Compare a Halifax MkIII   to a Lancaster

Halifax Mk III                                    Lancaster


Differences:

-The canopy of the  Halifax III is flush with the top of the fuselage. The canopy of the Lancaster stands proud of the fuselage and has a "greenhouse" look to it. (That would please Aunt Vi!).

-The tail in the Halifax III  square and "boxxy" vs. the elliptical shape of Lancaster's tail.

-The nose of Halifax III smoothly rounded vs. two hump nose of Lancaster. The upper hump of the Lancaster is a rotating gun turret operated by the Bomb Aimer  when not on the bomb run.*

-The engines of the Halifax III  are radials in round housings (nacelles)  and aircooled, vs. the Lancaster which had Merlin V-12, liquid cooled engines with an elongated shape.*

-The wing root of the Lancaster is much higher on the fuselage than in the Halifax. Because the main spar of the wing goes through the fuselage at this point, in the Lanc there is more room for bombs. In the Halifax there is more room for the crew to move around. This could be critical in case of a crash or fire. This is one of the reasons suggested to account for a higher survival rates among shot down Haliax crews vs. Lancaster crews.**


* Not true of all Marks of Halifax and Lancaster.

**For details of relative crew survival rates see this web page .