Short Stirling Photo Collection

User avatar
K4KittyCrew
Air Chief Marshal (RAAF)
Air Chief Marshal (RAAF)
Posts: 3635
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:55 am
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland - Australia

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by K4KittyCrew »

A couple more ................
Love the angle of this first photo.
John
Image
Image
This next one i think I've posted before but believe this photo to be of better quality.
Image
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
User avatar
K4KittyCrew
Air Chief Marshal (RAAF)
Air Chief Marshal (RAAF)
Posts: 3635
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:55 am
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland - Australia

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by K4KittyCrew »

Not sure Alan but love the photo, anyway.

Glad 'WS and H' weren't around then, the ground crew would be all dolled up with their fluro safety vest and hard-hats while the crews would still be waiting for an aircraft to fly in.
If they could take off, they'd have to dodge all the witches hats and barricades!

Sorry for the rant, I just value the efforts of those who did what they had to do, under all conditions and did not get tied up with all the bureaucratic drivel that we encounter today.
John
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
Stirling Project
Group Captain
Group Captain
Posts: 817
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:05 pm
Location: St Neots, Cambridgeshire

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by Stirling Project »

Not forgetting the harnesses and fall arrest systems that they have to use nowadays......
User avatar
AlanW
Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Posts: 1359
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:11 am
Location: West Cornwall

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by AlanW »

And what about the risk assessments for each of the crew, :o they'd have vever left the ground :lol:
There is no paralell in warfare, to such courage and determination in the face of danger, over so long a period. Such devotion, should never be forgotten.
Stirling Project
Group Captain
Group Captain
Posts: 817
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:05 pm
Location: St Neots, Cambridgeshire

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by Stirling Project »

and don't mention the luminous cockpit instruments.......
User avatar
K4KittyCrew
Air Chief Marshal (RAAF)
Air Chief Marshal (RAAF)
Posts: 3635
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:55 am
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland - Australia

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by K4KittyCrew »

Time to fuel up, chaps!
John
Image
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
User avatar
PAFG
Group Captain
Group Captain
Posts: 803
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:34 pm
Location: Wiltshire, UK

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by PAFG »

Great photos - love Alan's worm's eye view of the ground crew hard at work!

Richard
User avatar
K4KittyCrew
Air Chief Marshal (RAAF)
Air Chief Marshal (RAAF)
Posts: 3635
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:55 am
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland - Australia

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by K4KittyCrew »

Could this be a new found image?
yes, Richard, that photo of Alan's is a beauty in size alone. It really shows everything.
Don't recall posting too many images of Stirlings with the 'wave' colour affect along the fuselage.
John
Image
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
User avatar
PAFG
Group Captain
Group Captain
Posts: 803
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:34 pm
Location: Wiltshire, UK

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by PAFG »

Yep, great pictures - I hope the 'lookout' doesn't do Dennis's trick of falling out of the turret...
Nocturna mors
Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 298
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:05 am
Location: West Midlands UK

Re: Short Stirling Photo Collection

Post by Nocturna mors »

K4KittyCrew wrote: I really do wonder how many ground 'fell off' the wings, servicing the aircraft?
John
A fall from a Stirling wing on to grass would be a trip to the hospital at least but, on to a concrete hard standing would be fatal I would imagine. There were numerous occasions when ground crew would venture up there without trestles etc.
In dry conditions, the wing could be walked upon without to much difficulty "as long as you don't look down" but, in the wet or icy conditions as England invariably is?
Would it be very safe with oil or petrol on the wing after the mechanics and re-fuelers had finished their work? or in those muddy boots?
Would it be so easy In the dark or on a misty morning with a cold eastern wind gusting across the aerodrome ?
When you're tired, overworked, stressed out or when you're rushing around because its a maximum effort again tonight?

There were also various types of tall ladders to fall off, tons of bombs,100,s gallons of petrol, lots of airfield ground traffic, a blackout!.........an accident waiting to happen!


How many?



Tom
"Rule Britannia two tanners make a bob,three make eighten pence and four two bob"!
Post Reply