WARPRINT SERIES No. 15 ‘Hye Sting Mls rom No 1651 Heavy Converston Unit based st Waterbeach an 23 ‘ ‘Apri 1342 The ciy of Cambridge can be sou Inthe astance. From noat to far theaters ara Na676'S, N6OOS:6 ane NBDSS:C. (WM)Pabaned ny Hall Park Hooks Limited. Foam eh tion enon Busegransio ceva ener Prete Eng) Reco Ugh 962 Sates fans Wen, Tees. Saept egal ae ult danas b conn Sanep, Doel of lol Hotel at Museum, RAE Mceu Sher anterter etn Pete Nowe, ceo ana atelerea Pot tery Peer eae Reeve tise i cratic ie BCn es eer ee eter renee ad aero en irr RO eaEEd Renae acer t eatree rama) Peace mre EL ee TY Rs ar tears ott ed Peete roe a ries Pere renee ey Pe era etre cr cd erryHE Shott String was the first of the three RAF World War 2 heavy bombers, the others being the Halifax and Lancaster, to sce oper ational service and was also the firs of the three to be seconded to another role whilst remaining on front line duties. Instead of dropping bombs or mines on enerny targets ‘assaulted them with peratmogps or by 10 ing gliders as @ transport task for which it has never been given adcquale praise. On top of this the Stirling, in is Semilitrised form, had a short post-war career asa civil transport that was soon to be overtaken by more Suitable aircraft for the Jeb. ‘The carly beginnings of the Stirling were interwoven with the Air Ministry's nec have bomber aircraft capable of ong range, carrying as heavy a bomb load as possible able to reach far into Germany whos inten tions in the mid-1930s wore of a watlike nalure, In the rapid re-srmament period that followed the realisation that the RAF was both out-gunned and with nothing on the rawing board that resembled a heavy Halt-pint Siting, The scale fying model ofthe Stiting built by Shorts a0 private ventura, was given tho works designation 5.31.1 had four Popjoy Niagra engines and tho two crow sat It {andem, Making is frst leh from Rochester In ‘September 193, the ony markings Ht bore wes {large MM’ on to fin and rudder (Shorts) as were sought a8 to what shape any new aireraf| might take, how long would be needed 1 get it inte production nomics of building a fo chine with the power plants joughts were gathored together in Joly 1936 when the Air Ministry issued Specification B.1236 which called for « conventional design which could operate g airfields but have of not less than 3,000 miles and carry a bomb Joa in excess 078,000 Ibs. 18 Squadron Siting MkN6129 undergo- Ing servicing at Downiiam Market nthe summer of 1942, Noteworthy are the tll ladders and Stofoiding necessary for ground ero fiers to ‘each th four Aoreulos Mk. Ml ongines in order {o prepare them forthe night's oparstions. In all 19 British sircrat manufacturers wore advised of the Specification and of > five tendered designs. Both Short Bros Rochester and Supermarine | in © subsequently asked produce two prototypes each oftheir designs but by ekance the offer from Shorts was the ‘only one to reach production. Little is SHORT STIRLING WARPAINT PAGE 1known ofthe Supermarine design apart from the fact that construction was well under way by 1940 but both ofthe provorypes were badly damaged by a German air raid on the Woolston, Southampton, factory which effectively put an end to the project as Sapormarines had by that time deen fully ‘committed to the production of Spitfires. Shorts hed, under the direction of their chief designer Arthur Gouge, solved some of the major difficulties that eame in the small print of the Specification. To start with it ‘was necessary fo build an aircraft witha low aspect ratio wing as the span was not {0 exceed 100 fi due to the fect that all RAF Station hangars being hastily constructed on the meny new airfields coming into service, hed doors that wore of roughly thet dimen: n. Secondly the new bomber had to be capsible of operating. from the somewhat restricting confines of these new airfields which only hed. gress runways. Eyen though the RAF's expansion was ‘much neoded and large sums of money made sveilable for the purchase of land to accom- mode new airfields, the financial civil ser= ‘ants were loath t spend any more than was absolutely necessary which in tum led to a _eat deal of eompromise as far asthe desizn ‘of new heavy bombers was concerned, In spite of this the Shorts design tear saw the possible need for sub-contracting e struction, even at this early stage, and their design was such that it eould be broken down into throo 35 ft long sections whieh ‘The lMated frst prototype ofthe Sting was hero at Rochester refo mad before ie During too nding ‘one of the whoo! brakes seizadrosulting inthe Collapse of the uPderearrione and the aWcratt being writen of (0) could be placed in packing cases suitable for either rail or read transpor: to final asser also saw to it that cach srchangeable, a fact that was to be of considerable help during the height ‘of the bombing of Germany when badly damaged aircraft could be salvaged and put back into squadron use sooner than if com. pletely new aircraft had been required as replacements. HALF SCALE PROTOTYPE Once Shorts’ design had been accepted it ‘was time to put paper theory inco practice. ‘As the company had not built a landplane since the Short Seyila ailinc: in the carly 1950s ic was decided to build ard est half seale aerodynamic prototype of the Stirling. This was very quickly built at Rochester and made its firs Right from there of a Boulton Paul Type H 20.mm cannon under the rear tuslage. The proposal was nat fited Dperationally andthe sera like the other RAF roly on 303 machine ight fighers. heavy Bombers, had suns te fight of Lute on 19 September 1938. Known as the Short $.31 it was fitted with Jour 90 hp Popjoy Niagra I] engines and was exactly half the size of the eventual bomber. It provided seating for a pilot and ‘observer in tandem ane! was built using ply- ‘wood skinning with the turets blanked off but having a sealed down undercarriage and ‘exact replica wings. Painted silver overall the prototype was identified only by the let. ters "M4" on the fin and radde ht was undertaken by test pilot John Parker who flew the new aireraft ‘extensively during October 1938 before tak ing it to AGAEE Martlesham Heath wirereShort Stirling camouflage and markings sont srimune coLoun KEY htm Beck itn Yalow RAF Rod AFB Alumni Drawings by David Howley hort Sting MI NEO@8G ef Ne. 4654 Conversion Unk of No, 4 Sesser aatyerion a e400 Net arpa Na 7 Susiron ‘Short Sting Miki N6‘CO:09-C ‘Coot Inda “of No.t40-Squcerone _Meeota et ‘SHORT STRUNG WARPAINT PAGES~ Bhar Stn m1 RU2EE.G a No, 40 Squedon Hoya Short Stiting Mk. 1 W745I:MG-0 of No, 7-Squsdron— —Oathaion 1381 service tet pilots flow the S.31 to gain an impression of what the new bomber would belike. In general the opinion was that it had good handling qualities but it was consid- red that its take-off run was rather long. A. tree degree increase in wing incidence was recoramended. ‘But Sting production had already stated so Gouge compromised by adding three grees to the ground angle by lengthening the main undercarriage legs. ‘The corresponding modifications were made to the $31 and whilst these changes were being made it wae decided to install ‘more powerful Popjoy Nigara IV engines of 113 hp. Pasker few the aircraft in its modi- fled form on 10) January and subsequently horn-balanced clevators were fited to ‘improve loagitedinal control but these were changed yet again 1 a large tailplane with normal elevators, Trials were complete on 12 April 1939 only a month in edvance of the proposed first fight of the Stirling proto- type L7600, From then on the S31 was flown regulor- Jy in order that pilots could get the feel ofthe aircraft before graduating onto the full sized Stirling. They all remarked on the good han- dling and manocuvrability of the aircraft which had a top speed in the region of 180 mph and the ability t© make Huricane pilots, who on occasions came to investigate ‘The second prottype ofthe ttn was L7605 which took on the task of sirrame and engine {eating afer ving the undercarioge srengt- ‘edt mado ts fret Might on 3 Decerabor 1998, ‘went te Boscombe Down on 22 April for RAF secaptance tats. (WM) PAGE4 SHORT GTRUNG WARPANT the unosual shape in their skies, look little silly asi matched them in its rate of tum and ‘acrobatic ability, At the beginning of the war the $31 went to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough for wind tunnel tests in the 24 flow speed tunnel. These were mainly eon- ccemed with the drag and torque which would be created by the proposed gun turets hich at that time were to posibly include a Boulton Paul Type O 20.mm cannon above and a Type H below the fuselage inthe mid Ships position ‘Retumed to the manufucturer, the $.31 flow on as a test vehicle until 1943 when it was serepped due 10 tie lack of spares for the engines. It also suffered a takewofl acc dnt on 12 December that year which was in cffect the final judgement on its future. a SST FLIGHT DISASTER Meanwhile contrac had been place for the Construction of a large number of Stirlings. ‘The two prototypes L7600 and L7605, were to be followed by an initial 100 aireraf. So urgent was the need fora long range bomber that a second production line was set up at Short Brothers and Hasland, Queen’s Island, [Belfast where another 100 were ordered ‘Additionally a third production line was cstablished ai the Austin Motor works, Longbridge, Binningham with sub-contract. ing subsidiaries at the Rootes-ovmed shad-‘ow factory at Stoke-on-Trent The first String prototype was testing at Rochester in May 1939. It conducted a series of fast ‘axy rans on the 1th followed by its frst ight of 20 minutes on 14 May with Patker at the controls, Sauadron Leader 1. Moreton as co-pilot and George Cotton os Flight Engineer But disaster struck as on landing one of the wheel brakes seized resulting in the col- lapse of the rather stalky underearriage leg Following a rater violent ground loop Unfortunately the aircraft was so aly dan- aged that it had to be written off with the nsequent delay in test flying whilst modi fications were made. With a much stronger undereat second prototype emerged from the factory fon 21 November and Parker took precau: ions by conducting 4 series of taxying tests lasting almost two hours spread over four days before attempting to get airborne for the first time on for 30° minutes on 3 December leaving the undercarriage locked down. A sccond flight was made on ists Eve and eleven test flights later the ‘Stiing was delivered 10 Boscombe Down on 22 April 1940, Meanwhile the fist production ai 1N3635 had left the factory and was Nowa by Parker on 7 May 1940 but even this had an ‘engine feilure on take-off. The cause was traced to over rapid movements of the thot tle which resulted in a slow response from the engines and proved to be a constant cause of trouble until much later in the Stirling's career when the control fines between the throttle and engine were changed to electrical rather than hydraulic linkages Production had continued at Rochester and Belfast but this was at the height of the dy for ge the Right and bolow: Two Stiting Mkis of No, 7 Squadron boing bombed up th 28015 bombo foadinoss for the nights operations, No. ? Squadron ws tho fist String =quscron form at Looting, moving to Gaington in early 198% where these pitures wore taken (WM), SHORT STRUNG WARPAINT PAGE §Baitle of Britain and the night raids thet fl- lowed. On the night of 14 August 1940 the Luftwaffe's KG.100 with 15 Heinkel He Ills arrived over Bolfast and attacked the ‘Queen's Island factory scoring direct hits on the production line that caused the less of five Stirlings. The following day 40 Domne Do 172s made for Rochester where they effectively put the works out of aetion vital period. With over 300 bombs being ropped, six Stirlings on the line were reduced to scrap metal andthe finished parts store demolished apart from minor damage to many other buildings As a result it was decided that the Rochester works was too exposed to enemy attack and the production line moved io ‘Stitings often took pat in Circus operations ‘ver northern Fronce in 1942 fo try and enceur ‘ge enamy fightre into combat. Here a Sting ict of No. 15 Squadron fe eczorted by ‘we Hareanes (WH shadow factories at South Marston, near Swindon and Hucclecote, near Gloucester Added to this, top pricrity had been given to the production of Spitfire and Hurricane fighters followed by the noed for production fereules engines for Beaul two facrors yer again slowed down Stirling production. Deliveries of only 18 aircraft had been achieved by the end of 1940, CONSTRUCTION {is importan tha credit should be given to ‘the foresight of the planners who conceived the idea of the fourengined long range bomber type of aircraft for the RAF. They thought strategically whoress the Luftwati ‘Two ofthe four String Mk prototypes, N26S7 (lt) and N2744 (Delon). Thoy were ited with Wright Cyciona R600A5B enginos and pro fivetion was due fo take place at South Marston find in Canada Before the rojeet wa aban. doned afn Hercules engines sUrTiced. (eD)‘Ato. 18 Squadron Stirling Mk 1L8:F landing at Avion shorty aor the squadron was equipped rin the type in Apr 1941 when # became he ‘ecend sting squacron In Bomber Gommand. (away did not But the construction of an aireraft of this type used a great many vitally important Desio materials and was equally heavy on the man power both to build the aireraft and to fly and service it An airerow of seven, pilot, co-pilot who also acted as navigator, observer who dou: bled as the front gunner, bomb aimer, wire less operator and two air gunners made up the complement ‘One of the failings said to hove made the Stirling somewhat inferior o the Lane and [eter versions of the Halifax was its bomb bay, In te easly design requirements, laid down in the Specification, it wes not thought that aireraft would be required t0 amy larger weapons than the standard 500, ib ho. Consequently bay was situated in the fuse! with throe narrow, 42 ft Tong Fuselage and throe under each wing. The cockpit area was spacious and like ‘many other parts ofthe aieraft had a faril- iar G-Class flying boat look about it. In fact the wing was very similar that of the Sunderland with large Gouge flaps on the tailing edges. “The turrets in nose and tail were supple mented by @ Browning FIN.T turret in th ‘mid-apper position on the Mk. 1 and th ‘was originally a proposal for a remotely con- trolled retractable turret under the rear fuse lage. This was deleted because of the increased drag. and the fact that hydra Teakage eaused it to drif down when taxy and hit the ground. Both the nose and tail turets haxd 1,000 rounds of ammunition for ch gun. For the longest possible range the String could camry 2,254 gallons of fuel but this ‘ould be furier supplemented by six fey tanks mounted in the wing bom bays 1g another 220 gallons. ules TI engines wers fitted in mono- rly production Mk.is but these were changed to Hercules Mi Xs, in complete power unit assemblies ata lator e and the aircraft redesignated Mk 1 L Short developed engines. resulted in the Mk Series Il whilst those that came from the Bristol works were designated Mk. T Series Ill. With the interchangeability of components it was sean impossible to tel Which Series the actual alrera belonged. Because of possible engine short 1941 threo Stirling Mic Is, N36S7, and R988, were re-cngined with American Wright Cyclone R-2600-ASB engines and became the prototypes for the Mk. These ‘vere the only Mk.Iis built asthe threatened shortage of Hercules engines was overcome, Retuating Sting Mk N6IO1 of No. 148 ‘Savacron when besed at Ockingion. The Mk hed enorme capaety of 2254 galone of pero which gave tarange of 2600 mies witha bomb Toad of 4800 be. (RAF Auseur ‘A decision was made to build these airerat fn Canada and «contract placed for 140 Stirling Ils but this was cancelled shortly the Planned production of the Stirling I at South Marston was also aban ddoned, Of the prototypes two became test beds for the Stirling Il with uprated Hercules engines GOING TO WAR As has bien related the cut back in supplies ‘of raw materials in favour of fighter produ tion in the 1940 period delayed the String cenity into service. As a result the frst air- eft to reach an operational squadron was 1640 which was flown by Sergeant G.B.Blacklock from Boscombe Down to Leeming for No. 7 Squadron on 3 August i940, In the succseding six months 16 Sti were delivered 10 allow two Flights to be Stirling Mk. 1 N3676 ongine testing at Waterbeacn in 1942. The squadron code US'can Detanty sen but appears that aba the nal~ ‘ta alverat leter ‘U" have been toned dow Possibly this wes because the alert wee a Inservice with No 1654 Conversion Unt which ‘haved the Waterboach facitise (RAF Museum) SHORTSTIRUNG WARPANT PAGE7hort Sting Mk, A_N3T‘1 second potayce sith Wight __Giine ulbcdsis8—ergines. Only ros Eull ASAE ‘Bescorbe Down 1941 Short, Sling Me 1 RODERDULA.of No 2t4 Squadron Chesbuigh sas ‘Short String Mk I W751818-R cf No. 15 Squeccon Vston,2 ie short Sting Mk. ING72EHAP of No, 248 Squadron, July sez = — Shor Sting MX LHA05:Z0-4" of No. 195 Seuasien Tastes ~ glue toning yoke forsee sprains on String MRI, 184, ‘Short Sting Mic 1 ROL \iatereensh eraay 1883 of Ne. 1651 Conorder tnt PAGEE GHORTETIRLNG WARPANTestablished and training begun. Most of these were in the nature of being intensive flying trials as no commitment to operations was made ai that ime, Problems with ser- vviceability and an increasing number of on site modifications were necessary No. 7 Squadron moved fo RAF Oakingron in early 1941 and it made its first offensive sorties onthe night of 10-1 February. Three Stirlings, N3O4I, N3642 and N3644 attacked a group ‘of oil storage tanks at Roiterdam each carrying 16 50 Tb bombs, Further small raids were made on targets in France and Belgium with the first Geeman target being Bremen on 17 March, Night ‘attacks were also made in coajunction with ‘tier squadrons of twin-engined bombers on the two German warships Scharhors! and Gneisenau in Brost during Apeil but witkout ble results. On 9 April the frst attempt gs 0 take part in 2 raid on Bertin ‘was made but the three aircraft involved had to tum back because of engine trouble aad attacks by enemy night fighters. twas not until 17-18 Apri that the First suecesstl raid ‘on Berlin was achieved by N6010 which dropped five 1,000 and seven 500 Tb bombs (on the capita No. 7 Squadron was then assigned to faumber of daylight raids the first by a single Stirling on the dockyards at Emden on 28 April, Strlings were also dispatched to look forthe heavy eruiser Prine Eugen which was secking shelter at Brest after the sinking of the Bismark There followed a number of other daylight raids against ererny ships off Dunkirk, and the seaplane base at Borkum, bur these pinprick raids were abandoned de (o the amount of damage sustained from enemy flak and fightos. No. 218 Squadron forme at marnam in Februsry 1942 with the Sting ks. One of hele sireraft ceded HAGiis soon here AM) By the end of 194Isome 150 Stitings hed been built and delivered allowing a nun of other squadrons 10 be equipped namely Nos.15 at Wyton, 149 at Mildenhall, 214 and 218 Squadrons. The two latter, based at Siradishall, were initially engaged in ‘minclaying operations off the German coast in a series of ‘gardening’ sorties as well as taking part in raids on Germany. November 1942. saw two more squadrons in No. 3 Group conver to Stistings with No. 75 based at Newmarket and No, 90 at Botsford. “C Flight fiom No, 7 Squadron moved to Waterbeach in Cetober 1941 to fom the nucleus of No. 26 Operational Conversion Flight. This was followed by the ereation of No.1651 Heavy Conversion Unit and Conversion Fligits on the squadrons to train sufficient crews as new aircraft were deliv cred and squadrons ereated or re-equipped with Strings. Atha time the RAF was taking the war in the air to the German fighter units in Northern France with a series of daylight Three Sting Mkle from No. 1661 Heavy Conversion Unt at Watersoach in formation lover the Cambridgeshire countryside in 1842 This picture was taken a: the same ime as the tront cover to this publication, Each alcrat shows signs of far weor end tesron the unoor ‘ving surfaoee, (RAF Bhuseur) ‘Circuses”in whieh small force of bombers ‘were escorted by soveral squadrons of fight- crs in an effort to get the Luftwaffe 10 come ‘up and fight. To terapr them in the air the bait was a number of Blenheim or Stirlings because fighter sweeps over the area had not resulted in much opposition. Nos 7 snd 15 Squadrons were mostly engaged in these ‘operations. Over a period of four weeks 5§ Stirling sorties were flown which resulted in the loss of ve airertt with 11 athers dam aged. The four engined bombers obviously made excellent target practice forthe many Gorman 88-mm gun batteries as all of those shot down were hit by anti-aireraft fire It was therefore decided to withdraw the Stirling from this type of operation Atiacks on the thee German warships at SHORT STIRLING WARPAINT PAGE 9shor tn _ Sted ‘Short Sting | es WPA6oX0 No. 657 | Series Il BF382/5U.0.c No. 214 Squadron — ‘This.aleaf atthe etter PNODATH-pper ture Med Shor. siting Mk MM BK74VIE.O of No. 90. Squaden senor ery te PAGE {0 SHORT STRUNG WARPANT Brest continued and, although escorted by fightrs, the bombers met with severe oppo: sition albeit that they claimed a number of enemy fighters shot dawn or damaged. With not a great deal of effective damage bei Gone fo the Germans ships during these day- light raids it was decided to concentrate the heavy bomb loads that the Stirling could ‘carry on more distant targets and by night. ‘Accordingly in 1942 a series of raids were carried out agzins: Turn and Milan in norih= fem (tay. The Stirling with its maximum Toad of fuel and bornbs found some difficul- ty increstng the Alpsand also suffered from icing apart from the strong defenses of the ‘ovo alin cities. AWARDS FOR BRAVERY It was on one of these raids that the Tist Victoria Cross. for Stirling aircrew was awarded to Flight Sergeant R. H. Middleton RAAF, fora mai on the Fiat works at Turin con the night of 28-29 November 1942, Flying E372. of No. 149. Squadron Middleton suffered severe heed injuries from shell splinters which also caused cou Siderable damage to the port wing making lateral control very difficult. Whilst over the target he had flow low enough to make sure thar his bons hit the aiming point and the Left and above: Sting 13705, a No.7 Squadron alert, fale to return on 16 August 1982.1 ‘rash landed) near Loovenstein Castle, Holand, ‘for a mining operation and was repairod at ize Rijen before boing cent to the Luftwotie teot centr at Rechlin where it eppecred with @ patched up nese ard Gorman markings (WM)(On show on a bom sito outside St, Paulo Cathedral m tach 1983 M2668 took part in a ‘Wings for Victory week where tt was vised by ousends of people Including the author The ‘icra wes af ‘and 16 Squadron a= ‘raft von tho maintenance serie 26374 fr use wih the Air Armamont Soho. (Wi) aircraft went out of control dovn to 800 before the co-pilot, himself wounded, was able to regain control. Middletan flew the aireraft back across France and once over the English coest, with only a few minutes fuel lft, the rest of the crow were ordered to bail out. Five did co but two remained and were drowned with Middleton when he itched the arora in the sea For his determination to carry on the attack, fly the aircraft home bringing most of his erew back to comparative saety in spite of his wounds, Flight Sergeant Middleton was awarded a posthumous VC. Iwas on yet another raid on an Taian tar- ‘get and again over Turin that the second Stirling VC was avverded to Flight Sergeant A.L.Aaroa of No. 218 Squadron. On 12 ‘August 1943 when flying BR4S2 Aaron was severely wounded in the face and right arm losing consciousness. Shortly afierwards he retuned to take control of the aircraft although one engine hed been shut down. It ‘was decided to make for a possible landfall in Sicily but after a further five hows in the air having missed ther intended sancreary it was seen that the aircraft hod arrived over North Africa in the vicinity of Bone. Aaron decided to make a crash landing but he died from exhaustion the following dey. 1,000 BOMBER RAID ‘When Air Chiof Marshal Sir Arthur Harts ‘was appointed as Commender-in-Chief of Bomber Command in Febraary 1942 pol cies changed and instead of almost indis- ‘criminate bombing over a number of German targets by small forces of bombers poe suface an ‘Uncorio pln on, sonra asaone ‘ove od ert ‘per ues ca oats an is ot erassanic SHORT STIRUNG WARPAINT PAGE 11Short Stirling production list ‘Sela Nos. Mark Contactor EFS edt ens Petoypee Sted See Reco: 8 Beco) Eitan e7220007 Nose "Aces 1 Contract Ne, 75382838, 13867 & W371 convened to Wk 1Nb004 converte to Mk. I hert& Herne Ltd Contact No, 774877198 Sher Gre Rechotor 8 Becton) ROI8E converted ML fers Contacina:re9se568 1 t 1 short & Herne Lis contact Na 778877138 t 3008 converted tM I | pvetin Metre Ut Contact Ne 6082039150, t Wrase a Wirasd cerwortes to t Mai t Mt Canadan Associated Aan, X5188- 5318 cancelled It Sthtbed Ba Gensco 1 Ghert & Herand Ltd Contact No, 774677798 t SBPIES Gometod to fk 1 Sheet & Herod Lid Contact Ne 77487718 i Slee teen Sears & F580 Mt orverod to Nik Aut ob tt Contact No 08258809 M "| shor Bos (aches & Becton) Contac No 753829138 ih SOSCaTe Senta Re Frigraes Eaves i EERSIEC EY cxass fenwied el Seite Erm Short Hand SENS Foe EE EPMTEPaiG aPrHeR erai0 Sened oc cezi-erarr Shot Hart SENG Minrra gayest aa | Ee See) Portrait of @ Stirling Mk.l, EF411 belonged to Novds Squncron tad Completed 6 orbing : tel mlon ying sors before going fo 4028 Eran Eraes EFaon EFa0. Smvcrtan Uae (RAF ue EF3‘1, EF314 ond EF316 convert “ ae rs as sero F927 - 5309 | Short Bros (Rochester & Bedford) Contract No. 763625/38 with no tangible results concentrated raids in Et SER which the lead eirerat lit the tangs with cratcereiz incendiaries was followed by devastating EFE-cxuro Sher Bros Rochester & Becton) Contact Ne Tewpsa8 igh explosive fn as al on tea as sled oa ae Sears, | | tenet Eraor vere MN The 1.000 Bomber Rais? stating with E4875 -ere00 ‘Asin Motors Ltt GonveciNe. E9E200909 | | thar on Cologne was followed By another on a a —— | Essen and a third on Bremen. Sher io Rochen & edn) Conc Nc NCZIONICAC) The fist on Cologne took place on the CieH Lie: bog UeeB ard | atv of 30 May 1942 and in alla force of Fie pas | [NOt aircraft were eispatched dean from Pours, ‘operational squadrons, the Conversion Units Shert ros Racor 8 Reston) Cenc et Nztoerc4 . xrons, JET = LEO e oe pees tee bree ie and even some from Coustal Command. An Deer" Ces. tron of 600 acres was Gavabned into ene HS Bes He se fa acre was deve in | here ea Uist here tte ofthe ci. Hes Hs uk eae Of the String xyudrons taking part No.7 | ge Ces BS aa | sent 18 aca, No. 1S sent 12, No 149 17, ' et Use. oes Cer No. 214 13, No, 218 19. Additionally the ‘en. ine, pg. tos eee | Conversion Flight sont one and. No. 1651 Liso-L.gs) Shona eran ESREENE NESacaejaptea | Conresion Unt sent 8. Of hee 73 ror uy cabew bathe to hnving reached ond bombed the tage tee-tee For the mid on Essen, the second inthe fctkie 8 series, results were not as good with bombs fetes oY teing seaweed fity widely over sever tease tees? cro - Lt N | towns in the Ruhr that were nearby. For this Ue eM rolad a tons | Bomter Cominand dispatched 986 irra Hee ie ETRE TED wasn, | om the nig of 12 ane wih 78 Sigs tere usr) being involved, The cause of the wide Hesse: tere | v Hesse teers fears spread of bombing was put down f ground tele ea, eto nes faze and fow cloud over the rain target LAGE KG60, LEE. LSB, although Gamage was widespread, LKS€7, LKS73, LK588, LKE06 con- | *lthough Gamage PF Serato |“ Themext end final rid es made onthe weoso-nzast Stet arena ite SSoineene racers | night of 25.26 June when a foree of 1,067 Certovedenradtesie | hombers raided the north German port of PAGE 12 SHORTSTIRUNG WARPAINThe SHORT STIRLING Mk. Drawings by David Howley Shot String Mc I, EAS AAG of No.7 (Maa Zealand) Squaden, Mepa. feta 1942. The avorat was daivered in Jone 1949 nd osteod nit Ne. 75 Scuadion unt anetred to Ne. 813 Squat at \itertora Subsequent it Sova wt bot Nos, 1651 fad 1057 Comesion Units Bolero boing stuck of charge in ly 1945 ‘SHORT STIRLING PLANS SUPPLEMENTShort Stirling production list ‘serial nos, Bie7a Poze begs bags Pusrt-Pugse =v pene pcs ¥ SFr eons PRIS - pies PRtO7 * Pras Peay = praad Pao: pear PWass a prtzer NY Pave ang Pviese Bw2ce ewar-ewsan Pivast “pwz33 = W303" Pwse0 Prvast Piva Pasa = Pwa7S Praga -Pws2s Pwve99 = PWS8D RDS | PwEOD ‘Tapas. Tasoe TSsoe T3830 ‘e036 - T3872 ‘Short & Herland Lie ot Harkna tis Sen Bes ‘Stort& Harta 6 ‘Short & Herland Ltd ‘Short & Herland id ‘A ruber of Sitings were cebu as vs tom Grit’ ata and ven now sonal minors h {he 7526) - 7286 range. Al were tebull by Sebroe Ut wih the exsapion of TEAST wich wes complcied by Short sree quechostar & PRODUCTION BY EACH CONTRACTOR Version Conracer Chante Ttala Praictype Shot 2 2 were Se 288 Sota ttre 2 Rate om mu Soe 3 3 Mh Set ak Stars Hane Say mw ate iow Steranoene 48 aot mv She 4 Btanerond 1) 161 Teta ut 290 Remarks Gontact No. C8776 ‘Matlin thee wo bcos Convact No. Ayesr7e hor Bice (Roshectr & Sectors) Contest No: A/G200U/CAIE) ‘hot Bes (Rochester & Becond) Contact No. A/C20O8/C4/E) (Roanestor & Gaston) Aivarerah in theae te batches Conse No. AIC2009IC4(6) rides -Pw479 canceled Hecearact ec br too ete ‘These tree batches cancels. No Badin), Sern wi wes ieiies where gon, Ts£es. previous wderiky fot qnown, TSestinge KE, T9265 aso 863 and T9206 ‘Convarsions known tc have been corplots: Moni 3s MehioMl 2 Male Mell 4 Mitta MI 194 Tha total of 2:39 includes tho 12 siranes damaged boyons pat dureg to radon the strobe by Sobeos shown above hi roaucan It anaes on bas potens ne Poin ptboton So Sy Pe Rescd Bremen, Here accuracy was much better and fires stared by the lead aircraft could be seen at least 100 miles away. The String squadrons contributed 72 sireraft for this raid The results ofthe three raids were the sub- jeet of much study by Bomber Command planners and it was decided that more imit- fd attacks could be made providing the r= ‘marked before the arrival ‘of the main fore, In August 1942 the first Pathfinder squadrons were formed and No. 7 Squadron became the one and only Stirling squadron to take part. Their aircraft were modified by the removal of all unnecessary equipment such a5 armour plate in order to improve STIRLING SUPERSEDED. Ti was the leck of performance at eight that spelt the near ead of the String as & heavy bomber. Especially at height the String could not match its, by then contcmporarics, the Halifax and in particular the Lancaster. ‘These aircraft could also camry a wider var ty of weapons and although the Stirling in its later versions remained on Bomber Command strength for some time it was in bout Iate-142 wien it became obvious that the other tye Were superior in many respects. Lancaster airerew were often heard torrematk at debriefing that they sav a nun. s undemeath them silhouctied by scarchlights oF fires during thelr bomb But the Stirling had been the subject ofaLeft and omer ft: One of the Important opera fiona undertaken by String squadrons, was tin laying o* Gardsning cet wae eallod. Those two pictures show the loading of mines. onto [EE288 of No. 218 Squcran at Downham marvet Detore a night's operations (RAF Museum) number of improvements mesnwhile. The Stirling Mk.II] was the ultimate version of tie bomber and_ was easily distinguished by the change of turret ‘ype in the mid-ppe position. This was an FN.SO turret similar to that fited to the Lancaster, The version had ceniarged fel tankage, a revised interior lay ‘out and fewer windows in the rear fusela Sticing Mk.llls re-cquippod exist squadrons that had previously used carlie versions and additionally No.195 Squadron was Formed with the type in July 1943 at Witchford with No, 199 Squadron following cenheath. In August No.622 formed at wll and No.623 at Downham 4, The las! two were to be fairly short- No, 623 was dishansded and No, 622 re-equipped with Lancasters. No. 196 Squadron took on adgitional duties in that it was transferred to No, 100 Group in M: 1944 and became a Bomber Support Squacron employing ‘Window’ end ether electronic countermeasires until March 1945. The lest operational bombing raid was ‘atti out by No. 149 Squadron witen on 7 8 Sepiember 1944 it atacked targets in sup- port ofthe Allied advance to the Rhine FROM BOMBS TO BODIES vas the to be given a differnt, albsit ‘operational, role in World War 2 Although Shorts had put forward two df= fe sas for the improvernent of the 's performance nether was accepted (One of these, the $.36 would have had a range of 4,000 miles, a top speed in excess of 300 mph and a bomb load of 10,000 Ibs. ft are modified into having tivo main whoels on Brand new, Siting Ml! 8509 was part of botch bulk by Sto & Harland In Belfast. (Is seen here on an eary test fight looking clean, Fright nd without squadion ceues, (Sho"Shr igi Ww e656 Te Sancta ae Seaton — Z c ‘Short Stirling Mk. IV LK117.V6¥ of No. 670 Squadron, Juno 1644. hon Stillng Wk. IV LKI7IWES. Shoong Store of No_ 206 ‘Shinucen Rectal ho ouaona. ake Op capt We Sues ——€fashed Safe, Noway,2 Noverber 184, Mk, IV LKSSE:E7S.“Star-Exprose of No BI as Short String Mk. IV_LK22987-8 “Gloous- Beer of No 25 Seu, River, 1944-43, Short String MV LREDA ok ND 2 Squcron, Great ats 1948 eary 180, Note le codes. ‘SHORT STIRLING WAAPAINT PASE 16Short short, siting Carver we cach leg being far more compact than on the originel. With the factories at Longbridge and Swindon going over o Lancaster production Shorts at Beliast wore to be the main pro- duction line for subsequent Stislings ith production also continuing at the Rochester ‘works. The aircraft was seen to be an ideal elidor tug and peratroep transport wire alt tude was not a consideration, and as early 1943 was seen to be the turning point in the ‘war whore the inevitability of an invasion of Europe was forecast, suitable aircraft were needed for this task'so that taining could begin. ‘Two prototype Stirling IVs wore modified from Mk. [lsat Rochester, one EF506 being the glider tug and the other L1S12 modified for dropping parcchuts troops. Both flew by mid-1943.The glider tug had the front aud dorsal turrets removed and 2 yoke, designed by ML, fitted under the oxtreme rear fuss lage forthe attachment of the towing cable. In the paratroop version a glazed cupola replaced the rear turret and a large bath-like patatroop exit was fitted in the rear under side ofthe fuselage aft ofthe bomb bay Both prototypes completed their wials and swore accepted by the Ministry of Aireraft Production. The remaining Stirling Ills on PAGE 16 SHORTSTIRUNG VIARPAINT Conversen Ont san, wtar 1941945, Swindety, May 1948, __Sqieron, Notereake, 1385. Sting Mk, Ill EHOS7:UG-O of No. 1654 Heavy I EFI46-TV.B of No, 1680 Hoary ‘Short Stirling Mk. Ml LJEQ5:6XR “Jelly Roga” of No, 109 ‘Siding Wl StingAbove: Stillng Il EFA6S:AA-K of No. 75 Squadron pcobobiy at Newrnarke in 1942 Right ‘Anearly Wc wiheut tha color round te m= Upper turet and devold of squadron Identfce ton maetinge (WAP). the fine at both Rochester ane! Longbridge ‘were completed as Mk. IVs withthe first 12 being delivered to the RAF during the close ing inonths of 1943. Theteafer production te increased with between 30 and 3S aft delivered every month, This was main- ‘eined until mid-1945 by which time 145 had been built a1 Rochester, 236 at Belfast and 198 at Longbridge, SPECIAL OPERATIONS The role of the Stirling in its later years 2vas contolled in the main by No, 38 Group. who were patt of Fighter Command and Sing Mi. 8382:80.0 of No, 214 Squadron probabsy a! Downtare Ma SHORT STIRUNG WARPAINT PAGE 17‘Above: Sting MIVe of No. 290 Squadron Tino up ready for cepartir from RAF Keevl on ibay 5 une tee, Let: String IV EFS06 von fone of those convertad from a MK by Short Bros. (MoD), responsible for close support on te battle field to the Army. On the one hand this involved ground atieck work by aireraftsuch as the Typhoon and on the other the airbome assault forces in gliders towed by a v of glider tugs including 2 large number of Stirling IVs. Stilings were also allocated 10 No. 3 Group Bomber Command for Special Duties GD) but No. 38 Group also had a say in their operations such were the complications of the ehain of commanc) at tht time. Two squadrons, Nos [38 and 161 basod at RAF Tempsford, Bedfordshire, were chiefly Short Sting Mk. V PK{A4:70-FIPE of No. 108 Squadron, ‘Shophers Glove Jencery 1940, ‘Short Sting MK. V OO.XAD of Tans-ir Beigium, s2en et Biachtasho 1 OHETONT ae PAGE 18. SHORT STIRLING WARPANTSHORT STIRLING UNITS and REPRESENTATIVE AIRCRAFT RAF BOMBER COMMAND FRONT LINE SQUADRONS eae “ PESSUSET ong on ionat emir v= Soeraan any et, ao ei Sa Restate ern 2 Sena e cerns uM Bani aes soy oa 3 Seneene eens : 1h REAM uae ba ee cee sees rere sy tae fe srt a Bo ee ee i eee mann ioon fn Seiad aaa Racca sorter, ae teranPtas cr Gna Ws bier 4 lining eB Reiaceeses i 2 SERS R Soe i tar oavsronr comand aN SPEC DUTIES ones ese tne se amen wy i Sencar ee } is ERMUniae a : ee rere iy BE ES ween ona ter eeeuiee tm SEES rennet imugeory Nv ieee. ict emma ete sere ag EE ee amie ncenauye ye Bkoeswaugetmenses | y eee etna, Eeatiea ies = snare i Eg eae tare ete mee 18 me Oct 44 to sly 45 oe BG Pre wisem “ scence a Tan ore ‘soranen ron sng ova 26 Conversion Fight 163 Soteson Ft 149 conversion at 244 Conversion Fight 218 Conversion Fight 1992 Conversion Ut 1905 Heowy Transport Conversion Ut ‘427 (Teinng) Fight 1608 Heavy Fright Fight 1589 Heowy Fright Fight 1051 Conversion Unt 1053 Conversion Unt 1854 Conversion Unt 157 Conversion Ont sx cori ee Oey 4 ‘Woteroach Oct 4, wah 198 Sonwerion Fi Sargon pala ‘ReterBoach Dest enna 21 an 82, oteroach 19Apr 4, Sradizat 4 May 2, Watereach Bau e. Marterearn Bereich 28 Fob 42 Sindlsnal 7 Ge 42 ergo Aue tues Site Fos 2 ‘Retheratelt 4 Ap 46 Begnbathanis Sradlsal 20042 ton wiry op 4 1 uy 5 Mowe Recenter & oesra 2st. etee Beers are eae Sees ares Grove i Geom aug aioe Bere eee een Sees. Series Seater, ort cee code Representative arcr MEPRSSENOE Mh Eicrvo.e2 15 0) Mei NDES5L.H, tm EF SI9USx AA IN ts ROQBDNK, Mi LSTA WP XY Mk REDDG WP Mk BFANOWIPE Ko aes a8 OF 1K MRIRDBON8, MaiErsoOU8 % ain ses ys & Mel Bees ee Mell E=s50 eM BO rx Milvvrzor, wat orse2.0U-0 HA NOTA. Mh LAOH cs sme 200 ss Meloesin er MEF Eiri. © Mell Eriomice Sgn code Roproventatve sera taNrBiosence ti thy PuBBaA A Nope hnown Mily Aki6 Bg Mi ooo NA Maly tezaaaay [os Mali treied 20 TT VRIVLISIO7T-C, MY PuBeTZz0+H Pa ly 1978, Mey PKIBEHYA Baz MRI 56 MRI Liotsc3 & ‘ope MeV ony sail net known Se cr Wren ogee oS Me taass Nene loc MV L044. BS toe chert oom 057 Severn Unt x is ‘cones Opemipnl Fig ataered Weel caweracn Ut. More wih fa nk Nore town Nese wih 1051 Corvin Urit2 en 42 se i) 3857 Conversion Unt 2 0342 ire inn Mages mh 8 Govan gn bere SY Stversen tnt Oa oy sae 1657 Convaion Unit 2 0:42 sy ‘Aiathedio Oporasona Fight and her rrergee wh 1851 Conversion rit Os 42 ha Merge ey 1057 Conversion Unt et 42 w Dicbondod Ricca May 45 Nore known Formed tom Opetatonal& Rafeshor ‘rng Nene trom Fad lai TA ik on fuer, Rens So tore known ‘Siting V unt or For Eostvarieg None row Famed o tah crews on String Vin Midi BS GQ ¥2 Joined by 26 CF, 106 CF, 16 OF and 214 OF 1Sa48 Hee £ Be SF slned oy 7 cr, 101 or, as c= 218 CF wth 424 Fini atached Fs & wy & SHORT STIRLING WARPAINT PAGE 19UNITS USING SMALL NUMBERS OF STIRLINGS In adion to te operatoral squscrons and taring uns fted on cago 19 a numbor of the ancl east Ssborimerialunte hal one ora Strings on seongin These ar ted below Wi a UC ‘tata krone Aeroplane & Armament Experian Estabishmen! _Arsama Forces Expermenta| Estabishment ‘Aiderne Foros Tate! Development Unit ‘No.4 Aker Preparton Urit ‘Air Tanso01 Tactical Devoloprent Urit ‘Bombing Development Unit Ganal Fina Schoo! Cert Navigation Scho) reir Cental Fying Schoo! sn on i et Sareea, siemenens fe a epee ers work wth borne frees, parachits CDPD Sot ean ese SLR Se atten mer Sere cee Soar econ ee Sor emo Senate ne mace Scere Sia See Sarasa eee fs a Be eer aoe vam SShowtury on 1 Eaten 1944 ane became ‘Seplember 1044. Uses Strings fr feng erge ee pen aeces Bees Se EE hae ore Scevambacy oe incre Soil eee mane Empire Cental Navigation Schoo! Simla ahve 303 Fen Trelnh Unt Fore st Melon Movbrzy to inetd pls tngaged i fery taming fr veto aera {ype ot most concatated on Suiigs er Midd ora Par Cast cparaters. 11 Fory Unt Boned a ater 12Fer Unt Bosed st Melon blonbrey and engaged in sme farts oe sbov. 21 Heswy Gicer Unt Bove at zs Norton Used Stings as ug a= Navigation Training Unit No.2 Overeess Avera Detvry Une ‘no. Overseas Arca Preparation Unk Based, Operational and Refresher Teint Unit Fy Ara Estabisiment Sina Fing Unt “Transpo Commend Dever tent Unt Fhscemmunkaters Fiyeg Unk engrave ieee garter a ae heen acne Pett ae ucts aa i Seer sas a cei wa eaaee ios See howe omens tiene teenie ee ence Srecernein Sitesi REESE ome Se ieceneceraae (ceclasmuntscore Ratasch estat iasecaanae PAGE 20. SHORT STIRLING WARPANNT involved though special duties operations raigad anywhere from the north of Norway to southern France, the Balkans and Fasiem Europe. Sticlings were to replace Halifax Is at ‘Tempsford, but not until several further ‘modifications had been made to increase the ‘amount of fuel available, a clear perspex nose to aid visibility and easy access from the front ofthe aircraft to the ear parachute dropping ext. Sling IVs were first delivered fo No. 138 Squadron in June 1944 and 19 161 in cerly September. Meanwhile Stisting IVs became the complement of No, 148 ‘Squadron besed at Brindisi, Haly ane! No 624 Squadron at Blida in Norih Attica ‘where they carried out similar special duties mo southem Europe Stirlings were also used as transport ait- ‘raft carrying fuel and ammunition to front Tine troops. Each could carry 120 fve-gallon ‘drums of petrol or six tons of stores. In many ‘cases supplies wore sir dropped in special ‘containers developed by the Special ‘Operations Executive (SOF) which required highly accurate navigation and mostly on ‘moonlight nights at low-level Squadrons involved included Nos. 190, snd. 620 at Great Dunmow and 196 and 299 at Keevil, which were released after having taken part ia glider towing for Opszations ‘Tonga and Mallard during the invasion of France. Aaditional radio equipment was added whieh included 2 Gee box navigational aid and Redocea which when used in cooper tion with a ground-based homer called Eureea, operated by agents on enemy soil, ‘enabled the crews fo find the remote fields, fr even clearings in woods, into which the paractatists ard supplies had te be dropped. Records show that No, 138 Squadron dropped no less than 995 agents over ‘Germar-cocupied territory from 1943 tl the ‘end ofthe war batera tho tog fe iat Sting NV towing a Horsa during pron xereee. (WI)Short Sting Mk. IV EFAZ9:77-°-of-No—190- Sanaa Shophonse Cv, 108s short Rewento Mg, IV EKS08:US-of-the- Entre“ Ce ak Shanbury in se 1844. _ ght Sting Mi P.905.DIcHt ot Nos 158 SeuaKion, Lise Sig 08, Short Sting Mk. V_PK'24:0UG of No, 51 Squadion, Sresshat, 1! ee Se hort Sting Mk, WV_LIG124xG-B-of-No- 299-SquEeTOR, af —Shopherts Cova, January 1048 Short String Mv PWtt0z7 ____—Wonmat 28 Bacerier 192s, ‘SHORT STIRLING WARPAINT PAGE 21(One other squadron deserves mention as although they were not engaged in dropping ‘agents or supplies, their contribution tothe war effort was considerable, This was No. 199 Squadron based at North Creake, Norfolk, as part of No, 100 (SD) Group ‘which flew marry operations over Germany originally as part of Bomber Comaand and ‘then in support of Main Force using Mancre! to jamm enemy radio and radar emissions and with a German-speaking member ofthe crew on board broadcasting incorrect and ‘misleading information to Luftwaffe night fighter crews. GLIDER TUGS Stirling IVs took past in all of the European airborne landings including Normandy, Arahem and the erossing ofthe Rhine. AS a slider ‘ug it yas found that the airera could tow one Bamilear, two Horsas or up to five Hotspurs for fery and training purposes. During the Normandy landings No. 196 and 299 Squadrons ftom Keevil and 190 and (622 from Fairford dropped parachute troops and towed Horsas to the Landing Zones behind the Nonmandy beaches. Inthe ease of No, 196 Squadron 28 Strings caried troops to Normandy on $ June followed later in the day by 17 towing gliders. During Operation Market Garden at Ambem Stirlings took heavy losses, With the British defence perimeter shrinking, crews watched as supplies thought i be dropped in the into German hands, Intense ground fi Fight Mak, machine guns and even small arms fio resulted in the oss of 47 Stilings during the eight day operation, Many others ‘were badly damaged, ‘With the catastrophe at Arnhem stil fresh in mind the operation to cross the Rhine in March 1943 vas condvcted in an entirely different way. All 21,680 irbome troops ‘were carried in one lift and landed right on top of the target. When deployed they acid the high ground above the own of Wesel and secured local bridges over the Rhine for the remainder of the troops advancing over~ land. Operation Varsity as it was called, involved 440 airerat of diferent types from ‘Nos 38 and 46 Groups and 243 from the American IX. ‘Troop Carrier Command. Amonast these were 199 Stirlings. With the war's end the earrying capacity of the Stirling was put 10 good use in the return of Allied prisoners of war from Germany. They were also used to ferry twoops to Norway when the German garison surrendered PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT The final variant of the Stirling was the MEV tho prototype of which was a Rochester-built aircraft serialled 11530. It was first flown by Tyson from there in ‘August 1944 and was specially designed as passenger, cargo and stnall vehicle earricr ‘Suing RIV LXEOS was used by the Gena Navigavan School ater Empto. Contal Navition Schoo! at Shanbury coded U2 twas ted th 12S racer under the Teor ibe no} being emcely unarmed Ti had accomadation for 40 tops or 20, fully equipped paratoops and could be con- veticd into an ambulanc> to hold 12 stretch er cases and 14 walking wounded Alternatively to jeeps ith walles or one Soop and a 6-pounder field gun, ammunition and erew could be carved The Sting V wae intended for operations in the Far East as the formation of Tigee Foree, the British contribution to the last days ofthe Japanese empire, became 2 el- ity. Ii ad an extended nose which could hinge upwards for Hight cargo and a large cargo door i the starboard side ofthe roar fuselage which had portable ramps which could be attache for the Hoang f vhicies Produetion was confined to the Belfast ine and in ll 160 were built until November 1945 when all Stirling production ceased The fs squadron to rece've the Stirling V was No. 46 based at Stonoy Cross fal: lowed by Nos. $1 (Stradishall), 158 (Siradshal), 196 Shepherds Grove), 242 {Stoney Cross), 1588 Heavy Freight Flight {BombayiSenia Criz) and 1889 Heavy Freight Flint (Cairo Wesd, The role of these nits was the corsage of passengers and fivight to the Far East by way of the idle East, India, Ceylon, Bumna and later Singapore With the coming of VIday the need for such extensive services was gvect'y reduced ind much ofthe movements of passengers took place in the opposite direction as pris oners of war were released and servicemen were demobilised, In several cases Squadrons exchanged Strings for he far sme comfortable Avro York No, 1588 Heavy Freight Flight at Bombay wus the lest 9 use the Sting V when they disbanded in July 1946. Many” of those 2s were scrapped on the spot and th was the MK.Y prototype built ‘shown wth the nose oecing ‘doors in tho open positon.Wearing wartime camoufage this ting mv PJE07 is awaltng delivery (om ts merutacturet Short & Hovland tn February 1948. Right Dong 2 boat up before dolivary tha Sting V shew ‘he manoeuvrability of he alert a lewlovel (Ghons ‘ers nearer home flown to the Maintenance Units at Aldergrove or Maghaberry in Noztern Irciand. In some eases brand new sireraf\ coming ofT the line t Belfast were flown the short distance 1o Maghaberry only to be almost instantly scrapped CIVIL STIRLINGS. Like most wartime bomber aireraN the Stirling was considered for eivil operations alter the war. It was naturally argued that as ithad served asa transport atcraft the many ‘surplus Stitings could be easily converted for civil use as freighters if nothing else But in fact only one pure civil Stirling was ‘ever built, This was designated the $37 by Shorts and named “The Silver String” with the interior filly sound proofed and aitline- type seating for 30 passengers it was con veried at Belfast from PJOSS and fest flown in May 1945 The aim was to sell it and its converted contemporaries fo BOAC but was in compe tition with the freight-converted Halizan, the Halton, which BOAC chose for its routes to West Afiien com pte But all was not yet lost. In May 1947 12 of the most serviceable Stirling Vs at another Maintenance Unit, Polebrook, were bought by Aistech Lid of Thame and refurbished to S.37 standard. Ten were sold to the Belgian charter operator Trans-Air (later Air Transport) of Melsbrock, Brussels, four being fited out for 36 passengers snd six for pure cargo operations. Two others were used for spare Each went on to the Belgian civil register as OO-XAC to ‘AV and flew sporadic ser- vices from Blackbushe to Shanghai. One, OO-XAC crashed on take-off at Kunming, China on 22 December 1947 and asa result the thors were grounded NO SURVIVORS No experimental variants ofthe Stirling ere recorded though i is known that several were used by the researe establishments at ‘The ‘ollver Sting PJOSD was 2 MLV but co In May 7348 yet no orcors wersfortcoming and the projet was cuiely lid side: (WAP) SHORT STIRLUNG WARPAINT. PAGE 23Famborough, Boscombe Down and Pershore for the installation of radio and radar sids such as Oboe, Gee, Trident, HS, Mandrel and Window. It should also. be remomberod that the Strlings flown by No. 7 Squadron were one of the five original squadrons formed by the then Group Capiain D. C. T. Bennett ss the Bomber ‘Command Pathfinder Force in No 8 Group. 1 was this small focee that were the first to use target indicators and thus pave the way for the later massive accurate raids on so pany German targets, Jn all 2,383 Stirlings ofall marks were built half of those coming fom the Queen's Island, Belfest factory, Atoll of 11 bomber squadtons wore equipped with the type which made some 18,140 sorties dropping 27.821 tons of bombs and laying 20,000 ‘mines for the loss of 769 aircraft, 641 of them by direct enemy action. There were 15 transport of glider towing squadrons and 15 Conversion Units fr both bomber and trans- port erews, It is therefore surprising that no Stirling was considered for preservation unlike the Lancaster and in part the Halifax. Only mall. parts have been excavated from Known Stiling crash sites and aro now deposited in museums. It would seer that as, egies Sess ae ee the oficial mind tured aginst the Sting as tomer that sala pat an embargo ot the presevaton ofa least one for later gen- cations “There is no doubt thatthe Siting added considerably to te bombing offensive over Germany and subsequently in Ht rle a 8 slider us, paratrooper and anspor Yel the fect that tho Sting’ wingspan didnot allow it to climb with full fad up tothe Same opeaional heights it bo coat poraice” caused comments from rival Toaster squadron sierew who were heard to remark that on te bombing rin one could oh sc below, shouted agaist he lr a fis, Stings at no more than 12600 et catching the majority of the median oh flak and taking casuals wis we Up shove bad vo be creo tht ve did ot op cur bombs on tho! Such was the Sting ~a true produc to follow the Short Empire flying boas and vlan an aiecaft fat through adversity fis gained igelf an important place in the RAPS history. Civ strtng OO-%AS (ex-PKt59) oe ofthe 10 regret to Tane-Al of Sagnen sande ot SUScone ull onkdng he ry igh oe fen cones ta pee tock pace Komen Uiior Stein Geter rol to an untnews {a (lon DI aags) Seale Type Monetacturor $92° MEh sung Ae “28 Shon Suiting ul Sanger Maxis 492 Shor Sting ID Medete ‘4:72 Short Sting Falcon Models SHORT STIRLING KITS, DECALS AND ACCESSORIES Referonee Remake ‘AxOTOn2” Qnty nection routed Steleg macel. Surrey fvaiabie hy “8 sawaeas Vocus it Mount to toe boon lan are frou oe Worm at avattity Teno fr ‘Cenopy sat rcuon ‘los ag Lancaster “Tore een town spect decd shea fr he String nomation spl by Davis Hannan Onty one cil aitine 10k the Sting onto its Inventory ater World Wat 2 and tat was the etaiarronmed Trans-Aic. These few ex-Sting Ys flew a number of wor tun one, OO-KAC ot {ersining Belgian aroref including several that hed yot fo bo delvored wero ether grounded {nd then subsequently scrapped OOXAS, seen stBlackbuche awaiting daivery (APN) CIVIL STIRLINGS Perma PK172, Rogitered to Trane Ai 25 ‘line 1847 teria AE Tenant 27 Oceber QAP. Cronod op tke-off at Kureing, China 23 Decomber 187, Sonn. Former P190, Registered to Trane: A 2 aceon ies Rosanne Bi eoreagareicss foot nt Rett ate cen cee oer, Seen aremuerenet si $e nn game Tre 2 faye me epee Ratt ra ose oo Nay 1846, Regisvation canceled on 2 Pebeth ark 12. Regstere erin cae ores Is Eeetirar ease soxan PSR PKH9,Rogitrasen rao fo Ar "fare toto ei ts, parted oni UR Gocore GAKEC fr ATocn Ei eitalon te Tom ete terre rarest 19. Soehped at Thre ft Wovember 4048. aie Beart Frobaly ex PKS? Rexjeion reseed fr ‘Ae tntsetn Bolu nt kon op. oosas Former F159, Registration sere for Ar ‘rmpek bteot ie op eine ters tated nin Oe Wnt Mate Span Fa lobo es Forney F174, Reptaton reserve for Ni ‘ape lal ska up sigur tars fated on in UX Scrapped at Saskia ‘esa, ‘SHORT STIRLING ‘SPECIFICATION Type: Long-range heaey borer. tenapertpeeooper and fiers fr sets Heres i ana Himed. lo ACT Sea 1 1Y Heres Xiuct Met Wiign r0caac. (2600 855), Mice Wand V Horeee VI rw of seven Powerplant ‘Accommodation: ‘Bimensione: Weights: Max speed: 270 mph ot "00h ange: 2.070 mies wth 3.660 b ef torts er S60 Tost 44,000 be cf ome Serves cats Pesfoumance: Armament 125A, ‘otra vont ret (> B's. Browning) (cl Series FARA nose tx fe Fila tai twret ENISA ‘elixzate yen turet or ‘Shai bord eld ce gure ink} Sere it Fas hose evel FN 208 tore on HUSAEN SOA ricuppertar Ie. £34208 rear tua only MeV rena Bom tnd 14,090 in var Dor soniguatons cr ms PAGE 24. SHORT STIRLING WARPAINTShort Suiting second prototype LTECS, sen at ARAEE Boscombe Date, 1040 —ghat Sisng M1 NOL of No. 1051 Comerson Uri, Tistrecen Yorn NOONE of No | Short Steling Me INSTOSICF of No. Senter, iat042 erased Motard are selraued by Luftwaffe fin ction, ____ $hort String _Mke-W-ROSC2LSZ Cf No. 7E Squodon, niger 1983 Short Siting Mic WV LK2BO:UE:F, No 570 Squad, Hanwol, leer Riven, 1944. Short. Stillag Mk. Y-PK(46:4°YW. NGL Squadion, — Stdeha 1945946, Sido Trane A ae OOSDisplacod children boarding Stating IV LI24220-A raginsfor the and of tho war Savers Sova Yalets ace vaio the stance (MM) oe ek eee) ee erent Cnn eee