Latest News

Chinook recovers wreckage of a WWII Stirling Bomber in the Peak District

Published Monday 31st January 2005

The Chinook from RAF Odiham lifts parts of the crashed WWII Stirling Bomber onto a flatbed truck [Picture: Cpl Ian Lang]

The wreckage of the crashed WWII Stirling Bomber was placed in two nets [Picture: Cpl Ian Lang]

The net full of the crashed WWII Stirling Bomber wreckage is lifted by a Chinook from RAF Odiham [Picture: Cpl Ian Lang]

The wreckage of the crashed WWII Stirling Bomber aboard the flatbed ready for transporting to RAF Wyton [Picture: Cpl Ian Lang]

An RAF Odiham Chinook was called in to help recover the remaining wreckage of a Stirling Bomber from its WWII crash site in the Peak District. The Stirling Bomber, Serial Number LK628, crashed during a training exercise in July 1944. All the 10 crew members on board survived.

The Short Stirling was the RAF's first four-engine operational bomber and in its day it was an advanced and formidable aeroplane. As far as is known, not a single example survives out of the 2383 constructed and it appears that the manufacturers drawings have been destroyed.

The Stirling Project was constituted in 1997 under the chairmanship of a former XV Sqn Navigator with the immediate aim of preserving components and documentary evidence of this historic aircraft. The wreckage was strewn across an almost inaccessible part of the Yorkshire Moors so a team from the Joint Helicopter Support Unit set off to assess the site.

It was decided that much of the wreckage could be placed in nets, ready to be carried as an under slung load. Despite the biting winds and driving rain, the crews made it to the WWII crash site and Joint Helicopter Support Unit (JHSU) prepared the area for the incoming Chinook.

Various pieces of wreckage were lifted from one area and flown to a second landing point where it was lowered onto the back of a lorry, for onwards transport to RAF Wyton. RAF Wyton have donated a hangar for the storage of the Short Stirling aircraft parts, prior to the attempted rebuild.

Donations to help support the Stirling Project (cheques made payable to The Stirling Project) can be sent to:

The Treasurer,
Derek Hahn,
16 Cromwell Place,
Cranleigh,
Surrey.
GU6 7LF
e-mail: info@stirlingproject.co.uk

The Stirling Project is a Registered Charity, Number 1077113.

Related links:

The Ministry of Defence is not responsible for the content or availability of external internet sites.