stirling bomber in us markings july 1943

[brewerjerry]

Hi All,

browsing a book I had not read for many years,bombing colours by bowyer.

On page 156 it states

off all the stirlings I recorded in 1943 the most unusual was surely that seen on the evening of july 24 in the usual british camouglage but with usaaf star and bar markings on the fuselage side, she wore only a white star with bars flanking it.

presumably he only saw the sides & undersurfaces of the aircraft,

I was wondering if any info existed on the a/c and if it had upper wing markings.

cheers

Jerry

[DOUGHNUT]

Not heard that one before, two possible reasons

1) some form of photoshoot or film which required an "american bomber" or

2) the USAAF command of RAF aircraft during North African landings (Torch ?)

[brewerjerry]

Hi

thanks for the thoughts,I imagine it will always be a bit of a mystery, but I think an interesting option for a stirling model.

cheers

Jerry

[brewerjerry]

Hi

On the mossie carpetbaggers thread, there is a link it lists the stirling as an aircraft operated by the 801st

http://www.801492.org/Aircraft/Aircraft01.htm

cheers

jerry

they say all comes to he who waits .....

[woody37]

Great idea for the new kit........hmmmmm!

[AMStreet]

Hmm... if true that must have given the Americans a bit of a jolt.

Coming from the docile B17 or even the B24 at low altitude the Stirling must have been a bit of a handful to say the least.

[brewerjerry]

Hi

Two seperate sources so its good enough for me :-)

I have been 'googling' as I wondered why a stirling

but it seems the stirling could carry more supply containers than other a/c

and maybe easier for para dropping agents ?

cheers

jerry

[Aeronut]

it seems the stirling could carry more supply containers than other a/c

Correct, in some ways it could be said that having failed as a bomber the Stirling found its true calling with the Airborne Forces.

It could carry twenty two paratroops, two more than the Dakota and at the same time carry 12 supply containers to the Dakota's six.

In the SOE role it could carry upto 27 CLE containers in its bomb bays and at thesame time it could also drop Airborne Panniers through the parachutists floor exit. These panniers were dropped using a roller cargo floor and the Stirling was the first aircraft to drop stores operationally in this manner which remains the standard to the present day. Incidentally the first aircraft to use a roller floor for supply dropping was a Horsa glider (trials only).

Ah gliders, we can't forget them. The Stirling could (and did) tow the Waco Hadrian, Airspeed Horsa and GAL Hamilcar with ease and they even tried towing loaded Horsa whilst the Stirling was carrying a load of paratroops and their containers to maximise the number of troops per lift.

As good as a the Stirling was in this role, I can understand why the Americans would prefer their own aircraft.

[brewerjerry]

Hi Aeronut

Thanks for the info, so it was probably an in theatre transfer, to do with the load capacity of the stirling.

and maybe the range ?

the reason why the americans borrowed the stirling/s.

I wish there were more spotter books from WW2 published/ existed, like bowyers.

cheers

jerry