Short Stirling C.V OO-XAS

Short Stirling C.V OO-XAS 9msn SH1514), of Airtech Ltd, Thame, at Blackbushe airport. XAS was intended to be sold to Air Transport Co. SA. Of Melsbroek in Belgium, but was not delivered. Given a Belgian Certificate of Airworthiness at Brussels, XAS was flown to Madrid for clandestine delivery to Israel. Paradoxically at least six of the nine other Stirlings registered to Air Transport were sold to the Egyptian Air Force and converted to bombers for use against Israel. OO-XAS was delivered to the Royal Air Force in 1945 as PK153 and was operated as a transport by No.242 Sqn. then No.46 Sqn. before being stored at 23 Maintenance Unit at RAF Aldergrove. Airtech Ltd. took delivery on 25 August 1947, flying the aircraft to Blackbushe on 5 April 1949

Airtech Airworthiness Blackbushe Bombers Certificate Clandestine Converted Delivered Flown Intended Least Maintenance Operated Registered Stirling Stirlings Stored Thame

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > PBU