THE STIRLING PROJECT NEWSLETTER No. 6 (2003/04)

Reproduced from and oil painting by Clive Kemp.

REPORT FROM THE STIRLING PROJECT’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Stirling Project held its Annual General Meeting in its workshops at RAF Wyton on Sunday 18th April 2004. Having dealt with the necessary administrative and financial matters, the trustees welcomed Graham Hutchinson to the design team. Graham, who has been doing work for the Fighter Collection at Duxford, offered his help after reading about the Stirling Project in 'Aeroplane Monthly'. He has already proved himself invaluable by plotting quarter ellipses on his computer, for Peter Howell, enabling a layout of the bomb aimer's station to be completed. In addition, he has drawn a front elevation of the main frame in the nose turret cupola and designed a structure for supporting the turret.

Another recent addition to the team is Mrs. Mary Ghrist, whose uncle, Flt. Sgt. Alfred Arthur "Lofty" Beale of 299 Sqn., was lost in Stirling LJ813. She has very kindly offered to compile a data base of all the drawings and components belonging to the Stirling Project. Not long ago, it was possible to commit all this to memory, but now there is such a quantity of material that it is time to introduce a proper indexing system.

Peter Howell has produced a provisional layout of the undercarriage geometry combining original information and measurements from surviving wreckage. He has also drawn a projection of the mainplane from the root to the inboard thrust line in order to establish how the undercarriage is attached to the spars.

Lou Brown has now completed five dozen or so drawings necessary for a throttle-box assembly so that it is now possible to start constructing one.

With the gun turret nearing completion and lacking only its doors, workshop activity has been concentrated on dismantling the Hercules engine that was donated by the Ulster Aviation Society and also various undercarriage components that have been recovered from crash sites. A quantity of original drawings turned up in an attic in the Midlands last year. They are mostly of as-yet unidentified brackets and fittings and were probably issued to an out-worker in one of the hundreds of small workshops in that part of the world. It is hoped that the Stirling Project will be allowed to copy them.

The Royal Air Force Museum collaborates with the Stirling Project.

An arrangement has been reached between the Stirling Project and the Royal Air Force Museum Restoration Centre at Cosford, with the assistance of Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns. The Manager of the Museum, Bruce James, has kindly informed us that various items from the Museum’s collection of Stirling parts will be made available to us for use by the design department to produce engineering drawings. The largest parts come from Stirling LK488, which crashed at Mickle Fell, Yorkshire, on 19th October 1944. The aircraft struck the backbone of Yorkshire’s highest peak. One wing caught the summit and was wrenched off. The remainder of the aircraft cartwheeled over the summit. The forward fuselage caught the full impact and was torn apart. Six of the crew were killed and the only survivor was the rear gunner. Various sections of The Royal Air Force joined in the recovery operation, which took place on 31st August 1977. The photographs show some of the recovered wreckage.

View of rear fuselage with starboard tailplane stub.
Rear gunner's escape hatch on left.

 

Tip of rudder

Rear fuselage from Frame 48, looking aft.
Fin stub and bracket on top.

Additional parts to which we will have access include the following:
Pilot’s control wheel with mountings
Pilot’s escape hatch
Tailwheel units
Main fuel tank
Two leading-edge fuel tanks
Main undercarriage from Stirling EF494

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Project, held on Friday the 30th July 2004, at RAF Wyton, the following amendment was agreed:

"If or when the Stirling Project is wound up for any reason, any Stirling artefacts, information, and copies of drawings belonging to the Stirling Project shall, in the first instance, be offered to the Royal Air Force Museum."

Open Day at Royal Air Force Wyton.

The Station Commander of Royal Air Force Brampton Wyton Henlow, Group Captain R. Paterson OBE, B.Sc., PGCE, kindly invited the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary of the Stirling Project to attend the Open Day held at RAF Wyton on Friday the 30^th of July. As the majority of the invited guests were local civic dignitaries, our inclusion in this company illustrates the regard in which the Station Commander holds the Stirling Project. Proceedings began with a flight from RAF Brampton to RAF Wyton in a Chinook helicopter.

For most if not all participants, this was a unique and memorable experience. The above photograph shows the Secretary, savouring the moment in front of the Chinook. The next item on the programme was a briefing by Group Captain Paterson on the multiplicity of roles fulfilled by the Defence Logistics Organisation whose headquarters is at Wyton. The part played by Wyton in the organisation of the RAF’s effort in both the assault on Iraq, and the subsequent work of reconstruction and re-supply, were most interestingly described.

As part of the Families’ Day various clubs and societies based at RAF Brampton and Wyton were holding displays and events, some of which occurred in Hangar No 1, immediately adjacent to our workshop. This provided the Stirling Project with a welcome opportunity to publicise our activities. Considerable interest was shown in the Project’s stand and committee members were kept busy throughout the day, describing the exhibits and the background history of the Stirling bomber. The photograph shows the Stirling Project stand in Hangar No1

Opening of the Stirling Suite at Castle Combe.

Peter Howell, Design Officer, representing the Stirling Project, attended the opening, last March, of the new clubroom and conference suite at Castle Combe racing circuit in Castle Combe, Chippenham, Wiltshire. Normally associated with motor sport, it began life as a WWII practice aircraft landing ground associated with the flying training school at nearby RAF Hullavington. On the 13th March 1944, it saw the crash-landing of Stirling EF 236 which had suffered a broken aileron control rod. The fully loaded damaged bomber had been diverted from Hullavington, and was obliged to attempt a forced landing, on a runway of inadequate length. Before the startled control-tower staff could issue a suitable warning, the stricken bomber over-ran the runway and came to rest with a collapsed undercarriage in an adjacent farm.

The bomb load included five magnetic mines, three of which exploded. Happily, all crew members, including the New Zealand pilot P/O C. Baker RNZAF, escaped unhurt as did all others on the airfield.

The name "Stirling"for the new suite was chose partly because of the incident described above, and partly in honour of Sir Stirling Moss OBE who won the first motor race there in 1950, and went on to score many successes at the racing circuit.

The photograph shows Peter Howell standing alongside the commemorative plaque paying tribute to both racing ace and bomber.

A Very New Recruit to the Stirling Project.

All members would like to congratulate our Acquisitions Officer Martin Smith and Karen on the birth of Sidney, the fourth addition to their family.

Our Patron Launches his Memoirs.

Lord Mackie of Benshie, who was for a short while a navigator on Stirlings during WWII, has set out his memoirs in a book called "Flying, Farming and Politics". The book-launch occurred in the Houses of Parliament on the 6th of May 2004. Details of the book are shown at the end of this leaflet. The Chairman and Mrs Harris, together with the Treasurer and Secretary attended as invited guests. Senior Liberal-Democrats were present as well as representatives of other political parties. The Committee members who attended took the opportunity to publicise the Project among both the parliamentarians and the other guests. The photograph shows the Chairman exchanges reminiscences with Lord Mackie and receiving an autographed copy of the book.

Power of the Internet.
An Article from our Project Manager Giuseppe Lombardi

Just before their first visit to England, Peter and Judith Thomas from New Zealand had never heard of The Stirling Project. Peter’s father, F/Sgt. Charles Thomas, was a Wop/AG on Stirling EF123 of 622 Sqn. when it crashed on return to Mildenhall from an operation to Leverkusen. The aircraft crashed in fog on the 19th of November 1943, killing all except one who died later. Peter never knew his father as he was only three months old when his father died.

F/Sgt. Charles Thomas among crews of 622 Squadron 1943

On a visit by one of Peter’s friends, only ten days before the trip to England, they were discussing his father and his friend had brought over his laptop computer. Peter did not have a computer so they searched the internet and quickly found The Stirling Project web site. Following his phone call the next day to the Chairman, who in turn contacted me, I was able to talk to Peter when he arrived in the country a few days later, having brought along the local newspaper cuttings of the story of the crash!

I explained that one of the aims of The Stirling Project was to help people like him. Peter was most surprised when I informed him that I had actually visited the crash site myself and that I would be pleased to take him there. This was a bonus as Peter and Judith were to visit Cambridge cemetery to see his father’s grave for the first time. On 28 July I collected Peter and Judith and took them to see the site. Peter searched for some pieces of the aircraft but to no avail. His eyes lit up when I gave him some small pieces of the aircraft collected many years ago from this site. Peter quietly reflected the moment as I explained what had happened during the crash within sight of Mildenhall.

The young Peter Thomas with his parents

Peter had brought along his father’s gold watch, engraved with his name and recounted the story of how, after the crash, it was stolen and taken to a local pawnbroker. The latter became suspicious, called the police and the watch was eventually reunited with the family in New Zealand.

Whilst at the site, I could see what the small pieces I had given him had meant to him, as he carefully wrapped them in paper. I had one other rather special piece, which I presented to him as we came away from the site. It was the oxygen flow gauge from the rear turret manned by his father.

It was obvious what this meant to him and he thanked us for the visit. It’s not often that in just a few days, someone from the other side of the world can find, contact us and visit a crash site, which they may never have found on their own. Proof indeed of the power of the internet.

ACQUISITIONS AND GIFTS.

Perspex Panels for FN5 Turret

The Stirling Project has been fortunate to secure the services of Wokingham Plastics Ltd, after a considerable search to locate a company capable and willing to produce the Perspex mouldings for the Frazer Nash FN5 front gun turret. Not only did the company produce fine work, but also gave us generous discount as well as replacing, free of charge, the port-side panel damaged during installation.

Navigator’s Protractor
We are grateful to Roy Bavister, for the gift of a navigator’s protractor (right), received on our behalf by Peter Howell.

Stirling Tail Wheel
A tail wheel from a Stirling recovered many years ago from a ditch near the assembly factory at South Marston has been donated to the Project

Hydraulic Fittings
We are indebted to Burley Hydraulics Ltd. of Wisbech, and St. Ives, Cambridgeshire for the generous gift of hydraulic components.

Bristol Hercules Engine
In our Newsletter No.3, we reported that The Ulster Aviation Society in Belfast had kindly donated a Bristol Hercules II engine. Part of the restoration work on this engine was carried out by John Lathwell and Richard Doel, shown below left. This work is now being continued by Graham Hutchinson.

Stirling Maintenance Manual
John Hewitt, of Belfast, has generously donated a very rare original Stirling Maintenance Manual, received by Peter Howell.

Your Legacy Will Help the Stirling Project Charity

A legacy to The Stirling Project is another way in which you can support the continuing efforts of a small, but dedicated, band of enthusiasts, giving freely of their time and knowledge to see an example of the Short Stirling bomber brought into being again. Because we are a registered Charity, your legacy will be free of taxation. Your solicitor can explain matters in detail. Please note that this type of bequest is not only for those with large assets.

Donations

We continue to rely on the generosity of volunteer supporters and well-wishers, many of whom have had no previous connections with the Stirling, or even the Royal Air Force. If you support our aims and aspiration to bring into being a real-life Short Stirling Bomber, please send a donation, either to our Chairman, Brian Harris, DFC, Dibdene, Shamley Green, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0UA or direct to our Treasurer, Dr Eric Bailey, 18 Cromwell Place, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 7LF. Cheques payable to "The Stirling Project".

We have available, copies of the books "The Stirling Story", by Michael Bowyer, at a cost of £20.80. and George Mackie’s memoirs at a cost of £17.50 including postage and packing.

We also have available the video "Remember The Stirling" produced by our Chairman, which charts the progress of the Stirling from 1941 to Arnhem. This is priced at £16.00 including postage and packing.

Framed Oil Paintings of Stirlings.

We are once again indebted to Clive Kemp, who has donated to us yet more of his fine framed oil-paintings of the Stirling, in a variety of roles and settings. They are approximately 24 x 20ins in size. Several of these have already been sold, but the four shown below are available at the time of writing, at a guide price of £100 each, and can be posted to the purchaser at a cost of £5.00. Profits from the sale of all goods go to the Stirling Project Charity.

Presentation to John Lathwell.

Our retiring Workshop Manager John Lathwell has moved from RAF Wyton to a new posting at Yeovilton, Somerset. Immediately after July’s Extraordinary General Meeting, Committee members Richard Doel and Giuseppe Lombardi jointly presented John with a bench drill and several other useful tools on behalf of the Stirling Project. It was hoped that his valuable contribution to the restoration work would continue and that he would both remain as a Committee member, and attend our future meetings at Wyton or elsewhere.

Web Site

The Stirling Project web site: www.stirlingproject.co.uk has attracted a total of 16,709 hits to date.