Short Stirling in Soviet Service

The only Short Stirling heavy bomber officially delivered to the Soviet Union, was Mk.III LK615 built by Austin Motors at Long Bridge in 1944. It was shown to the Soviet Acceptance Commission on 1 March, 1945, where it was rejected as incomplete. After receiving attention at RAF Habbaniya it was handed over at Tehran in summer 1945.

LK615 was flight tested at L11 NKAP ( Flight Test Institute of the People’s Commissariat of the Aviation Industry ) by G M Shiyanov. The Soviet Air Force never tested it. It was later declared as not suitable and transferred to UPA (Department of Polar Aviation) and received serial SSSR-N-415. Considered outdated, it was not used until struck off charge at the end of 1947.