Tugs

The Albemarle was designed as a light bomber built from non-strategic materials. It was built from wood and steel instead of aluminium alloys, and suitable for construction in dispersed factories. It was a clean aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage. Performance was mediocre, and it was used mainly as a glider tug and transport.

Twin-engined monoplane bomber. The Whitley was one of the first heavy night bombers of the RAF, and the first RAF aircraft with a stressed-skin fuselage. It had a characteristic nose-down flying attitude, because of the high incidence of the wing. Performance was mediocre, and from 1942 onwards it was used as a trainer and glider tug.

The C-47, probably the most recognised of all WWII transport aircraft was adapted from the DC-3 Dakota commercial airliner and was used to carry personnel and cargo, tow gliders and drop paratroopers.

Heavy bomber, less known than the Lancaster but almost as important. It was built both with Rolls-Royce Merlin liquid-cooled and Bristol Hercules radial engines. The Halifax was a mid-wing aircraft with twin fins and rudders and a fuselage of rectangular cross-section. Halifaxes flew 75532 missions during WWII. They were also used as glider tugs and transport. A nickname was "Halibag".

First of the RAF's four-engined heavy bombers. Soon replaced by the Lancaster and Halifax, and used as target tug. The shortcomings of the Stirling were mostly due to faulty specifications. The Stirling had too small a wing, and its towering high undercarriage was necessary to give the small wing a sufficient incidence for take-off and landing. The Stirling Mk.V was a transport version for 40 paratroopers or big load.