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Short Stirling C. V OO-XAS
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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. Date: 1949
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Media ID 21132225
© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
1945 1947 1949 Airport Airtech Airworthiness Belgian Blackbushe Bombers Brussels Certificate Clandestine Converted Delivered Flown Intended Israel Maintenance Operated Registered Sold Stirling Stored Thame Unit Delivery Given Short
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative black-and-white photograph, Short Stirling C.V OO-XAS (registration number 9msn SH1514) of Airtech Ltd., Thame, is seen parked at Blackbushe Airport. This particular Stirling was originally intended for sale to Air Transport Co. SA of Melsbroek in Belgium, but its delivery was not completed. Instead, OO-XAS received a Belgian Certificate of Airworthiness at Brussels and was secretly flown to Madrid for clandestine delivery to Israel. The paradoxical twist in this story is that while OO-XAS was being transported to Israel, at least six of the nine other Stirlings registered to Air Transport Co. were sold to the Egyptian Air Force and converted into bombers for use against Israel. After an eventful history, OO-XAS was eventually delivered to the Royal Air Force in 1945, where it was operated by No.242 Squadron and later No.46 Squadron before being stored at 23 Maintenance Unit at RAF Aldergrove. Airtech Ltd. took possession of the aircraft on 25 August 1947 and flew it to Blackbushe on 5 April 1949. This iconic image captures a moment in history when the fate of this Short Stirling C.V was uncertain, and its ultimate destination was shrouded in secrecy. The photograph is a testament to the complex and often contradictory nature of military aviation history.
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