The search for a Short Stirling airframe in an underwater environment, available for restoration has been moving forward with increased vigour and much has been achieved on behalf of all the various groups looking to achieve such a goal.  The task of locating, surveying and possibly in the future, recovering any Short Stirling airframe deemed worthy of restoration has been taken on by the Royal Air Force Sub-Aqua Association (RAFSAA).

The first expedition to Norway in 1999 to survey Stirling LJ925, lost on the night of 25^th – 26^th February 1945, called ‘Norsix 99’, was nominated winner of the 1999 Duke of Edinburgh’s Prize of the British Sub-Aqua Club.

This was the starting point for the efforts to date.  Various sites have been earmarked for survey and have been approached; pushing the opportunity of realising the dreams of many that one day a Stirling Bomber memorial will be possible.  These first initial dives are more of a feasibility study into what is actually available, what is possible in the future and the best way to achieve the goal of search and recovery.

To date, the main focus of the diving thus far has been on the south coast of England.  Various dives have taken place over the past year searching for possible locations of sites.  However, due to the length of time since the individual aircraft was lost, coupled with the movement of the tides and the sea bed over the years, this work is time consuming and extremely difficult.

If any aviation groups are interested in assisting with the search for a Stirling Bomber underwater whether through research, knowledge of locations, artefacts or contacts, you can contact the project co-ordinator at:

19 Dorin Court
Landscape Road
Warlingham
Surrey
CR6 9JT
UK