HANDLEY PAGE HARROW
and HANDLEY PAGE SPARROW -
The Handley Page HP.54 Harrow / Handley Page Sparrow was designed under
the direction of G R Volkert as a stop-gap night bomber to help RAF expansion
in 1935 and was a derivative of the HP.51 bomber-transport prototype to
Specification C.26/31. The latter was itself a modification of the HP.43
which had been built to C.I6/28 and first flew on June 21, 1932; this
same prototype, J9833, with some HP.54 features, was in use at RAE Farnborough
until January 1940. The HP.54 was powered by Pegasus engines, carried
3,000 Ib (1362 kg) of bombs, had accommodation for 20 troops and arma-ment
of two Lewis or Vickers 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns each in nose and
tail turrets. Production of 100 ordered 'off the drawing board' to Specification
29/35 in August 1935.
Handley Page Harrow I: Initial production batch with 9.80 hp Pegasus X
engines. First flown October 10, 1936; initial deliveries to No 214 Sqn,
January 1937, and four more squadrons equipped (Mks I & II) by 1938.
Twenty built, of which six modified to Mk II.
Handley Page Harrow II: As Handley Page Harrow I but powered by 835 hp
Pegasus XX engines. Eighty built and six Mk Is converted. Not operational
as bombers after early 1940, but five used by No 420 Flight to drop LAM
(long aerial mines) on parachutes in path of enemy bpmbers. Others used
for air observer and air gunnery training, for glider towing and miscellaneous
duties. Many converted' for transport role, operating with No 1680 Flight
(later 271 Sqn) from March 1940 until April 1945 for casualty evacuation
and general transport duties; some fitted with lengthened nose and tail
fairings, known unofficially as Handley Page Sparrows. Three converted
in 1938 as aerial refuelling tankers for transatlantic experiments, of
which two impressed into RCAF in 1939.
Max speed, 200 mph (322 km/h).
Service ceil-ing, 23,000 ft (7,110 m). Range, 1,250 mis (2,150 km). Empty
weight, 13,600 Ib (6,760 kg). Gross weight, 23,000 Ib (10,450 kg). Span,
88ft 5 in (27.0 m). Length, 82 ft 0 in (25.1 m). Wing area, l,090sqft
(101.2m2).
