View source for Handley Page Type O

{{Short description|British heavy bomber aircraft in service 1916-1922}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name=Type O
 |image=1st Handley Page bomber Langley, built in US by Standard Aircraft-NARA-17341622 (crop).jpg
 |type=[[Heavy bomber]]
 |manufacturer=[[Handley Page Aircraft Company]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight=17, December, 1915
 |introduction=1916
 |retired=1922
 |primary_user=[[Royal Air Force]]
 |more_users=[[Royal Naval Air Service]]
 |produced =1915-1919
 |number_built=600
 |developed_into=[[Handley Page Type W]]
}}

The '''Handley Page Type O''' was a [[biplane]] [[bomber]] used by Britain during the [[First World War]]. When built, the Type O was one of the largest aircraft in the world. There were two main variants, the '''Handley Page O/100''' (H.P.11) and the '''Handley Page O/400''' (H.P.12).

The aircraft were used in France for [[tactical bombing|tactical]] [[night bombing|night attacks]] on targets in [[German occupation of France during World War I|German-occupied France]] and [[German occupation of Belgium during World War I|Belgium]] and for [[strategic bombing]] of industrial and transport targets in the [[Rhineland]]. Some aircraft were temporarily diverted to [[patrol plane|anti-submarine reconnaissance and bombing]] in the [[River Tees|Tees]] estuary in 1917 and two aircraft operated in the eastern Mediterranean. The Type O made such an impression that for many years after the war any large aircraft in Britain was referred to as a "Handley Page", even getting a dictionary entry.<ref name="Bruce p258"/>

==Design==
[[File:American First World War Official Exchange Collection Q66103.jpg|thumb|HP O/400 with wings folded]]
Design work began shortly after the start of the First World War following meetings between [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[Murray Sueter]], the director of the [[Air Department]] of the [[Royal Navy]], and [[Frederick Handley Page]]. Sueter requested "a bloody paralyser of an aircraft" for long-range bombing.<ref name="Thetford Naval p.230">{{harvnb|Thetford|1991|p=230}}</ref><ref name="Bruce Flight p254">{{harvnb|Bruce ''Flight'' 27 February 1953|p=254}}</ref> The phrase was originated by Commander [[Charles Rumney Samson]], who had recently returned from the front.<ref name="fi91161p722">{{harvnb|''Flight'' 9 November 1961|p=722}}</ref> Coastal patrol adaptations of the abortive [[Handley Page Type L|Handley Page L/200]], M/200 and MS/200 designs were initially discussed but Sueter's technical advisor favoured a large [[seaplane]] for coastal patrol and dockyard defence that would also be capable of bombing the German [[High Seas Fleet]] at its base in [[Kiel]]. The [[AD Seaplane Type 1000]] prototype had already been commissioned from [[J. Samuel White]] & Co. of [[Cowes]].<ref name="Barnes74">{{harvnb|Barnes|1987|p=74}}</ref>

Handley Page suggested a land-based aircraft of similar size, and a specification drawn up around his suggestions was formally issued on 28 December 1914 for four prototypes. It called for a large biplane powered by two {{cvt|150|hp}} [[Sunbeam Motor Car Company|Sunbeam]] engines, which was required to fit in a {{cvt|75|×|75|ft}} hangar and would therefore have folding wings. It was to carry six {{cvt|100|lb}}<!--the HP lecture quotes one-hundredweight = 112lb in UK --> bombs and have armour to protect crew and engines.<ref name="fi91161p722"/> The crew of two were to be enclosed in a glazed cockpit and the only defensive armament planned was a rifle for the observer/engineer. The designation O/100 came from  Handley Page's sequence of using letters for each of their designs, with 100 for the proposed wingspan of the aircraft.<ref name="Barnes74" /> The design was approved on 4 February 1915, with {{cvt|250|hp}} [[Rolls-Royce Eagle]] engines and on 9 February the contract was amended to include eight additional aircraft.{{sfn|Langham|2016|p=21}}

[[File:One of her propellers (4688628004).jpg|thumb|right|One of the engines with a four-bladed propeller.]]
The O/100 was an unequal-span [[interplane struts|three-bay]] [[biplane]], with the overhanging part of the upper wing braced by [[kingpost]]s, a rectangular section [[fuselage]] and a biplane tail with twin [[balanced rudder]]s, between the horizontal surfaces. Balanced ailerons were fitted to the upper wing only and extended beyond the wing [[trailing edge]] and [[wing tips]]. The engines drove four-bladed propellers, rotating in opposite directions to cancel the torque, and were enclosed in armoured [[nacelles]] mounted between the wings on tubular steel struts. The nacelles had a long tapered fairing to reduce drag. To clear the wing rigging wires when the wings were folded, the rear portions of the fairings were hinged to fold inward. The structure of the fuselage and flying surfaces was primarily [[spruce]], with the spars routed into I-beams to reduce weight.{{sfn|Langham|2016|pp=21–22}}

==Development==
The four prototypes and first production batch of six aircraft were built at [[Cricklewood]], with the first aircraft delivered by road to [[RAF Hendon|Hendon]] on 9 December 1915. The first flight of the prototype, was made at Hendon on 17 December, when a short straight flight was made, the aircraft taking off without trouble at {{cvt|50|mph}}. A second flight was made the following day, when it was found that the aircraft would not fly faster than about {{cvt|55|mph}}. This was blamed on the drag caused by large honeycomb radiators, which were changed to tube radiators mounted on either side of the engine nacelles. A third flight on 31 December revealed a number of control problems, the ailerons and elevators were effective but heavy, partly due to excessive friction in the control circuit and the rudders were seriously overbalanced.<ref>{{harvnb|Barnes|1987|p=79}}</ref> After minor modifications, the aircraft was flown to [[RAF Eastchurch|RNAS Eastchurch]], where full-speed trials were made. On reaching {{cvt|70|mph}}, the tail unit began to [[Aeroelasticity|vibrate and twist]] violently; the pilot immediately landed and an inspection showed severe damage to the rear fuselage structure. Reinforcement failed to cure the problem, meanwhile the enclosed cockpit and most of the armour plating were also removed. The second prototype was completed in April 1916 and had an open cockpit in a longer nose with room for a gunner. To save weight, most of the armour was deleted and was the arrangement for later production of the machine.{{sfn|Langham|2016|p=22}}

[[File:British Aircraft Production in the First World War Q67851.jpg|thumb|HP O/400 being built]]
After a series of proving flights at Hendon, ''1456'' was accepted by the RNAS and was flown to [[RAF Manston|Manston]] for further trials. These revealed that despite a reduced balance area on the elevators, there was still a tail oscillation problem. A lack of directional stability caused by the increased forward side area was partly cured by adding a fixed fin but to find the cause of the tail oscillation, the Admiralty called in [[Frederick Lanchester]] from the [[National Physical Laboratory (United Kingdom)|National Physics Laboratory]]. Lanchester agreed that simple structural weakness was not the root of the problem and that [[resonance]] of the fuselage was the probable cause. Static tests on the third prototype which had a redesigned, stiffer, fuselage structure showed nothing. Lanchester flew as an observer in an amidships crew position on 26 June. The tail oscillations started at {{cvt|80|mph}} and Lanchester observed that the tail twisted by 15° to either side and that there was asymmetrical movement of the right and left halves of the elevators, which were connected by long control cables rather than being rigidly linked. He recommended that they be rigidly linked, that elevator balances be removed and additional bracing added between the lower longerons and the lower tailplane spar, measures which were successful in solving the problem.<ref>{{harvnb|Barnes|1987| p=83}}</ref>

The fourth prototype was completed with the same fuselage structure as the second prototype and had provision for armament, with a [[Scarff ring]] mounting in the nose, a pair of post mountings in the mid position and a gun mounting in the rear fuselage. This was also the first O/100 to be fitted with {{cvt|320|hp}} Rolls-Royce Eagle engines. After completing acceptance trials, the second and third prototypes were retained at Manston to form a Handley Page training flight. The first prototype was rebuilt to production standard and the fourth prototype tested a new nacelle design, which was un-armoured, had an enlarged fuel tank and a shorter fairing obviating the need for the tail to fold. The new nacelle was used on all aircraft built after the initial batch of twelve. From ''1461'', an additional {{cvt| 130|impgal}} fuel tank was fitted in the fuselage above the bomb floor. A total of 46 O/100s were built before being superseded by the Type O/400.<ref name="Bowyer p201">{{harvnb|Bowyer|1992|p=201}}</ref>

[[File:Langley 1st Handley Page bomber built in US, by Standard Aircraft - NARA - 17339062.jpeg|thumb|First US built Handley Page bomber, the Langley, in flight]]
The most significant difference between the two types was the use of {{cvt|360|hp}} Eagle VIII engines.{{sfn|Jones|2009b|p=157}} Unlike the earlier engines, this engine was not built in handed versions, because production of engines of both types for engine type approval had been difficult. Wind tunnel tests at the NPL established that the counter-rotating propellers caused directional instability with the O/100. Only one version was necessary, simplifying production and maintenance and the [[p-factor]] was overcome by slightly offsetting the fin. The O/400 had a strengthened fuselage, an increased bomb load, the nacelle tanks were removed and the fuel was carried in two {{cvt|130|impgal}} fuselage tanks, supplying a pair of {{cvt|15|impgal}} gravity tanks. The new nacelles were smaller and had simplified supporting struts; the reduction of drag improved maximum speed and ceiling. The revised nacelle was tested in ''3188'', which in 1917 was flown at [[RAF Martlesham Heath|Martlesham Heath]] with a variety of engine installations. An initial order for 100 of the revised design, with [[Sunbeam Maori]] or Eagle engines, was placed on 14 August but cancelled shortly afterwards. Twelve sets of Cricklewood-built components were transferred to the [[Royal Aircraft Factory]], where they were assembled into the first production O/400s.<ref>{{harvnb|Barnes|1987|pp=92–94}}</ref> More than 400 were supplied before the [[Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)|Armistice]] at a price of £6,000 each.{{sfn|Jones|2009b|p=156}} Another 107 were licence-built in the US by the [[Standard Aircraft Corporation]] (out of 1,500 ordered by the air corps). Forty-six out of an order for fifty were built by [[Clayton & Shuttleworth]] in Lincoln.<ref name="Walls p10">{{harvnb|Walls|1977|p=10}}</ref>

==Operational history==
===Flanders===
[[File:Handley Page 0 100 aircraft.jpg|thumb| [[Royal Naval Air Service|RNAS]] O/100  at [[Nancy – Ochey Air Base|Ochey airfield]] in 1917 with an experimental camouflage scheme.]]
The first twenty O/100s deployed to France were received by [[No. 207 Squadron RAF|7 Squadron]] and [[No. 214 Squadron RAF|7A Squadron]] of the 5th Wing RNAS at [[Dunkirk]] in late 1916.{{sfn|Jones|2002|pp=95}} At first the O/100s were used for daylight attacks over the North Sea, damaging a German [[destroyer]] on 23 April 1917, but the loss of an aircraft to fighter attack two days later resulted in a switch to night operations, usually by single aircraft, against German-occupied Belgian ports, railway targets and airfields. On the night of 16/17 August 14 O/100s dropped {{cvt|9|LT}} of bombs on [[Torhout]] railway station.{{sfn|Jones|2002|pp=81–82, 96}} O/100s from Coudekerque carried out anti-[[U-boat]] patrols off the mouth of the [[River Tees]] in September 1917. Eleven U-boats were sighted and seven attacked with bombs, but none was sunk, although U-boat operations were drastically reduced in the area.{{sfn|Jones|2002|p=65}}

===Dardanelles===
As part of the [[Dardanelles campaign]], an O/100 was flown {{cvt|2000|mi}} from England to [[Moudros|Mudros]] on the [[Greece|Greek]] island of [[Lemnos]] in the eastern Mediterranean by Lieutenant [[Ross Macpherson Smith|Ross Smith]].{{sfn|Jones|2009|p=405}} It made night attacks against [[Ottoman Empire]] force, and supplied the small number of aircraft supporting the Arab insurgency being directed by [[Lawrence of Arabia|T. E. Lawrence]].

On the night of 3/4 July 1917, the Handley Page was used for an attack on Galata air base but the engines overheated and the crew turned back, jettisoning some bombs and dropping the others on  an army camp near Bulair. On 8/9 July 1917, an attempt to bomb Constantinople had to be abandoned after {{frac|3|1|2}} hours of battling headwinds, instead targets of opportunity were bombed on the way back.

The next night, [[Constantinople]] was reached before midnight and they attacked the anchored battlecruiser {{SMS|Goeben}} from {{cvt|800|ft}} with eight {{cvt|112|lb}} bombs, and sank an Ottoman [[S138-class torpedo boat]] {{ship|Ottoman destroyer|Yadigar-i Millet||2}} (Jadhigar-i-Millet).<ref name=WWI17>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/sunk17.htm |title=Major Warships Sunk in World War 1 1917 |publisher=World War I |access-date=23 February 2013}}</ref><ref name=Turkish>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyTurkish.htm |title=TURKISH or OTTOMAN NAVY |publisher=Naval History |access-date=21 February 2013}}</ref> The crew then bombed the SS ''General'', thought to be the German HQ, and dropped two bombs on the Ottoman War Office building before returning to Mudros at {{nowrap|3:40 a.m.}}{{sfn|Jones|2009|pp=406–407}}

On 6 August the aircraft was used to bomb warehouses and ships in the harbour of [[Pandera]] on the south shore of the Marmara, and was then used on anti-submarine patrols until 2 September, when it was sent to bomb [[Adrianopolis]]. En route the crew dropped two bombs on a submarine as it dived, before dropping two more on Kuleli Burgas and then the rest on the Adrianopolis railway station buildings. On 30 September, (flown by [[John Alcock (RAF officer)|John Alcock]]), it raided railway stations near Constantinople and Haidar Pasha but was forced to [[Water landing|ditch]] in the Gulf of Xeros, after an engine failed. The crew floated with the aircraft for two hours and fired [[Flare gun|Very lights]] but were not seen by British destroyers. They then swam for an hour to reach the Gallipoli peninsula, where they were captured.{{sfn|Jones|2009|pp=408–410}} Another Handley Page was flown from England to reinforce the Palestine Brigade and served with 1 Squadron, [[Australian Flying Corps]]. In September 1918, the bomber was used to supply Colonel T. E. Lawrence and the Arabs.{{sfn|Jones|2009a|p=229}}

===Independent Force===
{{See also|Independent Force}}
[[File:Imperial War Museum Photograph Archive Collection Q27679.jpg|thumb|Independent Force O/400s being readied for operations]]
On the night of 16/17 March 1918, a Handley Page of the Luxeuil Wing bombed a railway junction at [[Moulins-lès-Metz]] and in April, individual aircraft bombed a railway junction at Armaville on 5/6 April and a steelworks at Hagendingen and the Chambley airfield on 14/15 April.

The Luxeuil Wing was disbanded in May to equip 10 Squadron RNAS for operations on the Western Front against the [[German spring offensive]]. In September 1918, the 41st Wing was formed at Manston with the Handley Pages of "A" Squadron RNAS, for night bombing, and flown to Ochey in October. ("A" Squadron was later 16 Squadron RNAS, then from 1 April 1918, 216 Squadron RAF.){{sfn|Jones|2009a|pp=121, 123}} On 9 August, 97 Squadron arrived in France and ten days later, 215 Squadron was transferred, then on 31 August 115 Squadron arrived and 100 Squadron was re-equipped with Handley Pages by September. Operations began with 97 Squadron on 19 August and 215 Squadron three nights later. [[Cologne]] railway station was bombed by two 216 Squadron aircraft on 21/22 August and six attacks were made on the German chemical industry, the raid on 25 August by two 215 Squadron aircraft on the works at [[Mannheim]] being particularly accurate. Five aircraft of 216 Squadron attacked on 2/3 September, one bomb causing [[Mark (currency)|M]]400,000 worth of damage and the first attack by 115 Squadron was made on 16/17 September, when seven Handley Pages were lost, variously to engine-trouble or anti-aircraft fire.{{sfn|Jones|2009a|pp=142, 145, 146–147, 148}}
 
The improved O/400 began entering service in April 1918, gradually allowing the re-equipment of more squadrons. The O/400s could carry the new {{cvt|1650|lb|adj=on}} bombs, which were aimed with the [[Drift Sight#In service|Drift Sight Mk 1A]] [[bombsight]]. Each raid was conducted by up to forty O/400s.<ref name="Bruce p258">{{harvnb|Bruce ''Flight'' 27 February 1953|pp=257–258}}</ref><ref name="Barnes p96">{{harvnb|Barnes|1987| p=96}}</ref> On the night of 21/22 October, four Handley Pages attacked Kaiserslautern with heavy bombs and four dropped incendiaries. Three heavy bombers and two incendiary bombers caused M500,000 of damage and Kaiserslautern was bombed again on 23/24 October, along with [[Koblenz]], Mannheim and [[Wiesbaden]]. The bombers were again diverted to army support during the month, and on the night of 9/10 October, 97, 215 and 216 Squadrons bombed Metz, one bomb hitting a powder store and rocked the town, the damage being estimated by the Germans at M1,000,000. Operations were reduced during the last days of the war by weather but several aerodromes were attacked, particularly that at Morhange.{{sfn|Jones|2009a|pp=149–152}}

== Post-1918 history ==

[[File:Aerial travel for Business or Pleasure - Thos Cook & Son - 1919 - pp 08+09 (No. 1) (cropped).jpg|thumb|"Silver Star"]]
[[File:Aerial travel for Business or Pleasure - Thos Cook & Son - 1919 - pp 10+11 (No. 2).jpg|thumb|One of the Cabins of "Silver Star."]]
[[File:Handley Page O-7 G-EAAF (7585335480).jpg|thumb|Handley Page O/7 airliner]]
After the war, O/400s remained in squadron service until replaced by the [[Vickers Vimy]] toward the end of 1919. War-surplus aircraft were converted for civilian use in the UK and nine were used by [[Handley Page Transport]].<ref name="Jackson225" /> Eight O/400s were fitted to carry passengers and operated by [[No. 86 Wing RAF|86 (Communication) Wing]] from Hendon, to provide transport between London and Paris for the officials negotiating the [[Treaty of Versailles]]. Two were fitted as VIP transports and finished in silver [[Aircraft dope|dope]], named ''Great Britain'' and ''Silver Star'' and  the others, seating eight, retained their dark green finish.<ref>{{harvnb|Barnes|1987| p=104}}</ref> The first ever in-flight movie, 1925's silent ''[[The Lost World (1925 film)|The Lost World]]'', was shown on a Type O, on the London to Paris flight by [[Imperial Airways]] in April 1925.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1925/1925%20-%200225.html |magazine=[[Flight International|Flight]] |date=April 16, 1925 |title=An Aerial "Picture Theatre" |page=225}}</ref>

Six aircraft were sold to the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] as O/7 transports,<ref name="Barnes p149">{{harvnb|Barnes|1987|p=149}}</ref> and following delivery to China were re-assembled at [[Beijing Nanyuan Airport|Nanyuan]], near [[Beijing]]. The aircraft flew their first [[airmail]] and passengers between Beijing and [[Tianjin|Tientsin]] on 7 May 1920. Civil war disrupted these services and they were taken over by various [[Warlord era|warlords]].<ref name="Barnes p158">{{harvnb|Barnes|1987|p=158}}</ref>

== Variants ==
[[File:Handley Page O.10 G-EATH Handley Page Transport Dübendorf - LBS SR02-10029 (cropped).tif|thumb|Handley Page O.10 G-EATH]]
[[File:Handley Page O-400 Andover 111-SC-18718 - NARA - 55197468 (tight crop, grayscale, contrast stretch).jpg|thumb|Standard Handley Page O/400]]

Before 1924, Handley Page used an alphabetical system for aircraft designations and the Type O followed the Type M and Type N. Type Os are frequently misnamed with the numeral "0" instead of the letter "O". The company designations "H.P.11" and "H.P.12" were applied retrospectively after HP switched to type numbers in 1924.

;O/100 :RNAS bomber. Two {{cvt|260|hp}} [[Rolls-Royce Eagle]] II engines. Four prototypes and 42 production aircraft built.
;O/400 :Improved bomber for RNAS/RAF. Two {{cvt|360|hp}} Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines. 554 built.
;O/7 :Export 14 passengers transport for China. Fuel tanks moved from fuselage into lengthened nacelles. 12 converted.<ref name="Jackson225" />
;O/10 :12 passenger transport. 10 converted.<ref name="Jackson225" />
;O/11 :Mixed passenger/cargo O/7 variant with two passengers up front and three in the tail, with freight in between. Three conversions.<ref name="Jackson225" />

==Operators==
===Civil===
[[File:Handley Page O-7 G-EAAF (7585330292).jpg|thumb|Handley Page type O/7 airliner, destined for China]]
;{{China as ROC}}
:The Government of [[China]]<ref name="Jackson225">{{harvnb|Jackson|1974|pp=225-230}}</ref>

;{{flagicon|India|British|size=25px}} [[British Raj|India]]
:Indo Burmese Transport<ref name="Jackson225" />

;{{POL}}
:The Polish Government bought one aircraft in 1920.<ref name="Jackson523">{{harvnb|Jackson|1974|pp=523-524}}</ref>

;{{UK}}
:[[Handley Page Transport]]<ref name="Jackson523" />

===Military===
;{{AUS}}
* [[Australian Flying Corps]]
** [[No. 1 Squadron RAAF|No. 1 Squadron AFC]] in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]].

;{{China as ROC}}

;{{UK}}
* [[Royal Air Force]]
** [[No. 58 Squadron RAF]] (O/400)
** [[No. 70 Squadron RAF]] (O/400)
** [[No. 97 Squadron RAF]] (O/400)
** [[No. 100 Squadron RAF]] (O/400)
** [[No. 115 Squadron RAF]] (O/400)
** [[No. 116 Squadron RAF]] (O/400)
** [[No. 207 Squadron RAF]] (O/400)
** [[No. 214 Squadron RAF]] (O/400)
** [[No. 215 Squadron RAF]] (O/100 and O/400)
** [[No. 216 Squadron RAF]] (O/400)
[[File:Duitse gevechtsvliegtuigen, RP-F-F02913.jpg|thumb|Captured O/100 in German markings.]]
* [[Royal Naval Air Service]]
** [[No. 7 Squadron RNAS]] (O/100)
** [[No. 7A Squadron RNAS]] (O/100)
** [[No. 14 Squadron RNAS]] (O/100)
** [[No. 15 Squadron RNAS]] (O/100)
** [[No. 16 Squadron RNAS]] (O/100 and O/400)

;{{USA}}
*[[United States Army Air Service]]
** Handley Page Squadron (O/100 and O/400)

===Captured aircraft===
An early O/100, which had flown from [[Manston Air Field|Manston Airfield]], developed engine trouble and landed behind German lines on 1 January 1917. The five crew members became prisoners of war and the aircraft was flown in German markings until it was wrecked.

==Accidents and incidents==
* On 19 August 1918, RAF Type O/400 ''D4593'' [[Maxstoke air crash|crashed]] at Maxstoke during a test flight from Castle Bromwich Aerodrome, killing all seven on board. Fabric from a wing tore off, causing a loss of control.
* On 17 May 1919, a Type O/400 carrying [[Thomas Edward Lawrence|T. E. Lawrence]] ('Lawrence of Arabia') to Egypt crashed at [[Centocelle Airport|Roma-Centocelle]] airport. Pilot and co-pilot were killed while Lawrence survived the incident with a broken shoulder blade and two broken ribs.<ref>[http://www.protestantcemetery.it/press/webnewsletter-eng/no5-2008.pdf Friends of the Protestant Cemetery (Rome) newsletter, 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://www.webcitation.org/66WbaWVSO?url=http://www.protestantcemetery.it/press/webnewsletter-eng/no5-2008.pdf |date=2012-03-29 }}</ref>	
* On 14 December 1920, a [[Handley Page Transport]] O/400 (G-EAMA), operating from the company airfield at [[Cricklewood Aerodrome|Cricklewood]], [[1920 Golders Green Handley Page O/400 crash|crashed on take-off]] when it hit a tree at Golders Green, killing the two crew and two of the six passengers.
* On 31 March 1922, all 14 persons aboard a Type O/7 operated by Beijing-Han Airlines were killed when the [[1922 Beijing-Han Airlines crash|plane struck the tops of trees]] while making its approach to [[Beijing Nanyuan Airport|Nanyuan Airport]] in [[Beijing|Peiping]].

==Surviving aircraft==
No complete example of any Type O aircraft remains. The [[Royal Air Force Museum Cosford]] has several relics, including pieces of fabric from an O/100 and various small O/400 components<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/archive-exhibitions/not-quite-extinct/handley-page-0100-and-0400/what-do-we-have.aspx|title=What do we have? {{!}} Handley Page 0/100 and 0/400|website=RAF Museum Cosford|language=en|access-date=4 August 2017}}</ref> and five O/400 wing sections which had been used as part of a shed roof in Flintshire until their recovery in late 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whats-going-on/news/WW1_Bomber_Wings_Found_in_Garage/|title=WW1 Bomber Wings Found in Garage|date=26 November 2013|website=RAF Museum Cosford|language=en|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804003404/https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whats-going-on/news/WW1_Bomber_Wings_Found_in_Garage/ |archive-date=4 August 2017 }}</ref>
While there are no extant airframes, a detailed cockpit reproduction is on display at [http://www.stowmaries.org.uk Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome], near Maldon in Essex.

==Specifications (O/400)==
[[File:Handley Page O-100 type drawing.jpg|thumb|Handley Page O/100 type drawing]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The British Bomber since 1914<ref name="Mason Bomber p94">{{harvnb|Mason|1994|p=94}}</ref> and ''The War in the Air'' ''Appendices'' {{sfn|Jones|2009b|pp=180–181}}
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=4 or 5
|length ft=62
|length in=10.25
|span ft=100
|span in=
|height ft=22
|height in=
|wing area sqft=1648
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=8502
|gross weight lb=14022
|max takeoff weight lb=13360
|fuel capacity=
<!--Powerplant-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII]]
|eng1 type=V-12 water-cooled piston engines
|eng1 hp=360
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=4
|prop name=fixed-pitch wooden propellers
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
<!--Performance-->
|max speed mph=97.5
|max speed note=
|range miles=700
|endurance=8 hours
|ceiling ft=8500
|climb rate ftmin=240
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|5000|ft|0}} in 23 minutes
<!--Armament-->
|guns= 5 × {{cvt|0.303|in|1}} [[Lewis Gun]]s (2 on nose [[Scarff ring]], 2 on dorsal position and 1 at ventral hatch)
|bombs=Up to {{cvt|2000|lb}} of bombs
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
<!-- designs which were developed into or from this aircraft: -->
|related=*[[Handley Page W.8]]
* [[Handley Page V/1500]]
<!-- aircraft similar in appearance or function to this design: -->
|similar aircraft=
* [[Vickers Vimy]]
* [[Gotha G.IV]]
* [[Sikorsky Ilya Muromets]]
* [[Caproni Ca.1 (1914)|Caproni Ca.32]]
<!-- any lists that are appropriate: -->
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm]]
* [[List of bomber aircraft]]
* [[List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force]]
<!-- other articles that could be useful to connect with: -->
|see also=
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
====Books====
* {{cite book |title=Handley Page Aircraft Since 1907 |last=Barnes |first=Charles Henry |year=1987 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=978-0-85177-803-7}}
* {{cite book |title=Handley Page Bombers |last=Bowyer |first=Chaz |year=1992 |publisher=Aston Publications |location=Bourne End, Bucks |isbn=978-0-946627-68-4}}
* {{cite book |title=British Civil Aircraft since 1919 |volume=II |last=Jackson |first=A. J. |year=1974 |publisher=Putnam |isbn=978-0-370-10010-4}}
* {{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft |last=Jackson |first=Robert |year=2006 |publisher=Parragon Books |location=Bath |isbn=978-1-4054-2465-3}}
* {{cite book |title=The War in the Air Being the Part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force |volume=IV |last=Jones |first=H. A. |year=2002 |orig-year=1934 |publisher=Clarendon Press |edition=Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press, Uckfield |location=London |isbn=978-1-84342-415-4}}
* {{cite book |title=The War in the Air Being the Part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force |volume=V |last=Jones |first=H. A. |year=2009 |orig-year=1935 |publisher=Clarendon Press |edition=Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press, Uckfield |location=London |isbn=978-1-84342-416-1}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Jones|2009a}}
|title=The War in the Air Being the Part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force |volume=VI |last=Jones |first=H. A. |year=2009 |orig-year=1937 |publisher=Clarendon Press |edition=Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press, Uckfield |location=London |isbn=978-1-84342-417-8}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Jones|2009b}}
|title=The War in the Air Being the Part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force: Appendices |volume=VII |last=Jones |first=H. A. |year=2009 |orig-year=1937 |publisher=Clarendon Press |edition=Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press, Uckfield |location=London |isbn=978-1-84342-411-6}}
* {{cite book |title=bloody Paralyser: The Giant Handley Page Bombers of the First World War |last=Langham |first=R. |year=2016 |publisher=Fonthill Media |location=London |isbn=978-1-78155-080-9}}
* {{cite book |title=The British Bomber since 1914 |last=Mason |first=Francis K. |year=1994 |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-85177-861-7}}
* {{cite book |title=British Naval Aircraft Since 1912 |last=Thetford |first=Owen |year=1991 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, MD |isbn=978-1-55750-076-2}}
* {{cite book |title=Clayton & Shuttleworth and Marshall Aircraft Production |last=Walls |first=John |year=1977 |publisher=Control Column |location=Lincoln |oclc=810546653}}

====Journals====
* {{cite magazine |last=Brooks |first=Peter W. |title=The First Handley Page Transports |magazine=[[Flight International|Flight]] |date=13 January 1961 |volume=79 |issue=2705 |pages=53–54 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1961/1961%20-%200055.html|access-date=5 April 2012  |issn=0015-3710 }} 
* {{cite magazine |last=Bruce |first=J. M. |title=Handley Page 0/100 and 0/400: Historic Military Aircraft No.4 |magazine=Flight |date=27 February 1953|volume= LXIII|issue= 2301 |pages=254–259 |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200256.html |access-date= 20 May 2009  |issn=0015-3710 |ref={{harvid|Bruce ''Flight'' 27 February 1953}} }}
*{{cite magazine |last1=Klaauw|first1=Bart van der|title=Unexpected Windfalls: Accidentally or Deliberately, More than 100 Aircraft 'arrived' in Dutch Territory During the Great War |magazine=Air Enthusiast |date=March–April 1999 |issue=80 |pages=54–59 |issn=0143-5450}}
* {{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= The Birth of the Big Aeroplane: Sir Fredrick Handley Page Looks Back |magazine=Flight |date=9 November 1961 |volume= 80 |issue=2705 |page=722 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1961/1961%20-%201618.html |access-date=5 April 2017 |issn=0015-3710 |ref={{harvid|''Flight'' 9 November 1961}} }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite report |last=Kent |first=W. D. |title=Biplanes and Bombsights: British Bombing in World War I |type=Report |url=http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA366808 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407054738/http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA366808 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 April 2017 |year=1999 |publisher=Air University |location=Maxwell Air Force Base, AL |access-date=6 April 2017 |docket=ADA366808 |oclc=831693694}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200256.html "Handley Page O/100 and O/400"] a 1953 ''Flight'' article by J. M. Bruce
* [http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/Research/RAF-Historical-Society-Journals/Journal_45_Seminar_conventional_weapons.pdf RAF Historical Society Journal 45 Dye, P.: RFC Bombs and Bombing 1912–1918]

{{Handley Page aircraft}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1910s British bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:Handley Page aircraft|Type O]]
[[Category:World War I strategic bombing]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1915]]
[[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]