Halifax propellers

[rossm]

The Osprey book 'Halifax Squadrons of World War 2' has a profile of HR686 J2 of 502 Squadron and states many Coastal Command Halifaxes had four blade propellers on the outer engines. I haven't found any photos to support this mixing of propeller types - even the common photo of HR686 looks to me to have 4x 3-blade props, although as its in-flight it's hard to be certain.

I have found plenty of all 3-blade or all 4-blade but no mixtures.

Can anyone shed any light on the subject please ?

Ross

[Test Graham]

I have seen photos: though I normally link this fit with training units rather than frontline. A quick look through the new Ken Merrick book only came up with one photo, and that was the fairly familiar view of an SOE aircraft being loaded in Italy. You can only see two of the outer blades, but they are only 90 degs apart. The caption states that this was not an uncommon occurrence when extra power absorption for long-range flying was required.

Reference to it in the main text is to a temporary requirement in the training units, replaced by the fitting of 4-bladed props to all engines. I suspect the supply of these props controlled the fit. The book has no text reference (that I could find in a quick search) to the combination in the Coastal Command chapter, nor in the Special Duty and Airborne chapters.

[tonyot]

I know that many of the Airborne Forces Mk.V`s had 4 bladed props added to the inner engines to help with towing the huge Hamilcar gliders, then the outers were also replaced with 4 bladers too later on.

I`m sure I`ve seen Coastal Command Mk.V`s with 4 bladers on the inner engines only.

Hope this helps

Tony O

[AnonymousA667]

Not a Coastal Command but 148 (SD) Sqdn machine:

I might be able to find some Coastal Command pics later.

peebeep

[Test Graham]

It would be particularly interesting to find photos of such props on the inboard engine only, as all I've ever seen, or seen reference to, are on the outboard (or all four).