Prototype Henley. Photo from: National Library of Australia

New Types Park, 1937 RAF Display. K5115 was the first prototype of the Henley, then a light bomber. K5604 / 7, on the left, is a Gloster F.5/34 monoplane fighter. K7555 / 5 is the Fairey P.4/34, which led to the Fulmar fighter. K8887 / 4 is an Airspeed Queen Wasp target aircraft and behind it is the Oxford prototype L4534 / 3. In the foreground is the DH.91 Albatross prototype E.2, which initially had its twin tailfins mounted close to the fuselage and not as endplates.

Crashed near Bootle on July 8, 1942. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Derived from the Hurricane, the Henley was intended as a light bomber but only ordered as a target tug, fitted with a winch on the left side of the rear cockpit. 200 Henley Mk.IIIs were built by Gloster between November 1938 and September 1940, but were found to be prone to Merlin engine failures. Apparently the cooling system was not up to target towing at high engine speed but relatively low airspeed. L3261 crashed on approach to RAF Catfoss, Yorkshire, on 18 July 1939.

Two Hawker Henley target tugs from an RAF Gunnery School visiting RAF Firbeck, Yorkshire. Photo obtained from an RAF member 50 years ago,