Recovered Handley Page Halifax at RAF Hendon museum

[@exJacktar]

This looks like the Mk type my uncle flew as a pilot with 419 Sqn RCAF. He was killed over Dalen Holland in May 1943 along with most of his crew by a Me110. I was fortunate enough to see the Halifax at Trenton. And l grew up 30 miles south of Nanton, where the Lanc and the Bomber Command museum are located.

[@guaporeturns9472]

Thanks for sharing this. Keep these stories alive by writing them down and passing them on.

[@yellowbelly8402]

Should be restored as originally planned

[@mikepocock575]

Thinking of my old friend John rear gunner on Halifaxes during the wat serving with 578 sqn Burn.

[@johncrook7705]

Such a great shame we did not keep more of these aircraft in store so that we could see them fly still.

[@glennalderton]

It would have been good for sure

[@jonnyh9388]

Looking at what the Canadians managed to do with their ex-RAF Halifax, it is such a shame that something similar wasn't done to this aircraft.

[@chrisst8922]

Someone did that one engine but not the rest.

[@PhilipRawbon-rk8uv]

This looks like one of the older types..my dad was in 420 Snowy Owl squd..early 44 till the end of hostilitys Thalthorp

[@garybrindle6715]

This is a dreadful example of a recovery before a restoration plan was agreed and funded. First discovered totally intact in Norway and recovered by volunteers led by Tony Speight with help from RAF divers and Norwegians.After recovery ,intact ,a massive amount of damage was caused when another military service prepared the airframe incorrectly for transport to the UK.

[@SHUNTYRS2K]

The wing broke on the first attempt to raise it, it then sank and a second attempt to raise it was successful. It was the RAF who dismantled it and loaded it for transport back to the UK. The upper gun turret was being used by a local farmer as a way to feed his animals and he also had the rear wheel being used on his property as a boundary marker of some sort. Given it was 1973 and the use of modern cranes and lifting equipment wasn't available they did a good job at recovery and preserving it in its current condition, parts were restored like one of the engines and one of the guns was rebuilt

[@lebaillidessavoies3889]

Planes have already been restored with much less than that.

[@guaporeturns9472]

Just takes money… and lots of it.

[@garybrindle6715]

They were not ready for the work needed ,no fundraising in place and expected the over stretched RAF to do it for free ...
@@guaporeturns9472