Running late, but here is today's clue:
1 - A significant aircraft yet often considered “second best”.
2 - It’s “deficiencies” could be blamed on different design requirements compared to its stablemate.
3 - However those requirements resulted in a more versatile aircraft.
4 - Those who flew in them really liked them. Possibly even over their "better" stablemate.
5 - For one thing, if things went south, you were more likely to survive.
6 - A change of engine in later designs gave it a noticeable increase in performance, as well as increased reliability and survivability.
7 - Saw service with at least four nations.
8 - No airworthy examples exist today.
9 - Saw service in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Far East.
10 - Unusually for this type of aircraft, for a time some sported alternating black & white bands on the wings & aft fuselage.
11 - The manufacturer had long experience in building planes of this sort.
12 - Took part in many large-scale actions, some of which were as much for propaganda as for practical purposes.
13 - Retired from it's primary purpose fairly soon after the war ended.
14 - Over 6,000 built.
15 - The first prototype took its first flight in October 1939.