picture 202622

Handley Page HP.52 K4240/8, Hatfield Aerodrome, Hertfordshire, June 29, 1936. Flown for the first time from Handley Page’s Radlett aerodrome by the firm’s chief test pilot Maj James Cordes on June 21, 1936, the HP.52 was unveiled to the public during the RAF’s pageant at London’s Hendon aerodrome six days later. On the 29th, it was seen in the ‘New Type’s Park’ at the SBAC show at Hatfield. Wearing a "glossy grey-green" paint scheme, the nose panelling in the initial birdcage-type nose remained ‘wallpapered’ with aluminium sheeting added to stop the public from peering into the then ‘secret’ bomber.