Handley Page Hereford

The Handley Page H.P. 53, which would become the Hereford, was essentially a Handley Page Hampden but built to Specification B.44/36 and powered by a pair of Napier Dagger VIII engines and production of the aircraft was to be undertaken by Short Brothers and Harland. The 15th August 1936 saw 100 ordered, the same day as 180 Hampdens were ordered, with an order for a further 52 being placed later on.

The prototype Hereford flew during June 1937, a year after the Hampden prototype, and just under two years later, on the 17th May 1939, the first production Hereford flew. As with other new aircraft, a Hereford was sent to Martlesham Heath so the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment could test the new type. Testing showed that performance wise the Hampden and Hereford were evenly matched. However, the crucial difference was the Napier Dagger engines used in the Hereford, as these proved unreliable, and as a result, the Hereford saw limited service.

The Hereford Mk I was powered by the 1,000-hp Napier Dagger VIII engine, which gave the aircraft a top speed of 265 mph, range of 1,000 miles with a service ceiling of 19,000 ft. Armament was six 0.303-in machine-guns, a pair each in the nose, ventral and dorsal positions with a bomb load of 4,000lb. A couple of Herefords became operational serving alongside the Hampden before being transferred to serve with training units, with No. 16 Operational Training Unit, RAF Upper Heyford receiving the majority of the Hereford Mk Is, with the 7th May 1940 seeing the first of the type arrive.

In total, 152 were produced, and a handful were converted to Hampdens.