| Second World War aviation art prints of the Stirling aircraft. Our collection of prints and original paintings of the Stirling aircraft of World War Two. |
| The Royal Air Force's first four engined monoplane Bomber, the Short Stirling first flew in May 1939 and entered front line service in August 1940 with no. 7 squadron. Due to its poor operational ceiling the aircraft sustained heavy losses and by mid 1942 the Stirling was beginning to be replaced by the Lancaster. Improved versions of the Short Stirling were built for Glider towing, paratroopers and heavy transport. also from 1943 many of the Stirling's were used for mine laying. A total of 2381 Stirling's were built for the Royal air Force and from this total 641 Stirling bombers were lost to enemy action. Crew 7 or 8: Speed: 260 mph (MK1) 275mph (MKIII) and 280mph (MKV)Service ceiling 17,000 feet Range: 2330 miles. (MK1) 2010 miles (MKIII) and 3,000 miles (MKV) Armament: two .303 Vickers machine guns. in nose turret, two .303 in browning machine guns in dorsal turret , Four .303 Browning machine guns in tail turret. Bomb Load 14,000 Lbs Engines: four 1150 Hp Bristol Hercules II (MK1) four 1650 hp Bristol Hercules XVI (MK111 and MKV) |
| Preparing To Go - Crew of a Short Stirling by Ivan Berryman. The crew of MkIII Short Stirling WP-M of No.90 Squadron RAF prepare for a flight test on the morning of 3rd July 1943.
Aircraft BK718, with designation WP-M, of No.90 Squadron RAF was lost over Germany in the early hours of 4th July 1943. Six of the seven crew were lost in the crash, the rear gunner surviving to be taken prisoner. Stirling WP-O was also lost on the same mission, with the loss of all seven crew.
The crew of Stirling WP-M, BK718: Sgt Hugh Murray, Flight Engineer - Sgt Robert Freeland, Air Bomber - P/O Geoffrey Smith, Air Gunner - Sgt Oliver Beard, Wireless Operator - P/O Andrew Gilmour, Navigator - F/Lt Robert Platt, Pilot - Sgt I. H. Norris, Air Gunner. Signed limited edition of 35 prints. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 22cm). Price £60.00  Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 15 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 22cm). Price £75.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Save £5 on selected prints - Was £80
Original pencil drawing by Ivan Berryman. Size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £
ITEM CODE B0236 |
| Stirlings Ready by Keith Woodcock. No.7 Squadron. Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £18.00
ITEM CODE KW0011 |
| The Night Shift by Philip West. The Short Stirling was the RAFs first four-engined bomber to enter service and it served throughout WWII in many roles including bomber, minelayer, troop carrier and glider-tug. The lack of power produced by its engines severely limited the loads carried by Stirlings. On long-range trips such as Italy, even with a greatly reduced bomb load the aircraft could barely clear the Alps. Despite very large losses due to its operational limitations, those that flew this big, agile aircraft, came to respect and look upon it with it with affection. Signed limited edition of 100 prints. Paper size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £95.00 Signed by Flt Lt R Livermore.
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Paper size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £135.00 Signed by Flt Lt R Livermore,
Squadron Leader L S Benny Goodman
and
Sqn Ldr W E Bill Lucas DFC.
ITEM CODE DHM1670 |
| Stirlings of No.90 Squadron by Ivan Berryman. The Short Stirlings WP-M and WP-O, aircraft numbers BK718 and EH907, fly together en route to Cologne in the late evening of 3rd July 1943.
Aircraft BK718, with designation WP-M, of No.90 Squadron RAF was lost over Germany in the early hours of 4th July 1943. Six of the seven crew were lost in the crash, the rear gunner surviving to be taken prisoner. Stirling WP-O was also lost on the same mission, with the loss of all seven crew.
The crew of Stirling WP-M, BK718: Sgt Hugh Murray, Flight Engineer - Sgt Robert Freeland, Air Bomber - P/O Geoffrey Smith, Air Gunner - Sgt Oliver Beard, Wireless Operator - P/O Andrew Gilmour, Navigator - F/Lt Robert Platt, Pilot - Sgt I. H. Norris, Air Gunner. Signed limited edition of 35 prints. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 22cm). Price £60.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 15 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 22cm). Price £75.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Save £5 on selected prints - Was £80
Original pencil drawing by Ivan Berryman. Size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £
ITEM CODE B0237 |
| Stirlings Outward Bound by Robert Taylor. The Short Stirling was the RAFs first four-engined bomber but was handicapped by a low operational ceiling. Thus, Stirling crews spent much of their time flying through the flak rather than above flak. However, the Stirling possessed a strong, highly complex design that gained it a reputation as a pilots aircraft to fly; it was relatively agile for a big bomber. While flying the Stirling, Mahaddie had been attacked by a Ju88 nightfighter. After evading the attack, he managed to bring the aircraft home and subsequent inspection of the aircraft revealed 174 cannon shell holes. Mahaddie appropriately named that particular aircraft C for Colander. These Stirlings were part of No.7 Sqn RAF Pathfinders, based at RAF Oakington in Cambridgeshire throughout the war. Limited edition of 1500 prints, with no artist signature. Paper size 20 inches x 14 inches (51cm x 36cm). Price £120.00 Signed by Group Captain Hamish Mahaddie DSO DFC (deceased).
ITEM CODE DHM2696 |
| Stirling Service by Philip West. The Short Stirling won the distinction as the RAFs first purpose built four engine monoplane bomber. A strong, highly complex design it gained a reputation as a pilots aircraft to fly being agile for a big bomber and demonstrating great character. Well over 2000 Stirlings provided stout service for the RAF in a variety of extremely important roles throughout WW2. Signed limited edition of 175 prints. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £95.00 Signed by Miss. Lettice Curtis and W/O J W Hill.
Limite dedition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £135.00 Signed by Miss. Lettice Curtis and W/O J W Hill.
ITEM CODE DHM2242 |
| Stirling Mine Laying by Keith Aspinall. Stirling Q-OJ of No.149 Sqn is shown minelaying in the Batlic. It was on precisely this type of mission - minelaying in the Baltic that aircraft W7639 (shown) was lost on 8th December 1942. Developing technical problems, the aircraft turned for home, but crashed in Suffolk, killing all seven crew on board. The crew were :
P/O J Philp BEM,
Sgt W S Hughes,
Sgt G E Hills,
Sgt C W Higgins,
Sgt F Craven,
Sgt T H Harris, and
Sgt T G Williams. Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £18.00
ITEM CODE KA0023 |
| Close Encounter by Iain Wyllie. On the 10th of June 1941 en route to Emden, Stirling MG-D of No.7 Sqn was intercepted by two Me-109s. The aircraft piloted by Flying Officer G B Blacklock DFM returned safely to base after shooting down one of the fighters. Open edition print. Image size 16.5 inches x 11.5 inches (42cm x 29cm). Price £16.00
ITEM CODE IW0003 |
| Tugs of War (Stirling & Gliders) by Ivan Berryman. Wearing the distinctive black and white identification stripes of the D-Day operations of June 1944. Airspeed Horsa MkII assault gliders, towed by their Short Stirling MkIV tugs of No.620 Squadron, make their way across a moody English Channel en route for Normandy during the tumultuous Operation Overlord. Limited edition of 250 prints, with crew signature. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £100.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE B0011 |
| Stirlings Outward Bound by Robert Taylor. SOLD OUT (£50, June 2009) Signed limited edition of 1500 prints. Paper size 24 inches x 20 inches (61cm x 51cm). Price £
ITEM CODE DHM2684 |
| Tribute to the Crews of the Stirling by Graeme Lothian. Outward bound, Stirling III of 199 Squadron based at Lakenheath, Suffolk, heads out on another night of operations in August 1943. EE953, Sqd letters EX - E of 100 group is piloted by F/L Tom Austin DFC who finished his tour by the end of October 1944, winning the DFC with his bomb aimer F/O Jack Lawrence. Nicknamed the Queen of the Skies, the Stirling was the 1st four engined bomber to enter service with the RAF in 1941. The cockpit stood a massive 22.5 feet from the ground and had an operational ceiling of only 12,000 feet, well within the range of the enemy AA guns. By September 1944 other bombers were taking the brunt of the attack to the Germans and the Stirlings were used mainly for glider towing especially for D-day and Arnhem. Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £95.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £145.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant Tom Austin DFC AE Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 150 signed prints, from the limited edition of 1150. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £125.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant Tom Austin DFC AE Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £480.00 £110 Off Selected Giclee Canvas Prints - Was £590
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 18 inches (76cm x 46cm). Price £370.00 £90 Off Selected Giclee Canvas Prints - Was £460
Original painting by Graeme Lothian. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £2500.00
ITEM CODE DHM1326 |
| Short Stirling MkI R9257 MG - C. by M A Kinnear. Aircraft History: R9257 was one of a batch of 150 Mk I Stirlings delivered to the RAF by Short Brothers between January 1942 and January 1943. Initially with Telecommunications Flying Unit, R9257 went to No.7 Squadron, where it eventually became the personal aircraft of Hamish Mahaddie and his crew from 8th February 1943 until he completed his operational tour with the PFF (Path Finder Force) at the end of March 1943. The aircraft then went on to No.1657 Heavy Conversion Unit at Stradishall, before being sent to No.214 Squadron. On 12th August 1943, whilst leaving RAF Chedburgh for a raid against Turin, R9257 swung on take off and the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft was categorised as damaged beyond repair (DBR). R9257 replaced Hamish and his crews earlier Stirling MK I, R9273 also MG- C which had been attacked six days earlier by a Ju88 nightfighter. After evading the attack, they managed to bring the aircraft home. Next morning, Hamish counted 174 cannon shell holes in the aircraft - which he named C for Colander.
Group Captain Thomas G Hamish Mahaddie DSO, DFC, AFC, CzMC: Born in Keith, Edinburgh on 19th March 1911, he joined the RAF as part of the 17th Entry at Halton in January 1928 and trained as a metal rigger, after which he was posted to Cranwell on ground servicing duties. In 1933 he boarded a troopship bound for the Middle East where he joined No.4 FTS at Abu Suier for pilot training. Gaining his wings in 1935, his first air crew posting was to No.55 Squadron at Hinaidi flying Westland Wapitis and on his return to England in 1937, he joined No.77 Squadron flying Whitleys from Driffield. During World War II he completed a tour of operations with No.77 Squadron before moving to Kinloss to instruct with No.14 OTU. On completing another tour, this time with No.7 Squadron (which he joined on 2nd August 1942) at Oakington on Stirlings, he joined HQ Staff of No.8 (Pathfinder) Group and Group Captain Mahaddie finished the war as Station Commander at RAF Warboys, home of PFF Navigation Training Unit. In June 1945 he was appointed to command No.111 Wing in Germany followed by a spell at the Staff College, Haifa in 1947. His postwar duties also included two tours of duty at the Air Ministry, as OC Flying Wing at Binbrook, and also as Station Commander at Sylt and Butzweilerhof in Germany. He finally retired from the RAF in March 1958 and became involved with the film industry as an aviation consultant working on many films including the Battle of Britain - for which he amassed an incredible number of Spitfires, Hurricanes, Messerschmitts and Heinkels. Thomas Hamish Mahaddie passed away on 16th January 1997. Open edition print. Image size 16.5 inches x 11.5 inches (42cm x 30cm). Price £14.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE AP0017 |
| Stirlings by Keith Woodcock.
Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £18.00
ITEM CODE KW0005 |
| Pilot signatures for this aircraft | | Name | Info | | Air Commodore Wilf Burnett DSO OBE DFC AFC (deceased) | Canadian Wilf Burnett joined the RAF before the war and at the outbreak of hostilities was flying Hampdens. He completed his first tour of 30 operations in September 1940, flying with 49 Sqn at Scampton. His crew had bombed invasion barges in the Channel ports, mined enemy waters, operated against the Ruhr, and taken part in the first raids against Berlin. In July 1941 he was posted to 408 (Goose) Sqn RCAF, at Syerston, where one night in January 1942, returning from Hamburg, their Hampden crashed in extreme weather. Wilf was the sole survivor, and he was hospitalised. Recovering he was accepted to command 138 (Special Duties) Sqn at Tempsford who were engaged in dropping agents and supplies to the Resistance in occupied countries flying Halifaxes, later Stirlings. He died 26th November 2006.
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Wilf Burnett signing the print - A Hard Lesson to Learn - by Adrian Rigby |
| | Flg Off Jim Pinning | volunteered and was called up for Air Crew duties in April 1942. After some Pilot training in S Rhodesia and returning to England, Jim qualified as a Flight Engineer, joining Flying Officer David Coster and crew at Conversion Unit flying Stirlings. After a course at Lancaster Finishing School, a posting to IX Squadron, Bardney resulted. On his seventh trip Jim flew in WS.T LM448 (as illustrated in “Preparing for the Tirpitz”) on the final Tirpitz raid, but as the result of heavy flak damage causing a loss of fuel and power a course was set for Sweden where, after evading enemy fighters over Norway, a crash landing was made. After returning to England the crew re-joined the Squadron and Jim completed 22 ops. by the end of the war. After cancellation of the Tiger Force destined for the Far East, Jim joined Squadron Leader (Jock) Blair for the Squadron’s brief visit to India.
| | Flight Lieutenant George Britton | Joining the RAF in 1941, George trained on Wellington and Stirlings as a Wireless Operator and Air Gunner. Converting to Lancasters he was posted to 90 Squadron for his first operational tour, and then to 186 Squadron, still on Lancasters. George then found himself designated to be an Intelligence Officer at Lossiemouth, interrogating Italian POWs Finally, before leaving the service in 1946, he served in Sunderland flying boats, flying to West Africa, Europe and Scandinavia. | | Flight Lieutenant Tom Austin DFC AE | After joining the RAF in 1941 Tom Austin qualified as a pilot on Harvard’s, then converted into Halifax’s. During the war years other aircraft he flew included Wellingtons, Stirling’s and Lancaster’s. While flying Wellingtons as part of 199 Squadron during a raid over Dortmund, his aircraft was badly damaged but Tom managed to limp home, crash landing at Mildenhall.
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Tom Austin signing prints of - Returning from Caen - by Graeme Lothian. |
| | Flight Sergeant Ray Swift | Upon completing his training as a WOP/Air Gunner he was posted to 138 Sqn with whom he completed 46 Ops on Stirlings before transferring to Lancasters with 218 Sqn. | | Flt Lt R Livermore | Was part of 299 Air Support Squadron in Norfolk. He flew six ops. on Stirlings, taking supplies to the French resistance - dropping 24 containers at a time by parachute at night, each one full of supplies, including guns and ammunition. They had to arrive at the target area within a five minute period, or else the resistance would leave for fear of a trap being set by the Germans. When the resistance were satisfied they were watching the correct aircraft they would flash they torches on and off as both a signal and also to pinpoint the drop zone. Flt. Lt. Livermore also towed gliders behind his Stirling aircraft during the Rhine crossing. | | Group Captain Hamish Mahaddie DSO DFC (deceased) | Group Captain Thomas Gilbert "Hamish" Mahaddie. DSO, DFC, AFC.. CzMC. No's 7, 55, and 77 Squadrons. Born In Keith, Edinburgh, on 19 March 1911. He joined the RAF as a part of the 17th Entry at Halton in 1928 and trained as a metal rigger, after which he was posted to Cranwell on ground servicing duties. In 1933 he boarded a troopship bound for the Middle East where he joined No 4 FTS at Abu Suler for pilot training. He gained his wings in 1935 and his first air crew posting was to No 55 Squadron at Hinaldi flying Westland Wapitis. On his return to England in 1937 he joined No 77 Squadron flying Whitleys from Driffield. During World War II he completed a tour of operations with No 77 Squadron before moving to Klnloss to instruct with No 14 OTU. He completed another tour, this time with No 7 Squadron at Oakington on Stirlings, before joining HQ Staff of No 8 (Pathfinder) Group. Group Captain Mahaddie finished the war as Station Commander at RAF Warboys, home of PFF Navigation Training Unit. In June 1945 he was appointed to command No 111 Wing in Germany followed by a spell at the Staff College, Haifa, In 1947. His postwar duties also included two tours of duty at the Air Ministry, as OC Flying Wing at Binbrook, and also as Station Commander at Sylt and Butzwellerhof in Germany. He finally retired from the RAF in 1958 and has since been involved with the film Industry as an aviation consultant specialising in electronics for all three services. Hamish Mahaddie died 16th January 1997.
| | Miss Lettice Curtis | Joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in July 1940 having been taken on to ferry Tiger Moths. Although we were later allowed to ferry other training types such as Oxfords and Masters, it was not until the autumn of 1941 that women were allowed to fly operational aircraft types. I flew my first Hurricane in August 1941 and my first Spitfire a couple of weeks later. After a brief course on a Blenheim I was cleared to fly without any further training, twin-engine bombers up to the Wellington. In November 1943 I was sent on a Halifax course, which due to unserviceability and bad weather closed, restarting in February 1943 at Pocklington where I was cleared for ferrying Halifaxes. After that without further training, I ferried Lancasters and over 100 Stirlings. In November 1945 I ferried 14 Liberators. | | Squadron Leader L S Benny Goodman | Benny Goodman (Pilot) volunteered for aircrew at 18 years of age and was called up in 1940. After basic training he went to RAF Abingdon - a Whitley OTU - for what he was told would be straight through training. This did not materialise and he found himself in the role of a Ground Gunner. In 1941, a posting eventually came through to the Initial Training Wing followed by Elementary Fyling School at Peterborough and an instructors course at Woodley, Reading; then to Clyffe Pyparde, a holding unit. A sea journey to Canada followed and Service Flying Training School on Ansons. On completion he was posted to Kingston, Ontario, to instruct Acting Leading Naval Airmen on the Royal Navy tactics of the time, e.g. jinking after take off, dive bombing, etc. Eventually he returned to the UK and OTU on Wellingtons at Silverstone and Heavy Conversion Bomber Unit at Swinderby on Stirlings, followed by a short course at the Lancaster Conversion Unit. After an interview Benny and his crew were surprised and delighted to find they had been selected for 617 squadron - this was in 1944 and they had stayed together as a crew on 617 squadron until the war in Europe ended. He completed 30 missions - all with Jock Burnett as his flight engineer. Notable raids Jock took part in were on the Tirpitz, 29th October 1944, dropping the Grand Slam 22,000 bomb on the Arnsberg Viaduct, 19th March 1945, and the attack on Berchtesgarten Eagles Nest, 25th May 1945. | | Squadron Leader Reg Lewis DFC | Reg Lewis was a navigator in Bomber Command, first with XV Squadron, and then 214 Squadron, both on Stirlings. In August 1943 he was posted to 138 (Special Duties) Squadron based at Tempsford. Here he flew Halifaxes, dropping agents and arms into occupied Europe. In February 1944, after flying agent Francis Cammaerts over France, Reg was shot down but evaded capture and made his way to and over the Pyrenees into Spain, and home. |
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