Loaded up for a raid on Germany, this Halifax's bomb-rack is packed with H.E’s and incendiaries. NCO’s check over the bomb fuses before the bomb doors are shut. The R.A.F.'s record raid on Dortmund on May 23/24, 1943 brought the total weight of bombs dropped on Germany to 100,000 tons.
Just in case anybody is wondering, although I can't see why, the Halifax shown in the picture is one of the earlier versions, the Halifax B.MkII. The later versions and by far the more numerous was the Halifax B.MkIII. The give away is the shape of the twin tail fins, the smaller "tri-angular" shape fitted to the MkII were replaced by the large rectangular "barn doors" as they were known on the MkIII and later versions to improve lateral (yaw) stability. Following hostilities, the Halifax was re-fitted, redesignated Halifax C.Mk(xxx) and transferred to Transport Command.
