What's under the nose of a Stirling Mk IV?

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I think I may have sorted the mystery of the Stirling Mk IV nose Aeronut.Looking through my files,it seems there are two nose configurations for the Stirling MkIV.
One seems to be the type in your photo( LJ647 in Haren,1944 if i`m not mistaken) where there is just a holder for 3 containers (markers?) where the front turret used to be.You`ll also notice in the poor interior shot(bottom) that the nose structure is missing the platform where the gunners/observers feet rested.
The second type has the foot platform (see A.P. pic No. 36) mounted on the nose structure,I have one of these and mistakenly called it a seat before. This is made of wood and measures 12 ” square and made of 12″x 1 1/2″ x 3/4″ bits of pine 4 in number. The observer sits in a seat sling (40)which is made of 6″ webbing of the type used in seat harnesses.To support his back there is also a laced backsling (37) made of 6″ webbing.On a small raised platform in front of him is a chart /map table (39),in front mounted on the inner skin of the aircraft are the paratroop signal switches and lights(38).
From this info I assume latter type is a paratroop configuration and the other type is possibly for special ops and supply drops.

No looks like Marker flare cannister holders on this one,which were also fitted,in the AP for Mk 4 deleted front turret area is called `observers position`.

Here’s an edited scan of the pranged Mk IV. It dosen’t look like a seat (which would make sense) was fitted to this particular aircraft.
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Would it be a piece of ‘role fit’ equipment depending on the type of op being undertaken?
When supply dropping panniers the Stirling would have used a roller floor which would need to be cleared away and stowed if the aircraft was to drop paratroops. Could they have stowed it in the nose?

hard to say from that photo and details of that area are sparse, but it certainly looks like a wooden slatted footrest beneath the seat. I couldn’t say for certain how the seat is installed though 😮

John

Thanks for clearing up that point 12jaguar.
Do I surmise from that, that the stool with the canvas backing is sitting on a suspended floor that uses some of the same attatchment points as the turret?
Is that some sort of foot-rest seen below in the picture above?

IIRC the turret outer ring which was integral with the turret was bolted direct to the fuselage structure, to remove the turret you unbolted the ring and it came out as one assembly.

I think that this just left a hole.

John

The prototype Stirling Mk. IV’s were converted Mk.III’s, with the front and dorsal turrets removed.

Does this imply that the fixed rings in which the turrets rotated were left in situ?

Did the production versions also retain the fixed rings in order to implement a speedy conversion back to Mk. III status?

I can’t draw any conclusions from the photo.:(

[ATTACH]190453[/ATTACH] There`s just a fabric backrest and crude wooden slatted seat for an Observer.

I had a look through all my airborne books and the only picture I could find that showed anything was of a IV landing at Tempsford.

The sun is nicely illuminating the inside of the dome but I can’t see anything! Just what appears to be a flat bulkhead where I assume the entrace to the original turret was.

I think it is a case of ‘what can be seen through the Perspex nose that replaced the turret?’
I must admit I’ve always wondered why such a large frameless moulding was used when the original bomb aimers position was retained for aiming the supply/para drops.
I’ve found the photo mentioned in the modelling thread and it does indeed show a frame that looks like it was a stowage for something – Flares?

Under the nose? You mean what was inside the fuselage?

Can’t say but I recognise the bits. The metal parts in that kit are the drop down tail guard for parachute operations to stop the static lines and and bags fouling the tail and the U shaped piece is a towing bridle for gliders.

I assume the perspex but is a replacement for the nose when they took the nose/dorsal turrets out for airborne operations.