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Aerial Bombing Missions in World War II

Vintage images of B-17 bombers during WWII missions, showcasing bombing runs over strategic targets in Europe.

Emden Attack of 27/9/43.

As these Consolidated B-24 Liberators near the target, obscured by solid cloud, smoke indicators point out the dropping point for their bombs. This was part of the large attack by U.S. 8th AF heavies March 8, 1945 on Nazi rail centers just beyond

THE GREATEST AIRBORNE INVASION IN HISTORY.---From low level, B-24 Liberators of Major General William E. Kepner's Second Air Division of the U.S. Army 8th Air Force drop supplies by parachute to the airborne forces who had landed east of

Lockheed P-38 of the 1st...

The Important Railroad Bridge And Marshalling Yard At Euskirchen, Germany, Patterned By Bombs From 9Th Af Martin B-26 Marauder During A Recent Attack That Cut The Last Open Rail Line Over The Erft River Bridge, An Important Enemy Supply Route To The Front

Flying High Above The Clouds, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 91St Bomb Group Wing Their Way To Bomb Enemy Installations In Frankfurt, Germany. 29 January 1944.

Combat formation of Boeing B-17 planes.

The North American B-25 'Erotic Edna' Of The 1St Air Commando Force Places A Direct Hit On A Bridge Approaching Imphal Valley In India.

Royal Air Force- Italy, the Balkans and South East Europe, 1942-1945. Two Martin Baltimore Mark IVs of No. 223 Squadron RAF based at Celone, Italy, in flight while en route to bomb a chemical factory in the Popoli area.

Curtiss C-46 Airplanes Of Major General Paul L. Williams' U.S. Troop Carrier Forces Loaded With Paratroopers Taking Part In What Proved To Be The Greatest Airborne Assault Of The War. France.

This B-24 Liberator seems to have just barely gotten away from its target at Ploesti, Rumania in time to miss being taken in by the cloud of smoke caused by bombs dropped by the 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, during an attack on this important

Out of gas, a German jet-propelled ME 262 lowers its wheels and prepares to land, with a U.S. 8th AF Republic P-47 Thunderbolt still hot on the jet plane's tail. Unable to make the airdrome, the German crash-landed in a nearby field. The action took

The North American B-25 'My Buddy' Of The 77Th Bomb Squadron, 28Th Bomb Group, Flew Over Water Southeast Of Attu, Aleutian Islands, In Search Of Enemy Submarines. September 1943.

Now a lame duck after being hit by gunfire from the plane of Lt. Leroy W. Ista, Walcott, N.D. U.S. Army 8th Air Force, this ME-109 plunges earthward, leaving a trail of smoke as a memento of the lost battle. Plane was a P-47 (Ista's).

Paratroop Invasion Of Southern France At H-4, D-Day, 15 August 1944.

First Tactical Air Force Martin B-26 Marauders of the oldest medium bombardment group in the AAF wing over the Siegfried line northeast of Wissembourg while below them smoke rises from artillery shells fired by the army to mark the enemy defenses.

THEY STOLE THE SHOW was the tribute paid to the Martin B-26 Marauders by Lt. Gen. Ira C. Ecker, Commanding General of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, for the part the Martin B-26 played in the 15 March 44 bombardment of Cassino. But

Fifty-four Boeing B-17's flying ofrtresses took part in mission against Villacoublay airdrome (near Paris), August, 1943, which lasted four hours. They were escorted by Republic P-47 planes. Pictures show formations above clouds,

8Th Or 9Th Af B-17 Flying Forts Heading For Rail Targets At Fulda, Germany On 9 Feb 1945.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War A pilot in a dinghy waves a flag to an Air Sea Rescue Supermarine Walrus amphibious aircraft circling overhead during a training exercise.

Against the morning sun a medium bomber takes off for sub hunt.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th AAF fly over the Le Pouzin oil storage facilities in Southeastern France as heavy bombers smashed again at the Hun's dwindling oil supply on Aug 6, 1944. Hits were scored on the rail station, Warehouses and

UMNAK, THE ALEUTIANS-Lt. Robert Renkert of Kent, Ohio, navigator of the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron radioed "Flames are shooting. . Smoke is ascending more that 15,000 feet. . Flying very difficult," as he flew over M. Tulik, an Aleutian

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S. 8th Air Force drop their holiday greetings from open bomb-bay doors, high over Germany on 24 Dec 44. This was part of the record force which attacked Nazi targets.

Boeing B-17, One In A Formation Of 'Flying Fortresses' Of The 452Nd Bomb Group Enroute To Blast A Vital Target In Nazi-Occupied France As Part Of A Plan To Pulverize All Vitally Important War Objectives. Nazi Airfield At Bordeaux, France, Was The Target

A flight of 11th Air force Liberators approach Paramushiru Island, heavily bombed Japaneseanese North Pacific Island garrison. One of the first targets seen by the approaching bombers is the Suribachi Bay airdrome, on the coastline in the center

Mission #2-St. Omer-ofrt Rouge, France-Flak bursting around B-26's (Martin) over France.

One of the many B-26 Martin Marauders of the Ninth Air force is shown over the coast of France during the early morning giving a cover to the landing craft shown on the sandy beaches below. These hard hitting medium bombers with their fighter escort

Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters are hard hitting ships. One day they escort Heavy bombers and the next day they go out to strafe and shoot up enemy positions in devastating low level attacks.

Formation Of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, Of The 381St Bomb Group, En Route To Bomb Enemy Installations Somewhere In Europe.

United States Air Force B-29 Superfortresses, operating with United Nations forces in Korea, are shown flying in formation, en route to bomb North Korean and Chinese communist military targets. January 1, 1951. (Photo by United States Information Service).

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Short S.29 Stirling. Stirling Mark I, W7530 HA-Q, of No. 218 Squadron RAF based at Marham, Norfolk, in flight.

Airlines 899E - Halifax Bombers. February 14, 1942. (Photo by London News Agency Photos).

The 885Th Bomb Squadron (H) Special Of The 15Th Air Force Has Been Engaged In Supplying Arms, Ammunition And Food To The Partisan Forces Of Italy, Yugoslavia And Pre-Invasion France. At The Present Time These Activities Are Being Exerted Mainly In Northe

Europe - Smoke Markers Have Been Photographed From Almost Every Angle And Their Fantastic Plumes Often Add A Glamorous Touch To Bombing Pictures. This Photo, Of An 8Th Af Boeing B-17, Is First Good One Showing Markers Just Leaving An Airplane.

This remarkable picture was taken during an attack on Ploesti by the heavy bombers of the 15th AAF. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator lost part of its wing in a most unusual way. Another plane in the formation flying a little above and in front was hit

Formation Of Douglas A-20S Attached To The 410Th Bomb Group, Enroute To A Mission Over Enemy Territory In Europe.

Formation Of Boeing B-29 "Superfortresses"', Based On Guam, Marianas Islands. May 1945.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S. 8th Air Force leave their trail high in the skies over Germany as the snow-like vapor streams behind them, during a recent mission to Hitler's domain. 95th Bomb Group.

C-54 dropping candy during Berlin Airlift, circa 1949. A U.S. Air Force Douglas C-54 Skymaster making a "Little Vittles" candy drop (note the parachutes below the tail of the C-54) on approach to a Berlin airfield. Aircrews dropped candy to children during the Berlin Airlift.

Aircraft, Burma, India & Bombing,

A Boeing B-17 Fort 'Wolverine' Part Of The 381St Bomb Group Formation Wings Its Way Toward The Target Of The Day - An Enemy Installtion In Europe.

North American B-25 Mitchell Bombers Of The Tactical Bomber Air Force Leaving The Target After Dropping Their Bombs On Enemy Gun Positions On The 5Th Army Front Near Cassino. Bombs Can Be Seen Exploding In The Distance.

Bombing Of Graz-Neudorf, Austria By Consolidated B-24 Liberators Of The 15Th Air Force On 16 Oct. 1944. Here One Of The Liberators Is Seen Over The Smoking Target.

Amiens-Glissy, France, smashed 14 May 1944.

From Their Base Somewhere In France, These Curtiss C-46S Of Major General Paul L. Williams' Us Troop Carrier Forces Loaded With Paratroopers Take Off On What Proved To Be The Greatest Airborne Assault Of The War.

Contrails from Boeing B-17 "Flying ofrtresses".

A British Horsa glider is towed by a Douglas C-47, attached to the 101st Airborne Division, during maneuvers at Berks, England on 6 January 1944.

AN air-to-air right side view of a B-57 Canberra aircraft heading for a strike mission, ending the two-month tour of the 13th Tactical Bombardment Squadron in Vietnam from Clark Air Base, Philippines. The maintenance crew of the 13th Tactical Bombardment Squadron recently established a unit maintenance record of 12,000 combat missions flown without a single ground cancellation. Base: PHAN Rang Air Base Country: Viet Nam (VNM)

Aircraft, Burma, India &Troops & PARATroops,MEIKTILA War

An A6-A Intruder aircraft of Marine All Weather Attack Squadron-533 fulfilling an order for the 7th Marines. The aircraft conducted a radar-controlled bombing mission on December 15, 1967, after members of the regiment spotted a group of Viet Cong in a tree line and reported their location to the forward air controller. Defense Department photo.

Boeing B-17 flying above clouds toward target.

Parachutists Making Contact With A Douglas C-47, Overhead, From The Wrecked C-47 Which Crashed In Cathedral Valley, Alaska.

12/31/1936. The Chates of the Republic Fly over Madrid at Low Altitude, Exercising Surveillance Service over the Capital.

Formations Of Douglas A-26S Attached To The 386Th Bomb Group Enroute To Bomb Enemy Installations Somewhere In Germany On 20 April 1945.

Boeing B-17 Flying ofrtresses lumber over North American P-51 Mustang base in England, past the nose of an 8th Fighter Command fighter plane which has just returned from escorting another formation of heavies blasting at the front line area in

Bombing Of The Herman Goering Steel Works At Linz, Austria, By Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" Of The 15Th Air Force. 451St Bomb Group

North American P-51 Mustang Lands On Airfield In England. 2 Mar. 1945.

Hurricane Hunters (Sixth of Nine). Florida's coastline fades away as two hurricane-hunting privateers heal southward toward the breeding ground on the tropical blows in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. The busy season will really get going in August, September and October. June 24, 1949. (Photo by ACME Roto Service).

From The Altitude This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 381St Bomb Group Is Flying, The Countryside Resembles A Patchwork Quilt. Europe

14,000 FEET UP, BOMBERS HIT 10-ofOT TARGET--Liberator bomber of the U.S. Army 14th Air force. To right, in distance, can be seen the "Old Yellow River Bridge", connecting Chenghsien and Sinsiang for the Pin Han railroad. 9,620 feet long

DF-SN-87-03876. Subject Operation/Series: HOG STAMPEDE Country: Unknown

Bombing of Japanese shipping in Hong Kong Harbor, China, by North American B-25's.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Return by tapanoeli, taroetoeng, sibolga, padang, sidempoean. Drubs of stocks per parachute. December 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Sumatra

B-24 bombers of the U.S. Army 9th Air Force at their base somewhere in Libya in 19430101, World War Two

Operation Linebacker II was a US Seventh Air Force and US Navy Task Force 77 aerial bombing campaign, conducted against targets in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) during the final period of US involvement in the Vietnam War. The operation was conducted from 18-29 December 1972, leading to several informal names such as 'The December Raids' and 'The Christmas Bombings'. It saw the largest heavy bomber strikes launched by the US Air Force since the end of World War II. Linebacker II was a resumption of the Operation Linebacker bombings conducted from May to October, with the emphasis of the new campaign shifted to attacks by B-52 Stratofortress bombers rather than tactical fighter aircraft. 1,600 civilians died in Hanoi and Haiphong in the raids. During operation Linebacker II a total of 741 B-52 sorties were dispatched to bomb North Vietnam. 15,237 tons of ordnance were dropped on 18 industrial and 14 military targets (including eight SAM sites) while fighter-bombers

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Aerial photos Djokja. Recording from plane. North American P-51 Mustang above cloud cover. July 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. An Avro Lancaster (bottom left) and a Handley Page Halifax (top right) fly over Essen, Germany, during a major daylight attack by 771 aircraft which inflicted heavy damage on buildings and the city's remaining industries. The Lancaster is flying over the Krupps steelworks from which clouds of smoke from exploding bombs is rising into the air.

A North American B-25 Bomber Of The 5Th Af Bomber Command Swoops Over An Oil Refinery On The Coast Of Koyagi Shima Off The Mainland Of Japan. The Mitchells Left The Refinery A Total Wreck. Note This Bomber Still Has Its Bomb Bay Doors Open And Fires Are

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 91St Bomb Group, 8Th Af, Headed Toward Frankfut, Germany, Fly High Above Heavy Cloud Banks At 25,200 Feet Altitude. 29 January 1944.

Japan Sea Splash -- A plume of spray rises in the air from forward of the bow of Boxer as Ltjg Droege's F4U cartwheels and Plunges in the sea. Already, Boxer has altered course to avoid plunging into the plane. About 20 seconds have elapsed in this photo since Droego's Plane first got in trouble. All eyes strain forward as the crucial second is reached which will decide whether Lt. Droege will survive or not. May 19, 1951. (Photo by Official US Navy Photograph)

Boeing B-17. Boeing B-17. Front top gun turret, the gunner in the lead plane flying on a mission, watches the other two planes in his formation as they roar along behind him and keeps a wary eye out for planes diving in to attack..

U.S. Air Force Republic F-105D Thunderchiefs receive fuel from a Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker on their way to targets in North Vietnam, December 1965

DN-SN-88-04012. Country: Unknown

Ground-to-air view of four aircraft flying in formation during Test and Evaluation Squadron Five (VX-5) airshow. The aircraft over Armitage Field, are (from left to right, clockwise) an A-7E Corsair II, an A-4M Skyhawk, and A-6E Intruder and an AV-8C Harrier.

No. 151 Wing Royal Air Force Operations in Russia, September-november 1941 Hawker Hurricane Mark IIBs of No. 81 Squadron RAF returning to Vaenga after escorting Soviet bombers.

CLOSEUP OF A FLAK TOWER-Disreagarding the hazards involved, a U.S. 8th AAF fighter plane (Republic P-47) can be seen here swooping in on a flak tower on a German airdrome in occupied France recently. This picture taken from the motion picture

Dense Smoke Covers A Good Portion Of An American Beaufighter Base In Italy, After One Of The Night Fighters Crash Landed And Caught Fire. The Pilot And Observer Crawled Out Unhurt. A Beaufighter Crew And Their Plane Are In The Foreground.

Communist China's Forces -- The Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army flies overhead as infantry parades in Russian-type steelhelmets. December 10, 1952. (Photo by Camera Press).

A squadron of planes flying above the clouds

Italian bombers illuminated in the night sky just after takeoff, World War II, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year LXVIII, No 23, June 8, 1941.

Silhouette of Boeing B-17s during raid on factory at Brussels, 15 Aug. 1943.

Detachment 101, an enigmatic Allied intelligence and special operations unit during World War II, played a pivotal role in the Burmese theater. Operating deep in the jungles of Burma, their mission was multi-faceted, encompassing guerrilla warfare, espionage, and sabotage against Japanese forces. Comprising a diverse group of individuals, from OSS agents to indigenous fighters, they effectively disrupted Japanese supply lines, gathered critical intelligence, and supported resistance movements.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Inspectorate General H.J. Curls by Indonesia. Arrival Batavia accompanied by an escort of three Mustangs of military aviation lands the plane of General Curls at Kemajoran Airport. May 1, 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Flying Fortress Over Bougainville Volcano:A U.S. Army Air Forces Flying Fortress flies over a volcano and crater lake on Bougainville Island as it heads for Shortland Harbor to attack Japanese ships in the Solomons area. December 11, 1942. (Photo by U.S. Office of War Information Picture).

Detachment 101, an enigmatic Allied intelligence and special operations unit during World War II, played a pivotal role in the Burmese theater. Operating deep in the jungles of Burma, their mission was multi-faceted, encompassing guerrilla warfare, espionage, and sabotage against Japanese forces. Comprising a diverse group of individuals, from OSS agents to indigenous fighters, they effectively disrupted Japanese supply lines, gathered critical intelligence, and supported resistance movements.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Landing exercises I Infantry Brigade 7 December Division in Tjilinting. Blurry photo of the grounds, plane. May 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Formation of Douglas Dakota Mark IIIs of No. 267 Squadron RAF based at Bari, Italy, flying along the Balkan coast.

Invasion Preparation Fills Sky With Paratroopers -- The sky over this unidentified base somewhere in England is filled with paratroopers and parachutes carrying their supplies during pre-invasion maneuvers. More than 1500 men took part in the test, said by the army to be probably the largest mass exhibition jump ever conducted by its forces. The planes (top) which carried the paratroopers are C-47s. June 26, 1944. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Lockheed P2V-7B, P-2H & SP-2H Neptune Maritime patrol yields (1961-1982) in formation.

A left side view of a Soviet SAN-1 missile in fight. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Curtiss C-46 Commandos Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Hold Their Formation As They Pass Over An Air Base Somewhere In France. 21 March 1945.

Invasion drawing by Capt. Creekmore.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Aerial photos Djokja. Recording from plane. Cloud cover. July 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Detachment 101, an enigmatic Allied intelligence and special operations unit during World War II, played a pivotal role in the Burmese theater. Operating deep in the jungles of Burma, their mission was multi-faceted, encompassing guerrilla warfare, espionage, and sabotage against Japanese forces. Comprising a diverse group of individuals, from OSS agents to indigenous fighters, they effectively disrupted Japanese supply lines, gathered critical intelligence, and supported resistance movements.

DN-SN-87-09883. State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

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