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Aerial Bombing Missions

Historic aerial photographs capturing the aftermath of bombing raids on industrial targets and towns in Europe during World War II.

Bombs Burst On The Ammunition Factory At Ingolstadt, Germany During A Mission By Planes Of The 320Th Bomb Group, 443Rd Bombardment Squadron, April 25 1945.

Atomic Bomb Damage In Nagasaki, Japan.

Gutted by fire and bombs is this factory at Gaeta, on the West Coast of Italy, attacked by members of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.

A Night Aerial Photo Take On D-Day During The Invasion Of France Shows An Important Railway Junction. The Flash Was Made By An Electric Bulb Called The 'D-2' Developed By Engineers Of Air Technical Service Command Engineers In Cooperation With General El

Bombing of the Politz Hydrierwerke Synthetic oil plant.

Leaning Tower of Pisa leaned no further on Christmas day when 60 Martin B-26's delivered this 97-ton present 8,200 feet.

Like a group of falling matchtes, these frag bombs drop toward the Malacky airdrome, Czechoslovakia, as Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers of the 15th Air Force attacked it on Sept. 20, 1944.

Aerial View Of A Bomb Damaged Airfield At Kitzingen, Germany. 16 May 1945.

As the bombers turn for home, the Aiming Point on Udine Airdrome is covered with bomb-burst smoke, billowing up thousands of feet high.

Aerial view of the town of Dixmude, regained by Belgian and English troops, Flanders, Belgium, World War I, from l'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XLV, No 40, October 6, 1918.

By deliberately hitting the hillside just above the road, B-24 Liberators of the U.S. Army 15th Air Force are here causing landslides which will block the shore highway at Terracina, Italy. This action supports the Allied Landings south of Rome by

Jesselton airdrome in North Borneo under attack on 17 Dec. 1944. Elements of the Fightin' 13th AAF "Long Ranger" Consolidated B-24 Liberator formation concentrated on revetments, shops and warehouses near the strip. One twin engine bomber was

Bombs dropped by 8th AF erupt on road junction and rail bridge at Morscheid, southeast of Trier, Germany, 25 Dec. 1944.

Like giant funeral pyres, hangars & planes send up columns of smoke. Consolidated B-24's unloaded bombs on Sedes Field. At least 14 aircraft were destroyed on the ground & a fuel dump was set on fire. The bomb fall plot (right) shows a heavy

Bombing Of Enemy Marshalling Yards At Bernburg, Germany, On 11 May 1944. 2Nd Bomb Division, 8Th Air force.

Aircraft, Burma, India & Bombing,

Bombs Burst On The German Gothic Line In Northern Italy During An Attack By Martin B-26 Marauders Of The 12Th Air Force.

Tokyo Palace Area - Night Raid - 26 May 1945.

Bombs burst on the aircraft factory at Brasov, Rumania as planes of the 15th Air Force's 97th Bombardment Group, 341st Bombardment Squadron carry out a bombing mission on May 6, 1944.

Aerial View Of German Prison Of War Camp Stalag 7A Near Moosburg, Bavaria, Germany, Where Thousands Of Us Af Prisoners Of War Were Imprisoned Along With Thousands Of Allied Prisoners Of Various Nationalities. Most Af Prisoners Arrived Here From Stalag Lu

Bomb Damage In Otaka, Japan.

An aerial view of a RAF reconnaissance plane from Vlissingen and surroundings taken on July 3, 1941.

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. Vertical aerial photograph taken during a daylight attack on German warships docked at Brest, France. Two Handley Page Halifaxes of No. 35 Squadron RAF (upper right) fly over the naval dockyard, towards the dry docks in which the battlecruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU are berthed (top right), and over which a smoke screen is rapidly spreading. At middle right, a stick of bombs can be seen to have exploded inland from their intended target, PRINZ EUGEN, moored by the quayside. 47 aircraft from Nos. 3, 4 and 5 Groups took part in the operation, claiming accurate bombing on their targets for the loss of 6 aircraft.

The Sumitomo Light Metale Industry Plant At Osaka Is Seen At The Height Of A B-29 Attack Of 24 July 1945 Which Destroyed 95%% Of The Buildings. One B-29 Was Lost And 40 Damaged As A Result Of Heavy And Intense Flak. The Terrific Blast Effect Of The Two-T

Area Near Hingham, MA ,. Photographs of the First Naval District

RAILROAD DEVASTATION IN HUNGARY-These are the Hatvan marshalling yards in Hungary as heavy bombers of Major General Nathan F. Twining's U.S. Army 15th Air force found them. Note the two puffs of smoke near center of train group.

Maritza Aerodrome was attacked on 11/13 Sept. 1943, by R.A.F. Beau fighters with cannon and bombs and on 12th. Sept. 1943., by B-24's of U.S.A.A.F. dropping 500lbs. bombs. This photograph shows bombs bursting on the landing area, during the US.A.A.F. attack of the 12th. Sept. 1943, several being direct hits on the runway. The aerodrome was rendered completely unserviceable, the hanger on the Northern boundary was further damaged, while direct hits were scored on at least 2 aircraft shelters, on taxi tracks and dispersal days. December 26, 1943. (Photo by U.S. Official Photograph).

Marshalling yards at Siena, Italy, important rail junction point in the Florence-Rome railroad network, is the target of B-26 Marauders of the 12th AAF. Bomb bursts in the yards are clearly shown as they destroy trackage, railroad station, warehouses

ANGERS RAIL JUNCTION ATTACKED--At Angers in Northern France, U.S. 8th Air Force heavy bombers dropped large concetrations on a key rail junction 8 June 44. Bombs may be seen bursting on rail installations and choke point there.

BEACHHEAD LANDINGS-Men and assault vehicles storm the beaches of Normandy as allied landing craft make a dent in Germany's west wall on 6 June 1944. As wave after wave of landing craft unload their cargo, men move forward and vehicles surge

PARALLEL PATTERN--High explosive and fragmentation bombs bracket the landing strip at the German airdrome at Le Mans, France, 8 June 44 as Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the U.S. 8th AAF dropped heavy concentrations there.

Atomic Bomb Damage In Nagasaki, Japan.

Allied Aircraft Wreck Seine Bridges. The wrecked highway bridge across the Seine at Mantes/Gassicourt North-West of Paris which was attacked by A.E.A.F.A. aircraft recently. By smashing road and railway bridges over the River Seine, the A.E.A.F.A. hindered the movements of German reinforcements for the invasion area. June 8, 1944. (Photo by British Official Photo).

Mitchell bombers of the Tactical Bomber Force helped to pave the way for the

As Smoke Markers Linger In The Air, The Bombs Which They Have Guided Strike The Rail Marshalling Yards At Darmstadt, Germany During A Mission By Planes Of The 96Th Bombardment Group, 8Th Air Force, 12 Dec. 1944.

The Freight Jammed Railroad Yard At Marburg, Germany, Before Martin B-26 Marauders Attacked The Important Rail Artery Feb. 22 1945.

Boom Depot At Cherbourg, France. Annotations Are: 1. Two Anti-Torpedo Nets Laid Out On The Ground. These Nets Are Steel Mesh, And Some 50 Feet In Depth, And Supported By Floats At Intervals Of Six Feet, And By Buoys At Intervals Of 200 To 400 Feet. 2.

As more bombs go down, the intensity of the attack on the hangars and administration area of the Udine Airdrome builds up.

Photo taken by the American Central Intelligence Agency in 1962 showing missile positions in Cuba

Before -- Pre-Strike Photo Of The Kawaskai Aircraft Company, Akashi, Japan.

Bomb Damage Inflicted To Enemy Installations At Zeebrugge, Belgium. July 1943.

Destruction In Hiroshima, Japan After Dropping Of The First Atomic Bomb, August 6, 1945.

This Section Of Osaka, Japan Was Levelled By Fire-Bomb Attacks By Superfortresses In A Long Series Of Heavy Raids During The Months That Preceded Japan's Capitulation.

Aerial View Of Frankfurt, Germany Taken 2 March 1944 By Photo Section, 91St Bomb Group, 8Th Af. Altitude 20,000 Feet.

Kawasaki, Japan, Immediately South Of Tokyo, On 22 April 1945.

Top two, and other trucks (center) are damaged by A-20 during the big push toward Rome, Italy.

Lead bombardier. Lt. J. McCraw gets bullseye. Other bombardiers ofllowed.

MESSERSCHMITT FACTORY SMASHED-Fortresses of Eighth Air Force again bombed out of production the huge Messerschmitt ME 109 fighter assembly plant at Regensburg/Prufening on 25 February just as the Germans had begun to get it into full operation

Strike Photo Of B-29 Raid On Osaka Urban Area, Japan, June 1, 1945.

Bombing of Rabaul New Britain.

Bombs burst on the Dravograd railroad bridge, Yugoslavia during a mission by planes of the 450th Bomb Group, 723rd Bomb Squadron on 5 April 1945.

Piombino, Italian port of Ligurian Sea, 105 miles N.W. of Rome, is only one of the Italian coastal cities to feel the weight of bombs from planes of the U.S. Army Air Forces. The coastal railroad, used by the Nazis to transport supplies from the area

Bomb Damage To Bucine Viaduct, Italy, After An Attack By Planes Of The 15Th Air Force.

Bombs Dropped By Planes Of The 2Nd Bomb Group, 429Th Bomb Squadron, 15Th Air Force, Fall Toward The Marshalling Yards At Foggia, Italy, Which Is Already Suffering From Bomb Bursts During The Raid On 19 August 1943.

A Mess Of Bombs Drop Toward The Shell Koolaz And Fanto Oil Refineries, Near Budapest. These Vital Refineries Were Completely Neutralized By The 15Th Air Force In A Fierce Attack On June 14Th, 1944.

Bombs Fall Toward Installations At The Port Of Genoa, Italy As Planes Of The 455Th Bomb Group, 741St Bomb Squadron, 15Th Air Force Carry Out A Bombing Mission On May 28 1944.

Bombing Attack On Enemy Installations In Northern Italy By North American B-25S Of The 12Th Air Force. Two Mitchells Leave The Scene Of Destruction.

Aerial view of completed Mar Strip near Cape Sansapor on the Dutch New Guinea Mainland. Note the revetments and stagger of North American B-25 bombers of the 42nd Bomb Group. At this time fighter defense as well as ground units were making the

Bastille Day Attack By U.S. Fortresses On Focke-Wulf Repair Factory In France. The German aircraft factory of Liore Et Olivier at Villacoubray in France, blanketed by smoke as bombs dropped by U.S. 8th Air Force Fortresses find their mark. Action picture made at the height of a Bastille day attack 14.7.43, on the major repair factory for the Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf 190 fighters. July 15, 1943. (Photo by Fox Photos).

Aerial View of Naval Air Station, Squantum, Massachusetts. 1939 - 1947.

Huge Cloud Of Black Smoke Pours From The Singapore Floating Deck And Vessel In It After Being Hit By 1,000 Pound Bombs Dropped By B-29 Superfortresses.

Aircraft, Burma, India & Bombing,

R.A.F. Pictures Confirm Widespread Damage By Grenoble Patriot Saboteurs -- The Parc d'Artillerie at Grenoble with only a few walls left standing after the slowing up of enemy powder and munitions by French patriots on the night of November 13/14, 1943. "Towards the close of last year, without a doubt, Grenoble won the first place in French resistance", said E. Emmanuel d'Astier de la Vigerie, Minister of the Interior in the French Committee for National Liberation, speaking to the Consultative Assembly in Algeria on 2.3.44. He told how Grenoble's patrist saboteurs blew up 30 tons of powder and 300 tons of enemy ammunition in the Artillery Park on the night of November 13, 1943. March 28, 1944. (Photo by Topical Press).

Bombing Of Campo Di Marte Marshalling Yards, Florence, Italy, By Martin B-26 Marauders Of The 12Th Air Force.

The Incendiary Assault On Tokyo, Japan Has Been Carried Out Almost 100%% By Night At Medium Altitude. Here Tokyo Burns On The Night Of 26 May 1945 During The Most Productive And Costly Of All 20Th Af Fire Missions. For 18.90 Square Miles Of Rubble, Our L

Bomb Damage To A Factory On The Outskirts Of Ludwigshafen, Germany. Damage Was Caused By 9Th Af Bombers.

Bombs Burst On Weilheim Marshalling Yards, Germany During A Bomb Raid By 14Th Fighter Group. Note - Lockheed P-38 Lightning In Photo. 19 April 1945.

Blasting The Way For Italian Invasion -- That was the job of the 12th Air Force--softening up German defense in the Salerno sector so the fifth Army could land. And this is the way it was done. Bombs pitched by Martin Marauders Rip at the Railroad yards,shore installations and buildings along the water front at Salerno. The Marauders, with their must escorts shot down 28 German Fighters, mostly me 109's on this foray. September 21, 1943. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Capitol bombs from Flying Fortresses of the Northwest African Air Forces battered the Italian transportation centers (Northwest African Air Forces Photo)

Nazi held Greek Airfield raided. Administrations buildings, hangars, and Revetments are covered by bomb bursts during the raid on the Eleusis Airfield, twenty two kilometers north of Athens, Greece by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the United States Air Force

U.S. Military Cemetery at Hadjeb El-Aioun, Tunisia, near the city of Tunis.

Japanesean. Pw Camps Are Plainly Labelled For 20Th Air Force Superforts Searching To Drop Parcels Of Food And Clothing. (Camp Unidentified.)

The Completed Runway Of Machinato Airfield Located On The Southwest Part Of Okinawa Just North Of Naha City. 7Th Air Force Planes Are Parked On The Hardstands And Are Receiving A Check Up After Returning From A Bomb Run Over Kyushu. Work Was Still Going

Bomb Damage In The Marshalling Yards At Mainz, Germany.

Damage being done on Littoria Marshalling Yards- (A)-Bombs on or near hump. .. The vital neck in the yards. (B)-More bursts on hangars and administration buildings.

Bombing of Hollandia-Strike 31 March 44.

'Fleury-devant-Douamont: La reprise du village; Fleury-devant-Douaumont a la date du 25 mars 1916.', 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVII. La Guerre Juillet, Aout, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Decembre 1916".

U.S. Fortresses found Axis Airfield At Hilo, Sicily -- Bombs from a force of B17 Flying Fortresses of the Northwest African Air forces blanket the Milo aerodrome in Sicily in a highly successful raid of April 5th. There were 70 to 80 enemy planes, the majority Ju. 52's on the airdrome. 30 of them received direct hits and many others were damaged. A large hangar and other buildings on the fields were also hit. August 09, 1943. (Photo by U.S. Official Photograph).

Bombing of marshalling yards at Prenestina, Italy, by Martin B-26 Marauders of the 12th Air Force, on 14 March 1944.

Aerial View Of Bolo Airstrip Under Construction By 72Nd, 78Th, 82Nd And 87Th Naval Construction Battalions. Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto. 30 June 1945.

Japaneses were singed by fire of 14th Air force when they ducked Admiral Nimitz' Naval frying pan. Hong Kong harbor would have been safe refuge, but Japanese land forces failed to knock out 14th's East China bases. Kowloon docks (center) were sprayed

Excellent bombing marked the first strike by 13 AAF North American B-25s at Japanese bases in the Netherland East Indies. Namlea airdrome on Boeroe Island was the target 16 Sep 44. 24 North American B-25s dropped 28 tons of bombs, leaving the runway

Bombing Attacks On The Celle Marshalling Yards In Germany By 9Th Air Force Bombers, 8 April 1945.

R.A.F. Blasts Nazi Invasion Port -- This aerial view, according to British censor - approved caption, shows the port of Dunkirk shortly after the evacuation by British and French forces. Note loading cranes (A), Dock Buildings (B), Warehouses (C) and empty slips (D). October 01, 1940. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Kiska Island, Aleutians, August 10, 1942.

ON THE RIGHT BEARINGS-These...

Area Near Hingham, MA ,. Photographs of the First Naval District

Area Near Hingham, MA ,. Photographs of the First Naval District

DD-ST-88-09453. Country: U.S.S.R. (SUN)

12/31/1937. Castellón Shelters, bombing on Castellón.

The Italian heavy cruiser Gorizia was severely damaged when planes of the 342nd Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force attacked as it lay at anchor at the Naval Base of La Maddalena on the northern coast of Sardinia on 10 April 1943.

Striking at the Axis "spinal cord" supply route to Sicily and North Africa, Liberator bombers of the Ninth U.S. Air Force concentrated some of their fiercest raids during the month of March on the sythe shaped port of Messina. In the photo (below)

Liberation of Europe. Allied Bombers Attack Pas De Calais Target This picture is one of a series showing the results of Allied air-attacks on a large constructional works in the Pas De Calais area similar to the large site recently captured in the Cherbourg Peninsular. The target consisted of a large concrete structure and a number of ancillary buildings probably associated with it. These and other similar sites have been attacked form time to time by aircraft of R.A.F. Bomber Command and U.S.

Aerial recording of the led weapon group (GGW) on the base de Peel. CD-108 /

This picture which was made from a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" shows bombs falling on the Monserrato Airfield, near Cagliari, in Sardinia. Recent raids by the Boeing B-17's have caused considerable damage to German and Italian planes and equipment

Bridge-busting is like gambling-luck won't win without skill, but neither will skill win without some luck. Bombers of First Tactical Air Force went after the rail bridge at Guilianova on 24 March 44; the photo reconnaissance picture shows how the

U.S. Fliers Bomb German Air Base -- Smoke billows up from burning buildings at Orly airfield, former French dirigible center near Paris, the U.S. Eighth Air Force smashes German installations there. The field, converted into an operations base and storage depot by the Germans, is pock-marked by bomb craters left by Allied fliers during this and other raids United Nations airpower is now so dominant that their bomber force ranging across Europe almost at will, meet only minor opposition from the

Bombing At Anklam Germany 10-9-43.

An Excellent Concentration Of Bombs Cluster On The Pontecurone Rail Bridge In North Italy, As A Mediterranean Based Martin B-26 Marauder Of The Tactical Air Force Flies Over Its Target. This Is Just One Of The Many Bridge Targets The Marauders Have Been K

Boeing B-17 after raiding Messina.

Area Near Hingham, MA ,. Photographs of the First Naval District

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