Short Stirling Mk IV/V in RAF Service: Wingleader Photo Archive Number 11

An introduction to the NEW Wingleader Photo Archive Series.‍

For quite a few years, Simon Parry and Mark Postlethwaite have been building up a huge library of original WWII aviation photos, partly as a hobby but mainly to help provide photos for the books that they publish.  With over 30,000 now in the collection, they realised that they had more than enough to produce a series of photo books on individual aircraft types and sub-types.  They set out to make the series as ideally suited to modellers and artists as possible, so large photos, using A4 landscape format, and minimal text except for extended captions.  Effectively their aim is to produce a 21st Century version of the Profile Publications series of books from the 1960s, using the latest technology to reproduce their wartime photos to the highest standard possible.

This series is unique in that it will be able to provide large format ORIGINAL photos up to full A4 landscape format width, which is at least 50% larger than any standard book can deliver.  Combined with the specialist knowledge of a team of historians and contributors, each book should provide unbeatable and accurate references for any modelling or painting project.

Although the Stirling didn’t reach its full potential as a bomber, it did perform remarkably well as a glider tug and paratroop transport and was readily available to take part in all airborne assaults on the Continent from D-Day onwards. It also played an important role in sustaining resistance groups. These modified converted bombers were known as the Stirling Mk IV and over 600 of them were built. The Mk V filled another urgent requirement for transport aircraft at the end of the war and in this guise it did modestly well.
As usual in this series, we devote most of the space to high-res original wartime photos, which we examine very closely to pick out details that have been hiding in plain sight for over 70 years. So,if you’ve never heard of low-tow and high-tow, strop guards and bridles, this is the book for you!

This book contains approx 120 original wartime/pre-war photos and 6 in-depth colour profiles