Originally Posted by
Load Toad
It is often recounted that the Stirling had to have <100 Ft wingspan due to the RAF insisting it fitted through existing hangar doors.
I've found nothing with internet searches to prove this.
This was the reason cited by Murray Peden from 214 Sqdn who at least believed that to be true in his book "A Thousand Shall Fall" so at least that story was circulating during the war amongst crew - probably as they flew misions 8,000 feet below the Lancs. However, there are some interesting write-ups from PFF crew citations of the maneuverability of the Stirling in fending off German night-fighters.