Short Stirling

[cardboard_killer]

"[80 years ago today t]he first production Short Stirling heavy bomber conducts test flights at Rochester. The Stirling is the first four engine bomber to see service with the RAF, and the largest British bomber of the Second World War. "

 

 

Edited May 7, 2020 by cardboard_killer

[RhumbaAzul]

The Jimmy Hill of heavy bombers, even better looking than the Lancaster IMHO

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

Severely hampered by the wingspan requirement to fit in hangars. Could propably been far better performing with longer wingspan.

[Chief_Mouser]

The crew stations in the nose are a huge height from the ground. It must have been quite a climb to get up there.

[Hoots]

My grandfather flew in these, then later in Lancasters. He never liked Stirlings. 

[JimTM]

There is a great autobiography by Murray Peden called "A Thousand Shall Fall", which tells the story of his flight training in Canada and his time flying over Europe in Stirlings and, later, B-17s (using early electronic countermeasures).

Edited February 14, 2023 by JimTM

[DD_Arthur]

Stirling, Halifax, Lancaster, B17, B24.  All based on obsolete design philosophies and all inadequate for the purpose they were intended.

[SidtheGit]

On 24th April 1942 the crew of 218 (Gold Coast) Sqn Stirling W7506 'HA-K' flying out of RAF Marham were tragically all killed when shot down over Southern Germany on their way to bomb the Skoda works at Pilsen. The raid was 'Operation Canonbury' and was considered to be at the extreme limits of aircraft and crew navigation capabilities at the time.. The crew of this Stirling included my Uncle whose role was flight engineer and mid upper gunner.

 

The other 5 Stirlings reached the target area and bombed although they were unfortunately 1 - 2 miles off target.

 

All research and evidence points to 'HA-K' being shot down by an Me110 piloted by Unteroffizier Haisch. One remarkable aspect of the story is that Haisch could not return to his base after the contact and crash landed at another. This, according to his account, was due to his aircraft being badly shot up by 'HA-K' during the nocturnal combat. Both crew members survived but the Me110 was assessed for damage and written off.

 

Salute to them all.

 

Sid

Edited June 7, 2020 by SidtheGit

[cardboard_killer]

[80 years ago today] "• The Stirling Mark-III flies its first operational mission with a raid on Cologne. It has a newly designed dorsal turret and stronger Bristol Hercules engines. Short has proposed a “Super Stirling” version, but Bomber Command decides that the Stirling has reached its developmental limit and construction will be concentrated on Lancaster and Halifax heavy bombers.

 

Bombing up a Short Stirling

 

Lancasters at Avro factory near Manchester – 1943"

[=LD=Bulldog*]

[Gingerwelsh]

Some Stirling related pictures.

 

 

 

 

New at Rochester.

..

 

New take off from Rochester.

 

Shorts factory, Rochester.

 

50kg bombs dropping from Dornier attack.

The airfield is left of the red line.

Horstead Farm, took the brunt of this stick. A few bombs are landing on the airfield recreation ground.

 

Bomb damage inside the factory.

 

The factory was subsequently moved to Belfast.

The Sunderland factory, is quite close by on the river bank.

 

..

Edited February 19, 2023 by Gingerwelsh