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The Short Stirling was a British four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War.It has the distinction of being the first four-engined bomber to be introduced into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the war (the earlier Handley Page V/1500 being a WWI design that served during the 1920s).
With the introduction of new heavy bombers, the four-engined Short Stirling, Avro Lancaster, and Handley Page Halifax, the Royal Air Force introduced heavy conversion units (HCU). These HCUs began forming in late 1941, to qualify crews trained on medium bombers to operate the heavy bombers before final posting to the operational squadrons.
No 620 Squadron was formed at RAF Chedburgh on 17 June 1943 as a heavy bomber squadron equipped with the Short Stirling.It was a part of No.3 Group of RAF Bomber Command and carried out night bombing and minelaying missions until November 1943 when it was transferred to No 38 Group RAF.
Australian members of No. 196 Squadron and a Stirling shortly before D-Day On 14 March 1944, the squadron was moved yet again in preparation for D-Day to RAF Keevil , Wiltshire. There they trained with 299 Squadron for their part in Operation Overlord .
The squadron was re-formed again five days later, on 5 January 1944 at RAF Leicester East as an airborne support unit flying the Short Stirling. It became part of 38 Group on 6 November 1943. On 6 June 1944 the squadron first carried 426 paratroopers to Caen, France. [1]
On 7 October 1945, it lost five of its members in the crash of a Short Stirling IV in Rennes . [7] At the end of the Second World War the squadron disbanded at RAF Shepherds Grove, Suffolk on 15 February 1946. [8] [9]
An enormous Stirling is loaded with bombs prior to its use with the SD squadrons. By mid 1943 the Short Stirling became available on loan from Bomber Command for service with the Special Duties squadrons. [29] The Stirling was a large aircraft, designed in the late 1930s as the heavy bomber by which Bomber Command would conduct strategic bombing.
Lieutenant Colonel William Joseph "Bill" Stirling of Keir (9 May 1911 – 1 January 1983) was a Scottish officer of the British Army who served during the Second World War. Initially joining the Special Operations Executive , he would go on to command No. 62 Commando and then the 2nd Special Air Service (2 SAS).