Short Stirling Mk.IV
With the Stirling being replaced by the more modern and more capable heavy bombers, in 1943 plans were made to use the Stirling in diffeent roles in the coming invasion of western Europe.
As apart of the original design spec's for the Stirling, troop transport had been a secondary task, and although not fitted with large paradoors Stirlings had been successfully used to drop agents into occupied Europe.
With the introduction of large assault gliders, there was a need for a large tow plane, and the Stirling proved to be the ideal aircraft. After trials on a modified Mk.III, additional aircraft were modified to become the new Mk.IV, and then new production continued for new built Mk.IV's.
The most obvious modification was the removal of the dorsal and nose turrets, with the nose being fared over with a perspex nose cone. The glider tow equipemt was fitted under the aircraft's tail in a large yoke assembly. Additionally aircraft were fitted out for better paratrooping than earlier models, with additional cabin windows. A new ventral drop door was fitted, with an additional steel frame under the rear fuselage to protect the aircraft from flailing parachute strops.
The Mk.IV's were used to drop paratroops on the night before D-Day, and then towed gliders to supply those same troops with heavy equipment. The Stirling Mk.IV's remained in use until the end of war, but were all retired by 1946.