Stirling Mk I Series III AK-‘H’, 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit
Stirling Mk IV, probably of an Raf 38 Group Squadron
(this aircraft carries under-fuselage D-Day Black and White invasion stripes to avoid the allies flak)
Inspection at RAF Lakenheath
199 Squadron’s air and ground crews are standing next to their Stirlings Mk IIIs (note the 199 Squadron code ‘EX’ ; 199 Squadron stood at RAF Lankenheath from June 1943 to May 1944)
199 Squadron aircrew standing next to their Stirling Mk III coded EX-‘N’
Stirling Mk III LJ514 B – Beer, 199 Squadron, with nose art
(a bear holding a beer bottle painted on the nose ; the mission symbols carried by B – Beer were small foarming beer mugs)
199 Squadron aircrew of Stirling EX-‘N’ at de-briefing
Stirling Mk I N6101 ‘E’, 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit
One of the first photo calls for the press to see the new Short Stirling four engined bomber, then coming into service (taken at Waterbeach on 29 April 1942 ; note the bomb trolley line of 24 250 lb bombs and the willing armourers)
149 (East India) Squadron Stirling Mk I OJ-‘A’and aircrew
(this Squadron operated the Stirling from November 1941 to September 1944)
Stirling Mk I D – Dog, 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron
(this aircraft displays 17 mission symbols in White on the side of the nose along with a Dumbo cartoon character)
Stirling Mk I N3725 HA-‘D’, 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron
This aircraft was lost on return from Wilhelmshaven on 15 September 1942 when engine failure caused it to spin in while in the landing pattern (6 airmen died and 2 were injured)
Photos courtesy of John Reid
Ex SAS Archivist / Photographic Librarian
Stirling Bomber Research Library
Next page: SUPPLIES