The fuselage had a steel tube structure with fabric covering with a pilot, a radio operator/navigator and three gunners, in open nose, dorsal and tail positions.

Orders for a further sixty Hendons were cancelled in 1936, as the prototype of the first of the next generation of British heavy bombers—the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley—had flown and showed much higher performance.

The type was delayed by the crash and a rebuild of the prototype and the Heyford received the majority of the orders to replace RAF heavy bombers, the Hendon coming into service three years later.

By January 1939, the Hendons had been retired and were then used for ground instruction work, including the radio school at RAF Cranwell.

[8] Of the 14 Hendon IIs only two were lost in accidents: Data from The British Bomber since 1914;[7] Fairey Aircraft since 1915[8]General characteristics Performance Armament