WWII 1942 Royal Air Force British Heavy Bomber Short Stirling Mk1 W.E.F.T.U.P. P for Sale

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WWII 1942 Royal Air Force British Heavy Bomber Short Stirling Mk1 W.E.F.T.U.P. P For Sale

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WWII 1942 Royal Air Force British Heavy Bomber Short Stirling Mk1 W.E.F.T.U.P. P:
$204.00

Size: 19 x 25 inches

This original ‘RESTRICTED’ aircraft identification poster was published by the U.S. Naval Aviation Training Division Nov 1942. This poster was posted as a training tool as well as an in theater ID poster to help U.S. and other Allied pilots, bomber crews and Naval personal to identify Allied and enemy aircraft. W.E.F.T.U.P. or Wing, Engine, Fuselage, Tail, Undercarriage, Peculiarities was a system set up for the purpose of aircraft identification and recognition.

World War II saw some of the first introduction of these aircraft ID poster to prevent friendly fire and more accurate plane recognition in combat. It was believed these posters alone could save countless lives from friendly aircraft-on-aircraft or friendly anit-aircraft fire. These posters also could cut down precious second pilots, bomber gunners, and naval gun crews would have to ID a plane flying towards them intern saving their lives by shooting first.

Each poster provides the silhouettes, dimensions, and relevant information to educate both air and ground personnel in aircraft identification. Immediate identification of aircraft, friendly or not, was essential in order for the observer (whether in the air e.g., pilot, gunner, or patrol observer, or on the ground, e.g., anti-aircraft crew) to determine his next course of action (e.g., acknowledge, attack, evade, or report). Each poster details a large clean sky and background image of the specified aircraft located as the main top imagine on the poster. It also contains important ‘peculiarities’ such as where certain gun emplacements are located, other special aircraft features, as well as wing and length measurements.

Short Stirling:

TheShort Stirlingwas aBritishfour-enginedheavy bomberof theSecond World War. It has the distinction of being the first four-engined bomber to be introduced into service with theRoyal Air Force(RAF).

The Stirling was designed during the late 1930s byShort Brothersto conform with the requirements laid out inAir MinistrySpecification B.12/36. Prior to this, the RAF had been primarily interested in developing increasingly capable twin-engined bombers but had been persuaded to investigate a prospective four-engined bomber as a result of promising foreign developments in the field. Out of the submissions made to the specificationSupermarineproposed theType 317, which was viewed as the favourite, whereas Short\'s submission, named theS.29, was selected as an alternative. When the preferred Type 317 had to be abandoned the S.29, which later received the nameStirling, proceeded to production.

In early 1941 the Stirling entered squadron service. During its use as a bomber pilots praised the type for its ability to out-turn enemynight fightersand its favourable handling characteristics whereas the altitude ceiling was often a subject of criticism. The Stirling had a relatively brief operational career as a bomber before being relegated to second line duties from late 1943. This was due to the increasing availability of the more capableHandley Page HalifaxandAvro Lancaster, which took over thestrategic bombingof Germany. Decisions by the Air Ministry on certain performance requirements (most significantly to restrict the wingspan of the aircraft to 100 feet) had played a role in limiting the Stirling\'s performance; the 100ft limit also affected earlier models of the Halifax (MkI & MkII) though the Lancaster never adhered to it.[3]

During its later service, the Stirling was used forminingGerman ports; new and converted aircraft also flew asglider tugsand supply aircraft during theAllied invasion of Europeduring 1944–1945. In theaftermath of the Second World War, the type was rapidly withdrawn from RAF service, having been replaced in the transport role by theAvro York, a derivative of the Lancaster that had previously displaced it from the bomber role. A handful of ex-military Stirlings were rebuilt for the civil market.

During 1943, it had been recognised that there would be a requirement for a force of powerful aircraft capable of towingheavy transport gliders, such as theGeneral Aircraft HamilcarandAirspeed Horsa, it was found that the Stirling would fit this role admirably. During late 1943, 143 Mk.III bombers were converted as theStirling Mk.IV, with no nose or dorsal turrets, which was used for towing gliders and dropping paratroops, in addition to 461 Mk.IVs that were manufactured. These aircraft were used for the deployment of Allied ground forces during theBattle of NormandyandOperation Market Garden. On 6 June 1944, several Stirlings were also used inOperation Glimmerfor the precision-laying of patterns of\"Window\"to produce radar images of a decoy invasion fleet.