Aviation and Pilots

Photos of military pilots and aircraft from different eras, showcasing cockpit views and notable air force personalities.

Clark Gable serving as an officer in the US Army Air Forces during World War II
Clark Gable serving as an officer in the US Army Air Forces during World War II
155 assets in this story
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DN-SN-88-02633. Base: USS Okinawa (LPH 3)
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Istres-damasco-paris air rece. bruno mussolini. 1937.
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American Kittyhawks and their New Zealand pilots at an operational air station in New Zealand: A pilot in the cockpit of his Kittyhawk. November 02, 1944.
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Col. Johnson, shows General Devers and Gen. Eaker decorations on a Liberator which went to Ploesti. The bomb lying on its aids represents Ploesti where they flew so low that the bombs were placed, not dropped on the target. Ploesti raid here honoured.By direction of President Roosevelt, Colonel Leon W. Johnson, commanding officer of a heavy bombardment group has been awarded the medal of honour. This is equivalent to the V.C. the award is for conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life and above the call of duty, during the famous U.S. raid on the Ploesti oilfields in Rumania. March 13, 1944. (Photo by Sports & General Press Agency Ltd.).
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A turret-gunner of the 2nd Light Armored Infantry Battalion in a patrolling LAV-25 light armored vehicle speaks into his headset. Country: Panama (PAN)
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Capt. Parker, Pilot Of The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Black Swain' Poses Beside The Plane. 324Th Bomb Sq., 91St Bomb Group, 8Th Air Force, England. 25 August 1943.
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Maj. John Fancher, left poses for a photo prior to departing on a cross country flight to New York for the 1927 New York - Spokane Derby. (Washington National Guard archives)
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Record Flight to 8th. American and BackO.P.S. (L to R) Reine; Codos and Gimie, photographed prior to the start of the flight. The French aviators, Coods, Gimie and Vauthier, and Reine, started yesterday on a flight to South America and back. November 21, 1937. (Photo by Keystone)
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Sir Donald Cameron. June 15, 1943.
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An unidentified pilot stands beside his Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star, somewhere in Korea. He is holding onto the ladder with his left hand and his left foot is on the first rung of the ladder which leads into the cockpit. The buzz number, FT-748 or FT-749, is visible on the side of the aircraft, which also bears the markings of the 80th Fighter Bomber Squadron (FBS). The nose and wings of the aircraft are not visible.
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Lt. Clements, pilot of the 90th Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, poses on the wing of his Lockheed F-5 at an air base somewhere in North Africa.
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The Campaign in Sicily 1943 The Drive for Messina 10 July - 17 August 1943: Flying Officer Colin Edmends from Australia and his fitter, D McMinnemy, inspect the tail of his Curtiss Kittyhawk after it was damaged during a sortie over Catania.
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This photo was taken in 1950 on Amchitka Island, Alaska. "L-R: Captain Floyd A. Puckett, C.O. of Air Force Base on Amchitka Island and John Ball, chief of Aircraft Operations for FWS.". Subjects: Wildlife refuges; Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; Aleutians; Aircraft; Work of Service; Personnel; ARLIS; Alaska. . 1998 - 2011.
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021206-M-3031H-004. Country: United States Of America (USA)
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A Pilot Of The 94Th Fighter Squadron, 1St Fighter Group Sits In The Cockpit Of His Lockheed P-38 Lightning At An Air Base Somewhere In Italy. September 21 1945.
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Photograph of Russian aviator Mikhail Effimov. Dated 1910
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Jet Bomber Takes Off For Australia -- The Canberra jet bomber that is making the long flight to Australia, this morning left the RAF Station at Lyneham, Wilts. It is piloted by Wing Commander Cuming (right) and F/Lt/ Harvey, both of the Royal Australian Air Force, wearing tropical kit for the trip which is expected to be completed this week-end. August 09, 1951.
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021206-M-3031H-073. Base: Russell Island Country: Solomon Islands (SLB)
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'La mort de Brindejonc des Moulinais; Brindejonc photographie avant son dernier depart', 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII. La Guerre Juillet, Aout, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Decembre 1916".
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05/09/1919. The Paris-Madrid flight. The French aviator M. Brou (X) upon his arrival at the Cuatro Vientos airfield.
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Crewmen at Rest, New Zealand, by Fred Brockett.
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Official Portrait of US Marine Corps (USMC) First Lieutenant (1LT) Don H. Fisher, taken at Russell Islands, October 15, 1943. 1LT Fisher is a member of Marine Fighter Squadron 214 (VMF-214)"Black Sheep"and is credited with 2 kills. His home is 2301 Southwest 23rd St, Miami, Florida. (Substandard image). Base: Russell Islands Country: Solomon Islands (SLB)
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Wing Commander Brian Eaton D.S.O. of her D.F.C. who will lead to days commander flight over the city. He will also command the squadron in the Middle East. March 13, 1952. (Photo by Martin/Fairfax Media).
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Crew chief Marcellus G. Smith, Louisville, KY, 100th F.S., Ramitelli, Italy, March, 1945, Toni Frissell, Antoinette Frissell Bacon, Antoinette Frissell
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LT. CMDR. Mark Fox of Strike Fighter Squadron 81 (VFA-81) sits in the cockpit of the F/A-18C Hornet aircraft that he was flying when he became the first coalition pilot to shoot down an Iraqi MiG aircraft during Operation Desert Storm. VFA-81 is based aboard the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-60). Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Red Sea
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Lt. E.W. Bagnell
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Studio portrait of pilot wearing helmet
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Ames Pilot George Cooper and Randy VAn Dyke
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Ten Nazi indeniary flak bullets exploded inside the Martin B-26 "Marauder" piloted by Major Franklin S. Allen, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., and 10 times he and his crew escaped injury. Then the 11th missile embedded itself in the main gas tank. It did
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United States: November 23, 1942 A portrait of U.S. Marine Lieut. Col. Richard C. Mangrum just after the Guadalcanal Campaign.
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A German and an American pilot enjoy the traditional beer after arriving at the air base for exercise Coronet Sail. Subject Operation/Series: CORONET SAIL Base: Lechfeld Air Base Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)
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Col. Benjamin O. Davis, air base at Ramitelli, Italy, Toni Frissell, Antoinette Frissell Bacon, Antoinette Frissell
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The Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War Gerald Moore, a sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy, smokes a cigarette whilst sitting on the deck of HMCS NIAGARA an ex-American Town class destroyer, 1941. He is wearing a peaked-hat with tied up ear covers commonly worn by Canadian servicemen.
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"Aviation cadet watches flight instructor list remarks about performance of N3N for plane captain after training flight.".
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Col. Vermont Garrison achieved ACE status during World War II, then again against jet fighter during the Korean War. He also served in the Vietnam War. (BSLOC_2014_11_215)
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Capt. Thomas S. Baldwin
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Inspection Tour of Java by Consular Commission.Mr. Eaton returning from his inspection tour of East Java. September 13, 1947. (Photo by Netherlands Information Bureau).
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West Indians in Britain during the Second World War Flight Sergeant James Hyde, a fighter pilot serving with No 132 Squadron, Royal Air Force, pictured by a Supermarine Spitfire with 'Dingo', the squadron commander's pet dog, at Detling, Kent, England. Hyde, from San Juan, Trinidad, arrived in Britain more than two years previously to commence his training.
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Postcard - E Prosser, Birmingham's Only Airman, c.1910-1922. (Autographed in ink by E Prosser). Topographical Views - Kesterton Collection. Edwin T. Prosser was an early British aviator from Wolverhampton, who was reputed to have flown a Bleriot aircraft at the age of 16.
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DN-SN-89-03446. Country: Unknown
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Royal Air Force Army Co-operation Command, 1940-1943. Flight Lieutenant J C S Turner of No 4 Squadron RAF seated at the controls of his North American Mustang Mark I at Bottisham, Cambridgeshire.
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Photograph of army test pilot F. W. Hunter posing in front of an A-20 Havoc aircraft at the Douglas Aircraft Company Plant at Long Beach, California. Dated 1942
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021206-M-3031H-101. Base: Vella La Vella Country: Solomon Islands (SLB)
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Sweden, Blekinge, Blekinge, Karlskrona, Karlskrona, external marina (depicted, town).Sweden, Blekinge, Blekinge, Karlskrona, Karlskrona, External War Gogs (depicted, City)
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Cardinal points of North, South, East and West are pinned on the walls at various heights and it is on to these that the pilot must turn in the process of his learning to manipulate the machine. February 9, 1951.
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Nobile And Members Of His Crew Marooned In Arctic -- Above is shown a composite picture showing the Dirigible "Italia", its commander, General Umberto Nobile, and the members of his crew, all of whom are marooned in the arctic regions after a forced landing amidst the ice and snow crags of the far north. Two members of the crew were injured during the landing process.June 11, 1928. (Photo by International Newsreel Photo).
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DN-SN-88-01712. Subject Operation/Series: VALIANT USHER '87 Base: USS Tripoli (LPH 10)
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Air Ministry Second World War Official Collection
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Capt. Fred Dollenberg veteran of Java Campaign carries a Red Cross Parcel, 2½ tons of which he loaded into his huge banker at Sydney to take to his Northern Base - included in the Cargo were 5 kilo refrigerator weighing 500 lbs each. November 02, 1942.
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USA/Australia: Colonel Paul Irvin 'Pappy' Gunn (1899-1957), in the cockpit of his modified B-25 Mitchell medium bomber 'Pappy's Folly', Queensland, Australia, c. 1942
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Women In The Chinese Air Force -- Two women pilots, fur collars on their padded tunics, posing in front of their air-craft. June 23, 1952. (Photo by Camera Press).
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Women's Air Force Service Pilot Anne McClellan adjusts her earphones in the cockpit of a BT-13 while Ann Johnson stands on the wing of the plane, no location, circa 1944. (Photo by US Army Air Force/GG Vintage Images)
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James Harold Doolittle (1896-1993), American military general and aviation pioneer, recipient of Medal of Honor for his daring raids on Japan during World War II, half-length Portrait in Military Uniform, Harry Warnecke, Gus Schoenbaechler, 1945
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DF-SC-86-03690. Country: Unknown
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Japan/USA: Colonel Paul Tibbets waving from the Enola Gay's cockpit before taking off for the bombing of Hiroshima, 6 August 1945