Today In History:  25 October  [1939]   --  First flight of the Handley Page "Halifax"

The prototype Handley Page Halifax (L7244) makes its first flight from RAF Bicester with J.L.B.H. Cordes at the controls.

The Halifax quickly became a major component of R.A.F. Bomber Command, performing strategic bombing missions against the Axis Powers, primarily at night. Arthur Harris, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Bomber Command, described the Halifax as inferior to the rival Lancaster (in part due to its smaller payload) though this opinion was not shared by many of the crews that flew it.

PHOTO: A Halifax B Mark I Series I of No. 76 Squadron undergoing maintenance at RAF Middleton St George.

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Photo Attribution:  Public Domain via Wikimedia.