Missing Short Stirling over Poland?

[Blitz45]

The question is: which English aircraft might these airmen have come from?

[Blitz45]

Perhaps they are the same airmen I mentioned earlier? http://strefahistorii.pl/article/294...icach-gostomka
What do you guys think about this?

[Franek Grabowski]

The supposed grave of RAF airmen reputedly contains bodies of escapers from a nearby PoW camp. As far as I know, this has not been positively and formally verified. The only possibility for a Stirling in the area is a damaged aircraft. There are no reports of crash that far east, so possibly the aircraft was abandoned and flew on auto pilot. Of course, assuming the information about crash site is correct.

[Pat Atkins]

138's Polish flight became 301 (Polish) Sqdn which flew out of Brindisi in 44-45, along with 148 (SD) Sqdn RAF. Both flew Special Duties ops to Poland, using Halifaxes. 148 had one or two Stirlings in later 1944 but I don't think they ever flew operationally.

[Alex Smart]

Did we "Gift" a Stirling to Russia ???

[FrankieS]

"The U.K. refused to supply the Soviet Union with Lancaster and Halifax heavy bombers, despite repeated Soviet requests.[1] However, the Soviets were supplied the earlier Short Stirling Heavy Bomber.


Stalin tasked Tuppavare with cloning the Stirling and Soviet industry was to produce 47 copies of the aircraft in just two years. The three Stirlings were flown to Moscow and delivered into Tuppavare OKB. One Stirling was fully dismantled, down to the smallest bolt, the second was used for flight tests and training, and the third one was left as a standard for cross-reference.




"Stirling B.Mk.III
Unit: LII VVS
Serial: ex LK615
The only British heavy bomber ever officially delivered to the Soviet Union, Short Stirling Mk.III LK615 was built by Austin Motors at Long Bridge in 1944, and is seen here in the colors it wore while undergoing tests at Kratovo, near Moscow, in the autumn of 1944. It was Later it was declared as not perspective and transferred to UPA (Department of Polar Aviation) and got serial SSSR-N-415. But it still outdated and not used until SOC in the end of 1947. Artist: © Anrey Yurgenson
Source: Aeroplane Magazine, January 2007
Source: Sent by Ezz Eldin"


source:
https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-...ling-in-russia


bye bye
FrankieS

[Blitz45]

And does anyone have knowledge of the claims of Flak Units in this area Karthaus, Berent.

[Blitz45]

Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski

The supposed grave of RAF airmen reputedly contains bodies of escapers from a nearby PoW camp. As far as I know, this has not been positively and formally verified. The only possibility for a Stirling in the area is a damaged aircraft. There are no reports of crash that far east, so possibly the aircraft was abandoned and flew on auto pilot. Of course, assuming the information about crash site is correct.

one version speaks of refugees, the other of airmen from a downed Allied bomber. It is difficult to say which version is closer to the truth?

[Blitz45]

why can't I add photos?

[Alex Smart]

Thank you FrankieS,
Your link may hold the answer.
Quote-
Stirling B.Mk.III
Unit: LII VVS
Serial: ex LK615
The only British heavy bomber ever officially delivered to the Soviet Union, Short Stirling Mk.III LK615 was built by Austin Motors at Long Bridge in 1944, and is seen here in the colors it wore while undergoing tests at Kratovo, near Moscow, in the autumn of 1944. It was Later it was declared as not perspective and transferred to UPA (Department of Polar Aviation) and got serial SSSR-N-415. But it still outdated and not used until SOC in the end of 1947.