Short Stirling "Glorious Beer" Giclée Art Print

High quality art print of a Short Stirling Mk. IV, as operated by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. First delivered in 1940, and first flown operationally in January 1941, the Short Stirling was the RAF's first four-engined monoplane bomber, and was used through to the end of the war. 

In 1941 and 1942 the Stirling played a key role in Bomber Command's offensive against Germany. By 1943, it was becoming obsolescent as a bomber - lacking the range and payload of the newer Avro Lancaster - but found a new purpose towing gliders in airborne operations. The Stirling Mk. IV was specifically adapted for this purpose.

Depicted in this illustration is the Short Stirling LK129, B for Beer, of No. 295 Squadron RAF. The nose art bears the nickname "Glorious Beer." On 6 June 1944, 295 Squadron dropped the first airborne troops into Normandy as part of Operation Overlord. The squadron moved to RAF Rivenhall in October 1944, and flew in Operation Market Garden and Operation Varsity, as well as numerous supply drops to resistance forces throughout Europe.

This illustration by Rob Wisdom is a high-quality Giclée art print on cotton-rich fine art paper. Another variant of this illustration is available, showing the Stirling with an Airspeed Horsa glider.