World War Two military print showing Stirling Bombers and Gliders by Ivan Berryman. Short Stirling Bombers and Assault Gliders of 620 squadron of the Royal Air Force take part in the d-day operation during the second world war.

Tugs of War (Stirling & Gliders) by Ivan Berryman.  Wearing the distinctive black and white identification stripes of the D-Day operations of June 1944. Airspeed Horsa MkII assault gliders, towed by their Short Stirling MkIV tugs of No.620 Squadron, make their way across a moody English Channel en route for Normandy during the tumultuous Operation Overlord.

The Royal Air Force's first four engined monoplane Bomber, the Short Stirling first flew in May 1939 and entered front line service in August 1940 with no. 7 squadron. Due to its poor operational ceiling the aircraft sustained heavy losses and by mid 1942 the Stirling was beginning to be replaced by the Lancaster.  Improved versions of the Short Stirling were built for Glider towing, paratroopers and heavy transport. also from 1943 many of the Stirling's  were used for mine laying. A total of 2381 Stirling's were built for the Royal air Force and from this total 641 Stirling bombers were lost to enemy action.

Crew  7 or 8:                  

   Speed: 260 mph (MK1) 275mph (MKIII)  and 280mph (MKV)Service ceiling 17,000 feet  

Range: 2330 miles. (MK1)  2010 miles (MKIII)   and 3,000 miles (MKV) 

Armament: two .303 Vickers machine guns. in nose turret, two .303 in browning machine guns in  dorsal  turret , Four .303 Browning machine guns in tail turret. Bomb Load 14,000  Lbs   Engines: four 1150 Hp Bristol Hercules II (MK1) four 1650 hp Bristol Hercules XVI (MK111 and MKV)

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