207 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORY

OTHER AIRCRAFT

please click on the images or hyperlinks

	The Canberra Types Basic variants of the English Electric Canberra. A tribute to the RAF's jet bomber on its 50th birthday in 1999.
and addendum site	Fairey Battle Again courtesy of IPMS, some detailed Martin Waligorski photographs of the example displayed in the RAF Museum Hendon. The model issued by Airfix was apparently based on actual drawings for the prototype Battle, which differed from the production version. RAF Bomber Command website Battle page
	Handley Page Halifax Welcome to Halifax territory! These pages are dedicated to the preservation of the Handley-Page Halifax. 6,178 of these four-engined heavy bombers were built during the Second World War - all were scrapped. S for Sugar is displayed as a wreck at the RAF Museum Hendon; Friday the 13th, a complex composite Halifax, has pride of place at the Yorkshire Air Museum; there is NA337 at the RCAF Memorial Museum, Trenton, Ontario. The recovery of WL310 off the Hebrides by 57 Rescue Canada and its restoration at the Nanton Lancaster Society Museum is an exciting project.
Canada
	The Stirling Aircraft Project The Short Stirling was the RAF’s first operational four-engined bomber and in its day was an advanced and formidable aeroplane. As far as is known, not a single example survives out of 2383 constructed and it appears that all the manufacturer’s drawings have been destroyed. The Project was constituted in 1997 with the immediate aim of preserving components and documentary evidence of this historic aircraft. It has the long term aim of constructing a forward section of fuselage and is confident of being able to re-create the necessary drawings.
	The Stirling Bomber Home Page This comes from Peter van Gelderen. The Short Stirling was the RAF's first four engined bomber of the second World War. It took a major part in the strategic offensive until 1943, then it was switched to transport duties. Stirling crews gallantly played a major role in the Arnhem landing after towing gliders to Normandy, and again during the Rhine crossing. Stirlings were also familiar to many Lancaster crews who flew on them during training. Peter provides a host of links at this comprehensive site.
	Spitfire & Hurricane Memorial Official Internet site for this memorial at RAF Manston in Kent. It has links to pages giving information about the Memorial, its major exhibits and the closely related RAF Manston History Club. The Memorial and this Web site are dedicated to the pilots and aircrew who gave so much to preserve freedom in the dark days of World War II.
Valiant B(PR)K.1 WP221; Vickers	Vickers Valiant History and pictures; 1950s-1970s V-bomber aircraft of the RAF. The Valiant, first of the three V-bombers, beat the Victor and Vulcan in a number of ways. First to drop a nuclear bomb, first to go into action (against the Egyptian airfields in the Suez Crisis) but also first to leave service. The Valiant was a simpler design and less able to stand up to the change in role to low-level penetration (forced upon the V-force by the improvement of Soviet air defences) so had a short life, much of it spent as a tanker. Today, only one complete example survives, in the Cold War section of the RAF Museum at Cosford.
	Vickers Armstrong Wellington The Wikipedia page on the Wellington is a good starting point for this aircraft which was designed by Barnes Wallis using geodetic frames he'd used on his airship work. This made the Wellington capable of taking a lot of punishment. A pre-war aircraft, it lasted in RAF use until the 1950s.

links checked 20 Dec 13: if any need updating please contact the editor