Stirling parachute supply drop

Stirling parachute supply drop

Photo 1 is a Stirling dropping supplies containing arms, ammunition and medical supplies.
Photo 2 is the supplies on parachutes.

1943

Two b/w photographs on an album page

IBCC Digital Archive

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PThomasAF20040008

[Photograph]

This & the following photograph shows a practice supply drop carried out at R.A.F. Methwold in 1943. The aircraft is a Stirling Mark III. Each container had a stock of arms, ammunition & medical supplies.

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[Photograph]

The method used to supply resistance movements in Europe with essential arms & medical necessities. Stirling aircraft were employed regularly from 1943 to carry out this important work. Operations were usually carried out in full or near full moonlight conditions. Aircraft usually crossed the enemy coast at a height of 7/8000 feet dropping down to below 2000 feet to fly below effective radar height for the journey across Europe. Operations of this nature called for a very high degree of skill in both navigation & actual control of flying. For most of the journey Navigators were dependant on star shots & dead reckoning.