Short Stirling S29 1942 to 1943, 75[NZ] Squadron, Part 3

Company:
Short Brothers Ltd

Also
Austin Motors
Short & Harland
Rootes

Canada
Canadian Associated Aircraft, St Hurbert, Pq, Canada

Wing Span:
99 ft 1 in 30.02 M

Wing Area:
1460 sq ft 135.6 sq M

Length:
83 ft 3 in 26.59 M

Height:
22 ft 9in 6.93 M

Ceiling:
17,000 ft 5,182 M

Speed: at 14,500 ft
270 MPH 435 KPH

Range: with 3,500 lb
2,010 Miles 3,235 Km

T/O Weight:
70,000 lb 5,182 Kg

Empty Weight:
46,900 Lb 21,200 Kg

Crew:
2 Pilot
1 Navigator
1 Signaller
1 Flight Engineer
1 Bomb Aimer
1 Nose Gunner
1 Mid Upper Gunner
1 Tail Gunner

Role:
Heavy Bomber
Mine Laying

Total Manufactured:
758 Mk 1
875 Mk 3
579 Mk 4
160 Mk 5
2,374 All Marks

First Flight:
14 May 1939

Entered Service:
Aug 1940

Armament:
2 .303 in in Nose Turret
2 .303 in in Mid Upper Turret
4 .303 in in Tail Turret
up to
14,000 lb [6,350 Kg] bombs internally

Years Served:
Nov 1942 to 1943

ENGINE

image source

Qty:
4

Type:
Bristol Hercules XV1

14 cylinder, air cooled, sleeve valve, twin bank, radial, supercharged

Bore:
5.75 in 146 mm

Stroke:
6.5 in 165 mm

Volume:
2,360 cu in 38.7 L

T/O Power:
1,272 hp 949 KW

T/O RPM
2,800 RPM

Fuel:
87 octane

Length:
53.15 in 1,350 mm

Diameter:
55 in 1,397 mm

Weight:
1,929 lb 875 Kg

Power to Weight Ratio:
0.7 hp/lb 1.16 KW/Kg

First run:
Jan 1936

Qty built
57,400

Notes:

First Designed 4 Engine Bomber to Enter RAF Service in WW 2

First Operational Flight by 75 NZ Sqn - Target Genoa - 20/21 Nov 1942

The Following Aircraft Are Known To Have Been On 75 [NZ] Squadron

FTR = Failed To Return
SOC = Struck Off Charge
EFA = Major Damage Cat A repair off Base
EFB = Major Damage Cat B “
FA = Minor Damage “

EF 458

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn 19 Jul 1943
Left Sqn FTR 23 Sept 1943
Target, Mannheim

EF 459

Mark 111
Code letter JN - G
Joined Sqn
Left Sqn FTR 23 Sep 1943
Crew
6 KIA
1 POW

EF 461

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn
Left Sqn FTR 4 Nov 1943
P/O W J Champion [NZ]

EF 462

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn 22 Jul 1943
Left Sqn 24 Jun 1944

EF 465

Mark
Code letter AA - H
Joined Sqn 16 Jul 1943
Left Sqn 26 Oct 1943

EF 491

Mark 111
Code letter AA - O
Joined Sqn 16 Aug 1943
Left Sqn FTR 31 Aug 1943
Crew no injuries
Target, Berlin, damaged by friendly Stirling fire.
Crashed near Coltishall

EF 495

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn
Left Sqn FTR 23 Aug 1943

EF 501

Mark 111
Code letter AA - K
Joined Sqn 16 Aug 1943
Left Sqn FTR 31 Aug 1943
Target, Berlin, shot down by night fighter,
crashed near Potsdam Berlin

EF 507

Mark
Code letter AA - P
Joined Sqn 27 Aug 1943
Left Sqn FTR 1 Mar 1944
Overshot landing at Graveley

EF 512

Mark
Code letter AA - A
Joined Sqn 11 Sept 1943
Left Sqn 29 Jan 1944

EF 513

Mark
Code letter AA - E
Joined Sqn 2 Sept 1943
Left Sqn 6 Apr 1944

EF 514

Mark 111
Code letter AA - D
Joined Sqn 2 Sep 1943
Left Sqn 21 Mar 1944

EF 515

Mark 111
Code letter AA - F
Joined Sqn 11 Sept 1943
Left Sqn FTR 23 Sept 1943
Sgt A R Bangs
Crew
1 KIA
6 POW
Target, Hanover,

EH 849

Mark
Code letter JN -
Joined Sqn
Left Sqn FTR 19 Nov 1943

EH 877

Mark 111
Code letter AA - C [JN - C?]
Joined Sqn 8 May 1943
Left Sqn FTR 27 Sept 1943
F/O D M Addamson [NZ] 415052
Sgt J B Beresford
Sgt F J C Chesson
P/O T H Waerea [NZ] 401300
P/O R C Whitmore [NZ] 421123 Pilot
Crew
8 KIA
1 POW
Target, Hanover

EH 881

Mark 111
Code letter AA - Z
Joined Sqn 14 May 1943
Left Sqn FTR 29 May 1943
F/S J H R Carey [NZ] 414242
F/S N A MacLeod [NZ]
F/L W A Owens [NZ]
Crew
3 KIA
4 POW
Target, Wuppertal, crashed Aachen

EH 889

Mark 111
Code letter AA - Z
Joined Sqn 29 May 1943
Left Sqn FTR 22 June 1943
Sgt R A Kennedy [NZ]
F/S J L Richards [NZ] 404946
P/O W Stuckey [NZ]
W/O R D Tod [NZ] DFM
Crew
7 KIA
Target, Mullheim, shot down by night fighter

EH 901

Mark 111
Code letter AA - O
Joined Sqn 10 Jun 1943
Left Sqn 26 Mar 1944

EH 902

Mark 111
Code letter AA - K
Joined Sqn 10 Jun 1943
Left Sqn FTR 24 June 1943
F/S J B Cooksley [NZ] 416460,
Sgt D Armitage
P/O N B Bluck [NZ]
Sgt L R Cant [NZ]
Sgt J W Gillard [NZ]
Sgt M Kendland [NZ] W/Op Gunner RAFVR
F/S G W Strong [NZ] 413905
Target, Wuppertal crashed near Bergen - Op - Zoom, Holland

EH 905

Mark 111
Code letter AA - R
Joined Sqn 17 Jun 1943
Left Sqn FTR 31 Aug 1943
Sgt A I Bishop [ NZ]
F/S J G A Fisk [NZ] 412874
P/O G V Helm 216113 Pilot
Sgt O McCoo [NZ]
F/S D M Stewart [NZ]
Crew
5 KIA
2 POW
Target, Berlin , hit by bombs dropped from above

EH 928

Mark 111
Code letter AA - X
Joined Sqn 6 Jul 1943
Left Sqn FTR 2 Aug 1943
P/O C P Bailie [NZ] Pilot
Sgt E F Hunting [NZ]
Sgt J Isherwood
Sgt E Millward [NZ]
Sgt T Purdie [NZ]
Sgt W H Thompson [NZ]
F/S J Thomson [NZ]
F/O W Turner [NZ] 416579
Target, Hamburg, shot down by night fighter

EH 929

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn 14 Jul 1943
Left Sqn 28 Aug 1943

EH 930

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn 20 Jul 1943
Left Sqn 28 Jul 1943

EH 935

Mark 111
Code letter AA - K [JN - K?]
Joined Sqn 8 Jul 1943
Left Sqn FTR 23 Sep 1943
Crew
5 KIS
2 POW
Target, Mannheim

EH 936

Mark 111
Code letter AA - W [JN - W?]
Joined Sqn 7 Jul 1943
Left Sqn FTR 23 Sept 1943
P/O K Albiston
Sgt M V Bloxham
F/O A D Howlett [NZ] 413338
F/S C F McRae
Sgt J S Thomson [NZ]
F/L G Turner Pilot DFC
Sgt R Wilks [NZ]
Target, Mannheim

EH 938

Mark 111
Code letter AA - F
Joined Sqn 4 Jul 1943
Left Sqn FTR 30 Aug 1943
Sgt A Bain [NZ]
Sgt W H Horrigan [NZ]
F/S V T Parkin [NZ] 421090 Pilot
Sgt A F Saunders [NZ]
Sgt T Silcock [NZ]
F/S T Watters [NZ] 417299
Crew
6 KIA
1 evaded
Target, Berlin, crashed near Limburg, Belgium

EG 939

Mark
Code letter AA - J
Joined Sqn 17 Aug 1943
Left Sqn 21 Mar 1944

EH 946

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn 16 Jul 1943
Left Sqn 26 Jul 1943

EH 947

Mark
Code letter
Jined Sqn 15 Jul 1943
Left Sqn 11 Apr 1944
Crashed near Icklingham Suffolk, engine fire, with 90 Sqn

EH 948

Mark 111
Code letter AA - Q
Joined Sqn 17 Jul 1943
Left Sqn FTR 22 Feb 1944
P/O H H Bruhns [NZ] 42367 Pilot DFC
F/S L L Butler [NZ] 421672
Sgt R E Hall
F/S A H Sawtell
Sgt W J Summers
Sgt E A Wilkes
Target, Mining Kiel Bay

EH 949

Mark
Code letter JN - P
Jpined Sqn 18 Jul 1943
Left Sqn FTR 31 Aug 1943
Sgt M I R Day [NZ]
P/O D C Henley [NZ] 414622 Pilot
P/O W R Kell
F/S I H R Smith [NZ] 421614
Sgt S Watkins
F/O C A Watson [NZ] 421946

EJ 108

Mark
Code letter AA - O
Joined Sqn 4 Sep 1943
Left Sqn 6 Apr 1944

LJ 441

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn 21 Sep 1943
Left Sqn 13 Mar 1944

LJ 442

Mark 111
Code letter JN - F
Joined Sqn 27 Sep 1943
Left Sqn FTR 19 Nov 1943
Crew
4 KIA
1 POW
1 Evaded
Target, Leverkusen shot down by night fighter,

LJ 453

Mark 111
Code letter AA - K
Joined Sqn
Left Sqn FTR 22 Nov 1943
Crew 7 KIA
Target, Berlin
Possible crew
F/S Bernard A G NZ 424964
F/S Cowie J L NZ 42322
Sgt McGloin T
F/O MacKenzie S H NZ 422418
Sgt More R M NZ
F/O Pagett W G S

LJ 457

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn 19 Oct 1943
Left Sqn 26 Mar 1944

LJ 462

Mark
Code letter AA - O
Joined Sqn 9 Nov 1943
Left Sqn 14 Mar 1944

LJ 473

Mark 111
Code letter AA - R
Joined Sqn 5 Nov 1943
Left Sqn FTR 4 Jan 1944
Target mining, On return the A.C swung on landing Mepal

LK 384

Mark
Code letter AA - X
Joined Sqn 6 Oct 1943
Left Sqn 30 Mar 1944

LK 389

Mark
Code letter
Joined Sqn 21 Oct 1943
Left Sqn 27 Nov 943

Shorts originally designed the A/C around the Sunderland, however official
insistence that the wingspan should not exceed 100 ft to allow it to fit inside existing hangers
resulted in a 12 ft reduction in wingspan, this, in turn, reduced the service ceiling.

Being unable to reach a service ceiling of 20,000 ft the Stirling could be easily
intercepted by enemy fighters.

The first Sqn to receive the Stirling Mk 1s was 7 Sqn, becoming the first Sqn
to fly a 4 engined bomber since the Handley Page V in 1919.

By mid-1943 the Stirling was withdrawn from Bomber Command and used for
long-range missions to drop supplies to resistance groups, and electronic counter
measures including window.

From 1944 transport Command began to receive large numbers for both parachute
dropping and glider towing.

An unarmed Mk V could carry 40 Troops, or 20 Para-Troops and be adapted for
Casualty Evacuation.

Between 1941 and 1944 the Stirlings dropped 27,821 ton of bombs, over 20,000 mines
were laid for a loss of 769 Aircraft.

Builders - Constructors/RAF Nos

Short Brothers Ltd L7600 to L7605 N3635 to N3769
[Rochester & Bedford] R9141 to R9290 DJ972 to DJ977
EF327 to EF518 LJ440 to LJ670
PW255 to PW380 TS261 to TS266

Short & Hartland Ltd N6000 to N6129 R9295 to R9358
BF309 to BF580 EE871 to EE999
EF001 to EF323 LJ810 to LJ999
LK001 to LK370 MZ260 to PK237
PW384 to PW633

Austin Motors Ltd W7426 to W7639 BK592 to BK818
EH875 to EJ127 LK375 to LK624

Canadian Associated Aircraft, X5139 to X5319
St Hubert, PQ, Canada.

Throughout the 1930s the RAF was interested in twin-engined bombers as these
placed limited demands on the engine production and maintenance,
both of which were stretched with the introduction of so many new types of
A/C into the service.

The USA and USSR were developing 4 engined bombers with excellent range and
lifting capacity.

Air Ministry’s Specification B 12/36 required a bomb load of 14,000 Lb max,
carried 2,000 miles or 8,000 Lb carried 3,000 miles at a cruising speed of 230 MPH
at 15,000 ft with 3 defensive guns, the A/C should also be usable as a troop carrier for 24 soldiers.

To help production, it would need to able to be broken down into parts for transport by train,
it should be able to lift off from a 500 ft runway and clear 50 ft trees at the end of the runway.

Although initially left off, Shorts designs were included because they already had similar
designs and ample design staff and production facilities.

They were already producing several 4 engined flying boat designs of the required size,
they created their S 29 design by removing the lower deck and boat hull from their S 25
Sunderland, the new design was largely identical, it even retained the slight upward bend at
the rear of the fuselage originally intended to keep the sea spray away from the Sunderland’s tail.

In Oct 1936 the Short’s S 29 design was low down on the short list of designs considered
and the Supermarine type 317 was ordered into prototype form in Jan 1937.

In Feb 1937 Shorts were asked to incorporate modifications to their design,
the use of Bristol Hercules engines in place of Napier Daggers increasing the service ceiling
to 28,000 ft and reducing the wingspan, the Sunderland’s wing span was 114 ft and it had
to be reduced to less than 100 ft.

The same limit was imposed on the Halifax and the Manchester, in order to get the required lift
the wing was thickened and reshaped.

Shorts built a 1/2 scale model as S 31, powered by 4 Pobjoy Niagara engines,
the first flight was on 19 Sept 1938,
Flown by J Lankester Parker, Shorts Chief test pilot, the takeoff run was considered to be too long
so the Undercarriage was lengthened to raise the nose during the takeoff run.

S 31 was scrapped after a takeoff accident at RAF Stradishall, Suffolk, in Feb 1944.

The first S 29, now named after the Scottish City of Stirling, flew for the first time on 14 May 1939.

Service production started at Shorts Rochester factory in Aug 1940, heavy bombing delayed
the production, so some production was shifted to Austin’s Aero factory at Crofton Hackett,
just south of Birmingham, this factory would produce nearly 150 Stirlings.

The bombings in 1940 also damaged the Supermarine factory and the type 316 prototype,
which was cancelled in Nov 1940.

Although smaller than the USA and USSR designs the Stirling had considerably more power and far better payload/range than anything else flying.

The first few Mk 1s had Hercules 11 engines but the majority received the 1,500 Ho Hercules X1.

The Mk111 introduced in 1943 was similar with the introduction of the 1,635 Hp Hercules V1 or XV1
and a new Dorsal Turret, the max speed increased from 255 MPH to 270 MPH

In service with Bomber Command Stirlings flew 14,500 operations, dropping 27,000 Ton of Bombs,
losing 582 in action and 119 written off

Part 1

Part 2

Unsourced photos through the Ohakea Museum

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner