View Full Version : Military Serial Puzzle
possel
10th Sep 2019, 15:59
On UK Serials (http://www.ukserials.com/) I just found a real puzzle. It gives WB802 as type "HP.39 Messenger" without any further details; the same is given by RAFCommands ? The meeting place for RAF researchers (http://www.rafcommands.com) (who probably took their data from UK Serials!). It can't be Handley Page HP.39 as that was the Gugnunc and it doesn't seem to be any sort of Miles Messenger (according to the Putnam Miles book).
Google doesn't help as you get some Hewlett Packard device called a Messenger, so does anyone have any idea of what that was (or was intended to be)?
JENKINS
10th Sep 2019, 17:29
HP 93 will help.
DaveReidUK
10th Sep 2019, 18:18
It was indeed a Miles Messenger, modified with Dufaylite (paper honeycomb) wings, ordered by the Ministry of Supply for tests and allocated a military serial accordingly.
possel
10th Sep 2019, 21:44
Thanks for the replies, very helpful. Given the paucity of info in Barnes' Putnam book on Handley Page, and the complete lack of anything about it in Brown's Miles book, I guess it was never actually made?
DaveReidUK
10th Sep 2019, 22:31
It was not only built, it flew.
Icare9
11th Sep 2019, 12:20
Some further information here https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/handley-page-h-p-93.31088/
Planemike
12th Sep 2019, 10:08
Thanks for the replies, very helpful. Given the paucity of info in Barnes' Putnam book on Handley Page, and the complete lack of anything about it in Brown's Miles book, I guess it was never actually made?
Have you had a look at Peter Amos's Miles books? I do not have copies so cannot check. They are a very comprehensive history of the Miles Company so would be surprised if there was no mention.