WW2's Most Controversial Aircraft

At a time when most Royal Air Force four-engine bombers were twin-engined designs, the Short Stirling was designed from the outset as a four-engined heavy bomber. As a result, it became the cornerstone of British heavy bomber groups from January 1941, predating all subsequent four-engine bombers.
The Short Stirling was born from an RAF requirement outlined in the mid-1930s calling for a heavy bomber that could conquer long-range missions and pack a powerful punch. With twice the power, the Stirling was quick to outshine several other types.
The bomber proved to be a fantastic warbird that was of excellent service to the RAF as the first of its kind. However, it should have been much more.
As author Murray Peden put it: (QUOTE) "But for its needless maiming at birth by the short-sighted planners who conjured up the Air Ministry specifications, the Stirling might well have out-performed even the great Lancaster...
---
Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.