Fly Past

HANDLEY PAGE HARROW II 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION 27

Above

Early in December

1939, two Harrows,

including K6963, were

detached to the Royal

Aircraft Establishment

at Farnborough. They

were subsequently

fi tted with magnetic

loops known as

Directional Wireless

Installations, for

exploding magnetic

sea mines.

Below

For cargo transport

duties, the Harrows

had their turrets

removed and faired

over to save weight

and make them more

aerodynamic. This

example carries

the unoffi cial name

‘Sparrow’ on the

nose. ALL KEY

Type: Five-crew heavy bomber and transport aircraft

First fl ight: October 10, 1936; entered service January 1937

Powerplant: Two 925hp (690kW) Bristol Pegasus radials

Dimensions: Span 88ft 5in (26.95m), length 82ft 2in (25.04m)

Weights: Empty 13,600lb (6,169kg), all-up 23,000lb (10,433kg)

Max speed: 190mph (306km/h) at 10,000ft (3,048m)

Range: 880 miles (1,416km)

Armament: One .303 gun in the nose, dorsal and ventral turrets and twin .303

guns in the tail. Bomb load: 3,500lb (1,588kg)

Capacity: 20 troops, 12 stretcher cases or equivalent freight

Replaced: Vickers Virginia

Taken on charge: 100

Replaced by: Vickers Wellington, Douglas Dakota

HANDLEY PAGE HARROW II

The type went on to fly with
bomber, air gunner and air observer
schools, but at the outbreak of
war it was decided to employ it in
the transport role for which it had
originally been envisaged. But this
was not to be the end of the Harrow’s

hostile actions. During the winter

of 1940-41, several 93 Squadron

aircraft were employed to drop small

explosive devices on parachutes in

the path of German bombers. The

concept, dubbed Operation Mutton,

was not generally deemed successful

and the Harrow soon returned to

transport duties.

NAME CHANGE

Most Harrows re-purposed for

cargo and passenger work had their

turrets removed and faired over

to reduce weight and drag. In this

configuration the machine could

carry 20 troops or 12 stretcher cases.

The transport variant entered

service with 1680 Flight (later 271

Squadron) at Doncaster in 1940,

and was generally, albeit unofficially,

known as the Handley Page Sparrow.

The unit flew its Harrows as

freighters and air ambulances until

the last months of the war, and in

late 1944 they were used to evacuate

injured troops from Arnhem.

A dwindling supply of parts caused

the aircraft to become obsolete, but

the final 271 Squadron example

(K7000) flew on until February 10,

1945, when it was damaged beyond

repair at Evere in Belgium. The unit

had operated the Douglas Dakota

alongside K7000 since 1943.

“During the winter of 1940-41, several 93 Squadron aircraft were

employed to drop small explosive devices on parachutes in the path

of German bombers.”