Short Stirlings in Italy
 

You all helped me somuch on the last picture I posted that I thought I would try another, a little older this time.
The attached picture is believed to have been taken at Pomigliano in Italy on 10 Oct 1944 according to my father's diary. Apparently the Stirlings were not based there just passing through and caused a bit of a stir at the time. Practically the whole camp came out to watch them arrive as most of his squadron had been overseas for many years and never seen such a large aircraft.

Any thoughts as the unit they belonged to, or where they were going, or come from?

QP

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....27b97c0780.jpg

Possibly Stirlings of a Special Duties Squadron - supply dropping to amongst others Partisans in Jugoslavia ?

A bit more gen here with image of 620 Squadron Stirling and Crew. Acknowledgement to Pino Lombardi author of 'Short Stirling' (2017) with thanks. No doubt someone will know what they were up to.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8af7818b7b.png

Passing reference to cancelled Glider Ops Pomigliano. Read the transcription of interview : https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.a.../document/3410

Many thanks OUAQUKGF Ops for that interview transcript. Its fascinating stuff, for me anyway. Shortly after posting the original picture i made contact with a source that wishes to remain anonymous (unconnected to this forum) and he told me in his own words that "a bunch of Stirlings were flown out from Blighty towing gliders. The gliders were dropped at an aerodrome just outside Rome and the Stirlings went to Pomigliano for a few days".

That ties in very nicely with what was said in the interview, no indication of the unit involved though.

Thanks for your help.

QP

Pleasure QP. Well one cannot be absolutely sure what Squadron the Stirlings in your photograph belonged to. However the image of Stirling EF237 and the crew which included Flt/Sgt Gould (He of the transcript) show that 620 Special Duties Squadron were there on the day and were most likely the 'Unit' in question.
Incidentally Operation Manna which involved Allied Air Drops and Glider Ops amongst other activities over Greece commenced on 10th October 1944.
Cheers Tom.