NZFF

AA-W 08 by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

AA-W 07 by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

AA-W 05 by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

AA-W 03 by JanKees Blom, on Flickr

Interesting choice, JK.

Delivered 13-3-43.
Shot down mining Kiel Bay 28.4.43.
Crew killed.
Although not unique, a crew comprising of RAF, RAAF, RCAF and RNZAF airmen was unusual.

The Stirling's operational record indicates a combat lifespan measured in weeks.
It was an absolute dog, sorry Marty.
What a way to feed your war machine, 7 young men at a time.
The Lancaster designers ignored the wingspan constraint and built an aircraft with a marginally better chance of survival.

A dog?
It was a huge aircraft that could actually outturn a Bf-110 or a Ju-88. Pilots loved it.
The main problem was that it couldn't go very high, nor carry large bombs, and lacked the range.
According to my info, it had a complete NZ crew, who now rest in the Netherlands, not too far from where I used to live.

jankees wrote:The main problem was that it couldn't go very high, nor carry large bombs, and lacked the range.

I think the point is that it was well designed, well built and flew well. Like a lot of British aeroplanes, it was hampered by poor or changing design specifications. If they'd put bigger wings on it, it would've been a good aeroplane in the role.

Great shots of a nice aircraft. I believe someone once described the Stirling as " a most expensive way of getting an undercarriage off the ground"

The Stirling had a life-threatening quality. Their optimal altitude coincided with the optimal trajectory of the 8/8's projectiles.