Author(s): Rob Langham

History

The First World War saw tremendous technological advancements, especially in the world of aviation. Many amazing sights were to be seen in the air during the war, and one of the largest and most impressive was that of the Handley Page bombers. The first two-engine Handley Page bomber flew in 1915, and the Handley Page O/100 and O/400 bombers flew operational missions over Germany and German-occupied Europe as well as further afield for almost two years of the war. The even larger four engine Handley Page V/1500 was all set to conduct an audacious mission to bomb Berlin, cancelled just on the eve on the Armistice. The contribution of these machines and the men that flew and operated them is largely forgotten today, with a lot of focus being given to the seemingly more glamorous single-seat scout pilots. This book aims to try and redress the balance and tell the story of the 'Bloody Paralyser' aeroplanes and their crews.