A Majestic Machine

Of the three 'heavies' employed by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, the Short Stirling was the least successful, falling short of the other two (the Halifax and Lancaster) in all categories except perhaps the least important... aesthetics. None of the three were what you'd call 'lookers'... they were all less than beautiful. Even the widely worshiped Lancaster. *your blogmeister dons his flak jacket*

But, of the three, the Stirling possessed in its looks a singular charm. It was more... distinguished, or perhaps dignified looking than the other two. Certainly it was much more majestic in appearance, especially while sitting on the ground... albeit in a somewhat ungainly fashion.

Project 914 Archives

The Stirling served as a main force bomber for right around three years, from early 1941 to early 1944, before high losses and ever increasing numbers of the superior Halifax and Lancaster forced its relegation to secondary roles of training, leaflet dropping, covert night ops, mining, and pulling assault gliders around the sky, among other things. If somewhat unsuccessful in its intended role, the Stirling served admirably in these other tasks until the final victory was won.


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