019. Much support from Oklahoma! 👍👍
VERY GOOD. CLEAR AND INTERESTING POTTED HISTORY OF THE RAF. I REALLY MUST COME AND SEE FOR MYSELF. LAST TIME IN YORK, TOO MANY OTHER ATTRACTIONS FOR ONE WEEK.
Wish I had known you were visiting this museum, I live not far away in Leeds. Should be going to this museum tomorrow or Wednesday now that you've made me aware of it!
My father was pilot of Friday 13, he died 2004 age 86 and held the DFC personally handed it by the King
My Great Uncle Sgt. George Whiles (Pilot) lost his life in Halifax DT701 during Operation Lorient over Northern France. RIP to all service men.
Love the museum visits and these videos. Thanks ol' Bismarck!
Per ardua ad astra! 🇨🇦
even tho you changed your name a bit ago, i will Always know you as Bismarck! liebe deine Videos, mein Freund! grettings from sweden!
good tour of the plane
Very fancy effects, looking good.
Nice history of the Halifax. My uncle piloted one and survived the war, so I was curious. He broke a rule by doing a loop to get away from a German fighter . They should have court marshalled him , but they gave him a medal . Just like Yossarian..
David Potter I wonder what the German fighter pilot thought and put in his Action Report?
Excellent video, I would love to visit there
Mate I was going to go there recently! Gotta go now, it looks great.
Outstanding job! I really enjoyed this video.
C'est fantastique!
I just came across this. My uncle was the copilot in a Halifax, during a bombing raid over Germany they were hit by flack. The front end of the plane was destroyed but it limped back to the UK. Luckily my uncle survived but the pilot and the front gunner died.
Huh, never thought I'd see RAF Stornoway getting a mention (albeit in a roundabout way) on this channel!
Great post.Very professional.
''There was a chance of a German nightfighter, popping up'' So true, unfortunately. A JU88 popped up, and fired on a Halifax Mk3, on the night of May 3rd, 1945. It damaged flying controls, causing a collision with my brother's Halifax. Killing all of both crews, except 3. This was not only, the very last heavy bomber raid, on Kiel Germany, but also the Night Fighter Pilots last mission of the war. I have his details.
Wow. That's a special bit of history.
Not the same aircraft, but it reminded me of the short story by Robert Westall, 'Blackham's Wimpey' about a haunted bomber in WW2.
Can you do a video on the flying tigers?
Planned ;)
Flying Tigers? _WHAT_
jt. schwarm
Volunteer American pilots - mercenaries, really, who flew for China against Japan, equipped with P-40s, often decorated with the jaws and eye markings, thus "Flying Tigers".
PAPPY!
Great Video Bis! Learned a lot from this!
Got to love these non combatant arm chair generals explaining war. And this insult expands to the people watching this and loving this channel.
A much shorter version of this tragic and heroic World War II story involving the complete restoration of a completely authentic Handley Page Halifax A Mk VII aircraft was published in the January 2006 edition of Aircraft Illustrated by Ian Allan Publishing. It was resurrected from a Norwegian Lake in 1995 and meticulously restored for static display in Canada.
Thanks for this good, though a bit short doc about the elegant yet quite tough ''flying tomb'' in which my grandpa (who also was my godfather and greatest hero) survived 33 nightly raids over occupied France and Nazi Germany, as a FO of the RCAF in the 425 ''Alouette'' squadron. The man had alot of ''moral fiber''...
My father flew with the Alouette Squadron too! He survived 28 nightly operations over Germany before he was screened.
Class video! Thanks for posting it!
Love your work. The Halifax is sadly over looked, as a Handley I find this immensely disappointing. : )
Probably to do with the fact that Harris had very low regard for and a lot of personal enmity for the company’s founder. The Halifax fitted between the first British heavy - the Stirling - and the Lancaster. It lacked the altitude performance of the Lancaster but it was better than the Stirling.
Dude, I was there 1 year ago. Amazing place
Should come to the Shuttleworth collection and De Havilland factory in Hertfordshire if you ever get the chance
I love the Halifax in War Thunder (even though it has some major shortcomings), however I have NEVER really though of the scale of that beauty...
Nice video, well done 👍
Great video. I have a request. There is no video/documentary on strategic bombers of WW1 (Gotha, various German giant bombers, Handley Page, o/100, o/400, v/1500, Vickers Vimy, DH4, DH9A, Capronis, FE2Bs bomber version, Sopwith one and half strutter - bomber version, Ilya Murometz etc). I think you are the best person who can make a mini series focussing on specific aircraft in each video. Would be great if you consider making such a mini series.