Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

I am trying to clarify the fate of a Short Stirling which crashed near Gdansk, I don't know from which squadron it could have come?
So far I have checked all the lost Shorts on this list:
https://www.rafcommands.com/database...ling&serialno=
but none have gone down in this area. I also checked the raids on Szczecin in which they took part.
29/30 09.1941 participation of 10 Stirlings from 7 Squ. 2 lost, one crashed in Jutland the other missing.
20/21 04.1943 11 Stirlings, 1 lost over Denmark.
29/30 04.1943 ?
18/19 07.1943 ?
5/6 01. 1944 ?
I suspect the Stirling sought, must have been doing a special mission (SOE), I know there were various aircraft flying to Poland, some more suited to a long two way trip than others. Initial routes were over Denmark, then the southern tip of Sweden, the Baltic Sea and then to Poland. Later flights were launched from Italy and over the Caucasus and Hungary to Poland.
Special squadrons that used Shorts: 138 from June 1944 to March 1945, 161 from September 1943 to June 1945, 192 ?, 299 from January 1944 to February 1946.
Does anyone perhaps have a list of losses of these squadrons? I would be grateful for any help.
Peter

Re: Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

Looked through "The Secret Squadrons" by Robert Jackson. It does not mention any Stirling losses over Poland.

Re: Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

Can you give us any context to your request?
Any rough time (year)?
Has the wreck been found?
What makes you say it was a Stirling?

Re: Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

This is 100% Short Stirling because its component, which we found near Danzig, was identified by the people working on the Stirling restoration. Unfortunately I have no information on the circumstances of the loss of this machine? But I think this story may have something to do with this machine? These graves are close to the route taken by the bombers on SOE missions.
http://strefahistorii.pl/article/294...icach-gostomka
Of course I could be wrong? But I hope that with your Knowledge and help the circumstances of the loss of this machine can be established. I will be grateful for any help you can provide.
Regards
Piotr

Re: Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

Unfortunately, I do not have this item in my collection. This Stirling is also a big surprise to me, they never flew over Danzig or Gotenhafen. An element of this aircraft, proves something completely different?

Re: Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

I don't know if they didn't carry out mine missions over the Bay of Danzig Privet area?

Re: Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

interesting case !

Re: Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

I found this book, thanks for the recommendation.



https://archive.org/details/secretsq...p?view=theater

Re: Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

You might also like to check this book if still available, the 2- Special squadrons at Tempsford ( 138 / 161). I looked at a lot of 138's pages on their ORBs for 1944 ( from June when they received Stirlings from Halifax's but didn't see any reference to Poland, all I saw were France, Belgium, Norway, Denmark and Germany. I think there's a list of losses in there. It may be relevent that 138 had a Polish Flight.

Hope this helps a little.
Nick



https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1326098403

Re: Missing Short Stirling over Poland?
 

Thank you Buckeye30 for your help, of course I will review.