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Aircraft Maintenance in War Zones

Images depict military aircraft maintenance activities, showing crews working on fighter-bombers. The mood is industrious, with depictions of machinery, tools, and personnel in military settings.

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,ARMAMENT War

On dust-covered Sicilian airfield, Troop Carrier planes load for airborne mission.

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Coastal Command Beaufort I W6537/OA-F of No 22 Squadron starting up at St Eval, December 1941. The accumulator trolley in the foreground supplied the necessary electrical power to the aircraft and was disconnected once the engines were running. Unlike other Beaufort squadrons, No 22 fitted a Vickers 'K' gun in the nose compartment of its aircraft, to be used for flak-suppression during low-level attacks.

German Military Aircraft 1939-1945 An abandoned Henschel Hs 126B reconnaissance aircraft on an Austrian airfield in June 1945. The Hs was commonly used as an artillery observation aircraft early on in the war but by 1942 had been relegated to training and glider towing duties. In the background of this photograph are an Arado Ar 96 trainer in Hungarian markings and a Siebel Si 204 liaison aircraft.

A U.S. Eighth AAF Fighter Station--Careful boys, cautions 1st Lt. Herbert K. Fields, pilot of a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. That's the first bomb ever to be loaded under an American Fighter plane flying from England, and Sgt. Carl E. Trabin, Phila

Royal Air Force- Air Defence of Great Britain (adgb), 1943-1944. Belgian ground crew refuelling Supermarine Spitfire Mark XIVE, RM764 'MN-M', of No. 350 (Belgian) Squadron RAF at Lympne, Kent.

Maintenance Men Prepare A Boeing B-17 For Another Mission. 2Nd Service Group, Meeks Field, Iceland, 23 April 1943.

Medics Removing Litter Patient From Vultee L-5 'Sentinel' As T/Sgt. Sylian H. Sharp, Pilot, From Duncan, Oklahoma, Looks On. Evacuation Cases Were Flown To Field No. 10, Okinwaw Ryukyu Retto.

Crew chief T/Sgt. Wilbur D. Renz, Cardington, Ohio (Highest on engine) and ground crew, are hanging a new engine on ofrtress. Engine was damaged by flak on mission over Germany, but plane will soon be ready for another trip. ENGLAND.

Service Personnel Of Lt. Colonel Leo C. Moon'S 404Th Fighter Bomber Group Of The 9Th Af, Accustomed To Working Under Handicaps At Advanced Airstrips Now Enjoy The Best Of Facilities Thanks To The Gmeran Retreat.

This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Was Damaged Beyond Repair When 500 Pound General Purpose Bombs Exploded While Being Loaded Into A Plane. 28 May 1943, England.

Hole made by AA shell fragments shown in plane called "SACK".

The picture shows a large bombers before the start.Two pilots are managing with the machine guns. The picture shows a large bombers before the start.Two pilots are dealing with the machine guns.

Despite an icy crust of snow blanketing the runways, North American P-51 Mustangs of a Fighter Group, commanded by Lt. Col. John P. Randolph of Schertz, Texas, carried on to escort U.S. bombers blasting at Rundstedt's supply lines on the

Bomb Loading -- The Bomb Loading Cannot Begin Until It Is Known What Target Is To Be Hit As The Bombs Vary In Size And Type, Depending On What The Mission Is. Often When Missions Are Scheduled For Dawn The Bombs Have To Be Loaded Late At Night And These

Radar - Indentification, Friend Or Foe - Antennae Protrude From Each Side Of This Consolidated B-24 'Liberator' Of The 63Rd Bomb Squadron, 43Rd Bomb Group, Based On Luzon, Philippine Islands. The Small Vents Protruding On The Left Side Under The Radar An

This twin-engine Japanese fighter plane of the "Nick" class was found wrecked on Palawan when the U.S. troops invaded the island. Technicians of the 13th AAF service squadron made it fit to fly by salvaging parts from other aircraft damaged by the

Crashed Jap Transport - U.S. Airman inspects crashed Jap transport just off the coast of northern Leytel. It was suspected as the plane that dropped a suicide demolition party behind American lines. January 08, 1945. (Photo by USA Signal Corps).

Manpower is the tool used most commonly by members of an air force service squadron on the beachhead south of Rome. Shown lifting the tail of a plane under repair are (left to right) S/Sgt. Stan F. Jackson, 215 Stebbins Pl. Plainfield, N.J.; S/Sgt.

One Consolidated B-24 Liberator of the 15th AAF burned when spark ignited gas that was being pumped out of wing tanks. No other airplanes were damaged. FRANCE.

An Aerial Cameraman Climbs Into A Martin B-26 Of The 386Th Bomb Group Prior To The Plane'S Taking Off From Great Dunmow, Essex, England, For A Mission Over Europe. 7 May 1944.

While Flying As Part Of The 15Th Af Consolidated B-24 Liberator Formation That Attacked Targets At Ploesti, Rumania, This Liberator Was Hit By Flak, And Is Shown Here As It Belly Landed At Its Base In Southern Italy. 451St Bomb Group.

Mechanics Make Final Engine Tests On A Douglas A-20 At An Air Force Assembly Station At Filton, England. 18 April 1944.

The North American P-51 'Donna-Mite' Of The 352Nd Fighter Squadron, 353 Fighter Group, Lands At Its English Base After An Escort Mission Over Europe. February 1945.

DN-SN-89-04776. Base: Naval Air Station, Miramar State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Royal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. Leading Aircraftmen H Hindmarsh of Birtley, County Durham, and C Parrish of South Norwood, London, carry a 100-imperial gallon long-range fuel tank past De Havilland Mosquito PR Mark XXXIVs of No. 684 Squadron RAF Detachment, parked on bitumenised hard-standing at Brown's West Island, Cocos Islands

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.

First Army Photos Of The Bombing Of Hickam Field, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941. Wrecked Pursuit Plane At Bellows Field, T.H.

Capt. Everett G. King, Columbus, Ga., a 9th Air force Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter-Bomber pilot, who together with his twin brother, Edmund G., ofrm a powerful team in a 9th Fighter Group Commanded by Col. William S. Schwartz, Houston, Texas

Colonel Richards Seated In His Lockheed P-38 Lightning Of The 1St Fg In Italy.

Consolidated B-24L After Crash Landing Near Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk, England 6 February 1945. (A/C No. 44-49279).

Aircraft, Burma, India & Operations , Naga Headhunters War

The Battle of Britain A soldier peers into the cockpit of a downed Messerschmitt Bf 109E. This is probably Bf 109E-1 (W.Nr. 3576) 'Red 13' of 7./JG 54, flown by Uffz. Zimmermann, which crashed near Lydd in Kent on 27 October 1940.

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.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War A Fairey Swordfish of 824 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm with its wings folded going down the lift of HMS ACTIVITY, commanded by Captain Guy Willoughby RN. A second aircraft in charge of its crew is waiting beyond the lift. Note the extreme narrowness of the bridge from which the ship is controlled, on the right hand side of the flight deck.

When Lt. Arthur Montgomery, of Quinter, Kansas, was detailed to the anti-mosquito plane, he selected this insignia for his A-20. A veteran crop duster of Southern Cotton and bean fields. Lt. Montgomery was very much at home on this job. Corsica.

The German Retreat in Belgium, September 1944 A German Focke-Wulf FW 190A-8 fighter lies abandoned on an airfield liberated by British troops at Steen Okkerzeel, north east of Brussels, Belgium.

Royal Air Force- France, 1939-1940. An armourer loads a 4.5 inch reconnaissance flare into the wing cell of a Fairey Battle of No. 218 Squadron RAF at Auberives-sur-Suippes, prior to a sortie.

Aircraft, Burma, India & Training

General View Of The Dispersal Area Of The 340Th Bomb Group Showing Depth Of Ashes And Cinders That Fell During The Eruption Of Mt. Vesuvius On 23 March 1944. Ashes And Cinders Collected On The Tail Assembly Of The Two North American B-25S, Thus Raising T

Colonel Robert L. Scott gives the "On the Ball" sign before taking off from Kunming, China, for another strike against the Japaneses. He is a member of the Flying Tigers of the 14th Air force. 4 January 1943

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Fire crews cover an Avro Lancaster of Bomber Command with foam in an effort to save it from burning, at B58/Melsbroek, Belgium, following the attack on the airfield by Luftwaffe fighter-bombers, (Operation BODENPLATTE).

Anefo photo collection. Victims from concentration camp. April 20, 1946

Sleek North American P-51 "Mustangs" Parked Along The Number 2 Strip On Iwo Jima In The Bonin Islands. March 25, 1945.

Anefo photo collection. Military exercise "Hold Fast" in Germany. September 16, 1952. Germany

Here The Douglas C-47 Aircraft And Waco Cg-4 Glider Have Just Left The Ground, And The Trip Across The Burma Jungle Has Begun. All Personnel And Equipment Of A Jungle-Trained Anti-Aircraft Unit Were Landed By Gliders And Transports Of The 1St Air Com

Curtiss C-46 "Commando" Of Major General Paul L. Williams' Us Troop Carrier Forces Taking Part In What Proved To Be The Greatest Airborne Assault Of The War. Note The Parapack Of Supplies On Under Side Of The Fuselage To Be Dropped To The Men Below.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Departure air landing troops of Semarang. Douglas C-47 Dakota at the Kali Banteng airport from Semarang. December 19, 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUDA BAY, Greece (July 18, 2022) File photo from Dec. 23, 2013 by Peggy Bebb captioned, A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 Hercules air refueler is captured between the rotors of a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey during take-off from Naval Support Activity Souda Bay”. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., Allied, and Partner nation forces to be where they are needed when they are needed to preserve security and stability in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility.

Royal Air Force- 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945. A Supermarine Spitfire PR Mark XI of No. 400 Squadron RCAF taxies to the take-off point at B21/Ste-Honorine-de-Ducy, Normandy, for a photographic-reconnaissance sortie.

Sea Hurricanes On Board A British Aircraft Carrier -- Ranging a hurricane on the deck of a British Aircraft carrier. December 1, 1942. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

Gasoline that will take the plane to the target--ammunition that will strafe the fleeing Hun--bombs that will lay waste to his badly battered installations, all came into the airdrome in Southern France in a Consolidated B-24 Liberator of the 15th

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-52768) nicknamed 'Leo?' of the 493rd Bomb Group prepares for take off.

Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Hawker Hurricane Mark IIB, HL887 'AK-W', of No. 213 Squadron RAF, taxying at El Adem, Libya, before taking off to escort Lockheed Hudsons of the Mobile Operations Force of No. 216 Group RAF to a forward landing ground. To the right, Hudson Mark VI, EW947 'LD-N', of No. 117 Squadron RAF turns into wind for take off. Note the long-range fuel tanks under the Hurricane's wings.

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,WRECKS War

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.

Poll photo collection. War volunteers in Malacca and Indonesia. Transport in trucks from the soldiers arrived from Malacca to the airport to go from Batavia to Bandoeng. 1946. Batavia, Indonesia, Jakarta, Kemajoran, Dutch East Indies

A Lockheed P-38 "Lightning" Buzzes The 91St Bomb Group Base At Bassingbourne, England Before Coming In For A Landing. 14 September 1943.

Brig. Gen. Nathan F. Twining, Commanding General Of The 13Th Af And His Combat Flight Party Had Been Adrift In Life Rafts In The Coral Sea For Six Nights And Five Days After Their B-17 Plane Had Been Forced Down. Their Food Was Composed Of Chocolate Cand

Lockheed P-38s which were only partially assembled prior to their shipment to the airdrome at Maison Blanch, Algeria, are assembled by men of the 36th Air Depot Group. 31 March 1944.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The air gunner of a Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber at his position on the rear-facing .303 inch Vickers machine gun. This Fairey Swordfish was one from HMS ARK ROYAL.

Royal Air Force- Italy, the Balkans and South-east Europe, 1942-1945. Air Vice Marshal H Broadhurst, Air Officer Commanding the Desert Air Force, about to board his Fiesler Storch at the Advanced Headquarters of the DAF at Lucera, Italy. Broadhurst acquired the captured German communications aircraft in North Africa, had it painted in British markings and used it for touring the units under his command. He continued flying the Storch while commanding the 2nd Tactical Air Force in North-West Europe.

World War II, British spitfire planes during the Battle of Britain, 1940.

Vickers Wellington Mk III of No. 115 Squadron RAF, at Marham, Norfolk, June 1942. Wellington Mark III, X3662 KO-P, of No. 115 Squadron RAF, at Marham, Norfolk.

Royal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. Airmen fitting the fuselage of an Avro Anson Mark I to its wings at No. 1 (India) Maintenance Unit, Drigh Road, India.

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Bomber Command A student observer contemplates his 'office' in the nose of a Hampden before embarking on an early-morning flight at No 5 Air Observers School at Jurby on the Isle of Man, January 1942.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Action Regiment 3 Princess Irene Brigade / Colonel Servais Belgian military mission A / D Wijnkoopsbaai. At an airplane there are legal major Major Dürst Britt and links Lieutenant-Colonel Paulissen, commander of the W-Brigade. They are talking to a woman in uniform. October 29, 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Reopening of the Imperial War Museum, London, England, UK, 1946 A display at the newly-reopened Imperial War Museum relating to the air war. Featured in the display are an aircraft engine, a Spitfire and a rocket projector and rockets.

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,CREWS War

Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943; Royal Air Force, 230 Squadron CBM1944

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The Wright brothers aircraft at Farnborough being inspected by a group of soldiers.

Woerner Eugen (herr) Collection Captured British F. E. 2B. biplane; Lauwe, Ypres Area, January/July 1916.

French officers, Mineola

Sikorsky Yr-4 '.. Whirlaway' Helicopter Pilot Lt. Irvin C. Steiner, Assembles His Tools And Paints For Salvaging Instruments And Marking The Wings Of A Crashed Plane Near Myitkyina, Burma.

Results of Japanese night raid on Jackson Drome, Port Moresby. Tail assembly of "Aussie" Beaufighter.

Chinese refuel B-29 after an emergency landing at Liangsham, China. This plane had to be refueled by pouring gasoline from drums into five gallon cans and then poured directly into the tanks.

Reserve the torpedo bombs 28.6.18. .

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.

A rear view of a Lockheed P-38 warming up on an airfield in Corsica prior to a mission.

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Squadron Leader P H 'Paddy' Dunn, the Commanding Officer of No. 80 Squadron RAF, sitting in the cockpit of his Gloster Gladiator at Sidi Barrani, Egypt, a few days after leading 'B' and 'C' Flights in a major engagement with Italian fighters over Bir el Gobi, Libya, on 8 August 1940, in which they claimed nine Fiat CR.42s shot down for the loss of two Gladiators. Dunn himself was credited with two CR.42s shot down within a few minutes of the start of the fight.

Anefo photo collection. Marvo recordings for "All-Hens". February 20, 1948

The British Expeditionary Force (bef) in France 1939-1940 The Royal Air Force in France 1939 - 1940: A Fairey Battle fighter bomber at a forward airfield in France.

Lightnings await final tune-up at an Irish base of the 8th AF Service Command.

Anefo photo collection. unknown . The "Dirk U. Stikker Trophee" awarded by Sir Edmund Hudleston (left) to Lieutenant Colonel H. J. Vermeulen (right), Commander. April 27, 1964

A Cluster Of Fragmentation Bombs Under The Belly Of A Republic P-47 Of The 353Rd Fighter Group Somewhere In England.

Royal Air Force- France 1939-1940. Fairey Battles of No. 88 Squadron RAF being prepared for action on the snow-covered airfield at Mourmelon-le-Grand.

9th Air force maintenance men overhaul a Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter-bomber at an airfield in Belgium. Working around the clock, often in the rain and cold, the ground crewman keep serviceable the planes that are eliminating or neutralizing enemy

French officers army aviators, Mineola

North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang 44-15499 'Punkie II' pilot Robert V 'Vern' Blizzard 504th Fighter Squadron, 339th Fighter Group, 8th AF, Fowlmere.

1st Lt. Allan Guest, Eskimo Thunderbolt pilot from Seward, Alaska, brought his flaming Thunderbolt back when it caught on fire over the field. The Eskimo fighter-bomber pilot was imprisoned for 15 minutes in the cockpit of his plane after it ground

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Damaged Curtiss Kittyhawks under repair at a forward depot of the Advanced Salvage Unit in the Goubrine area of Tunisia. The wingless aircraft behind the set of wings is a Kittyhawk Mark I of No. 4 Squadron SAAF.

DF-SC-86-09076. Country: Unknown

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Curtiss Tomahawks of No. 3 Squadron RAAF, lined up at Rayak, Lebanon.

A Member Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Attaches One End Of A Glider Tow Line To A Douglas C-47 At An Air Base In England. The Gliders Loaded With Airborne Infantrymen Will Take Part In The Invasion Of France. 6 June 1944.

These determined gunners are the backbone of the Air forces bombing missions.

The picture shows an English airfield with German hunting flap.Original text: German hunting stack at the English airport at Favrieul, which with full furnishings, especially flight tent etc.i undamaged condition fallen in the hands of the Germans.In Foreground Synes yet another bulletin board with inscription: "All Horsesand Wheele Traffic Strictly Prohibited" (All carriage and horse traffic Strictly prohibited) .. The picture shows an English airfield with German hunting flap.Original text: German hunting haunting at the English airport at Favrieul, which with full furnishings, especially flight tent etc.i undamaged condition fallen in the hands of the Germans.In Foreground Synes yet another bulletin board with inscription: "All Horsesand Wheele Traffic Strictly Prohibited" (all carriage and horse traffic strictly prohibited).

With the Fleet Air Arm - Malta Gc. Lieut I D Fraser, 24 years old from Sailhall, Warwickshire, has been with the Fleet Air Arm for 3 years. Before that he was at Christchurch college, Oxford studying history. He has been in Malta 9 months and was shot down over the Western Desert in a Bristol Beaufighter at night. Note, the day after this picture was taken Fraser went out on patrol and did not return.

The picture shows an emergency landed and destroyed English aircraft.Original text: "An English Soppy Flyer, which is depleted by German opponent. You clearly see the rotation engine and the two attached machine guns."The picture shows an emergency landscaped and destroyed English aircraft. Dooriginal text: "An English Sopvithe flying machine, which was downset by German opponent. One sees the rotation engine and the two attached machine guns.

The War in the Far East- the Burma Campaign 1941-1945 The Advance on Rangoon March - May 1945: Gurkha paratroops check their equipment before being dropped on a series of strategic points around Rangoon.

Royal Air Force- West Africa Command, 1941-1945. Groundcrew wheel a Hawker Hurricane Mark IIB of No. 128 Squadron RAF onto the main runway at Hastings, Sierra Leone, for take off. 128 Squadron was based in Sierra Leone between October 1941 and March 1943 in order to defend the ports and bases of British West Africa from incursions by Vichy French aircraft.

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