Short Stirling & RAF Bomber Command Forum

Great stuff Bob, especially like the Aussie connection there. If any members have any photos of crews, we would very much like to have them posted here ( with all credits due )
Thanks,
John

Crew photograph of Short Stirling LJ514 EX-B RAF 199 Squadron. Photograph source:- Australian War Memorial.


RAF LAKENHEATH, SUFFOLK, ENGLAND, C. 1943. CREW OF STIRLING BOMBER EX-B, LJ-514 (B FOR BEER) OF NO. 199 SQUADRON RAF, STANDING IN FRONT OF THEIR AIRCRAFT. LEFT TO RIGHT: LEN BARHAM, BARRY MARTIN (RAF, UPPER GUN), FLYING OFFICER (FO) ALEC HARDIN (RAAF, WIRELESS OPERATOR), FO JOE BRANSO (RAF, FLIGHT ENGINEER), FLIGHT LIEUTENANT (FLT LT) JEFF BUTTON (RAAF, PILOT), FO HARRY HILL (RAF, NAVIGATOR), FO GEOFF STOKES (RAAF, REAR GUNNER), FLT LT LAWRIE MCKENZIE (RAAF, BOMB AIMER). (DONOR L. MCKENZIE)

Troops seeing off Short Stirlings towing gliders,taking Airborne Troops to Arnhem. Photograph source:- Australian War Memorial

England. 17.09.1944. A send-off for RAF Stirling aircraft and Glider aircraft from a RAF station in Britain as they depart with troops for the airborne invasion of Holland on 17.09.1944.

Description England. 17.09.1944 A send-off for RAF Stirling aircraft and Glider aircraft from a RAF station in Britain as they depart with troops for the airborne invasion of Holland on 17.09.1944.

Flight Sergeant Rawdon Hume Middleton VC 402745 RAAF, was the pilot of Short Stirling I BF372 OJ-H RAF 149 Squadron. His aircraft took part in Operation Turin on the 28/29th November 1942.He was severely injured by flak, and insisted at staying at the controls to bring his crew safely back home.

On reaching the UK, he encouraged his crew to bale out. His aircraft then ditched into the sea off Dymchurch, Kent, England. For his gallantry he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. And was also posthumously promoted to Pilot Officer. Photograph source:- Australian War Memorial. Both photograph source:- Australian War Memorial.

Pilot Officer Rawdon Hume Middleton VC 402745 RAAF. Photograph source:- Australian War Memorial.

Photograph of Short Stirling LJ516 EX-H.Recorded as the last Stirling to leave RAF North Creake 01.04.1945. Photograph source:- Australian War Memorial.

Members, I put these photos thru 'Photobucket' but they now seem a bit blurry .......... I will resize these photos soon.
John

Bob

I am enjoying the photographs you are currently posting and, in particular, those of 199 Squadron. As a point of note, LJ516 was designated “H” and not “P”.

The last Stirling operational flight by 199 was undertaken on 14 March 1945 when LJ516 : EX-H was used to provide bomber support by use of a Mandrel Screen. Its crew were as follows : -

S/Ldr. John Jeffrey Mervyn Button RAAF DFC (Pilot)
S/Ldr. Michael Docherty RAFVR DFC (Navigator)
F/O Alec Hardin RAAF (W.Op/ Air)
F/O Alexander Edward Oram RAFVR DFC (W.Op/Special)
W/Cdr. Percy Eric Bevington RAFVR DFC (Air Bomber)
F/O Geoff Stokes RAAF (Mid Upper)
W/O J.P. Martin (Rear Gunner)
P/O Philip Charles Branson RAFVR DFM (Flight Engineer)

A number of the above crew can be seen in another photograph earlier in this thread re LJ514 : EX-B.

Douglas

RAF 199 Squadron Short Stirling Squadron. Photograph source:- Australian War Memorial.


ENGLAND, C. 1943. FLIGHT LIEUTENANT JEFF BUTTON, RAAF, OF NO. 199 SQUADRON RAF,
SEATED AT THE CONTROLS IN THE COCKPIT OF A STIRLING BOMBER FLYING AT 10000 FEET.
(DONOR L. MCKENZIE)

Flying Officer F.W. Douglas RAAF. Photograph source: Australian War Memorial.

RAAF pilot 425692, Flying Officer (FO) Francis William Douglas of Cloncurry, Qld, at the controls of a Stirling bomber aircraft of No 46 Squadron RAF. FO Douglas was killed in operations over France on 24 March 1945, and is buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery, 6 kilometres from the centre of Marseilles.