B-17 Bomber Formations in WWII

Historic images showing Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses in flight formations, engaging in bombing missions over Europe during World War II.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 15Th Air Force Leave The Smoldering Oil Refinery At Moosbierbaum, Austria, On Aug. 28, 1944.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 15Th Air Force Leave The Smoldering Oil Refinery At Moosbierbaum, Austria, On Aug. 28, 1944.
258 assets in this story
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The Wellington and the rescue launch of the R.A.F. Rescue Service, speed toward the position of the survivors of a R.A.F. bomber crew, forced down in the Mediterranean off the coast, near Sollum, Egypt.
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The Royal Navy during the Second World War Five Grumman Avenger three seater torpedo bombers in formation during exercises at HMS SPARROWHAWK, the Royal Naval Air Station at Hatston. Dummy torpedoes are being used. Note the fact that the torpedo is fully enclosed so as to improve the aerodynamics of the aircraft.
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8Th Air Force Rescue Demonstration At Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto, 27 January 1946. 'Survivor' About To Grab The Boatswain's Chair Attached To The R-6 Helicopter.
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A U.S. Air Force Boeing B-29 Superfortress from the 307th Bomb Group bombing a target in Korea, circa 1950-51.
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A formation of F-94s, new jet fighter interceptors, fly over ice-choked Cook inlet near Anchorage, Alaska, on a training flight. These Lockheed" all weather planes" capable of hunting down an enemy plane in darkness or storm with airborne radar, are now operating from Alaskan and Japanese bases. January 01, 1952.
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Navy Scouts In Formation -- Four U.S. Navy Observation Scout seaplanes present a striking picture as they wing their way in vertical echelon formation above the clouds. November 16, 1942. (Photo by U.S. Office of War Information Picture).
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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.
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Navy Air Over Korea -- A Navy photo-pilot catches three of the USS Boxer's powerful aircraft together in formation in the cloudy skies off Korea.They are the three Navy air weapons responsible for Fast Carrier Task Force 77's devastating strikes on Chinose communist supply lines and troop concentrations in Korea.From foreground to background, a Navy Douglas Skyraider, A Navy corsair, and an F9F Panther jet fighter. August 27, 1951. (Photo by Official U.S. Navy Photograph).
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A Mediterranean Based French B-26 Marauder Leaves An Enemy Coastal Defense Gun Position On The French Ile Ratonneau Outside The Port Of Marseilles. The Symbol Of All Free Frenchmen, The Cross Of Lorraine, Is Emblazoned On The Nose Of The Marauder.
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Royal Air Force- Italy,the Balkans and South-east Europe, 1942-1945. A De Havilland Mosquito NF Mark XIII of No. 256 Squadron RAF, caught in the beam of a Chance light on the main runway at Foggia Main, Italy, before taking off on a night intruder sortie over enemy territory.
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Artwork: "Two German Bombers" Artist: H. Recksiegel. Country: Unknown
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An Aerial Refueler Squadron 208 (VAK-208) KA-3B Skywarrior aircraft refuels a Strike Fighter Squadron 303 (VFA-303) F/A-18A Hornet aircraft as two other Hornets wait for their turn during refueling operations near Naval Air Station, Fallon, part of Reserve Carrier Air Wing 30 annual training operations. State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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The Royal Navy during the Second World War Four Grumman Martlets of No 888 Squadron Fleet Air Arm, based on HMS FORMIDABLE, shown in flight over the sea on active service.
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DN-SN-88-03232. Country: Unknown
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Neptune Prepare For Indian Ocean Exercise.4 Neptune Matitime Reconnaissance aircraft accompanied by one Hercules will leave Richmond R.A.A.F. Base early tomorrow morning (Thursday) to take part in a combines maritime operational exercise in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal area. They will operate from Cooas Island for about 3 weeks.The C.O. of II Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron, wing Commander C. Wakeham (at left) briefs his crew in front of one of the four Neptunes. October 20, 1955.
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Three of the first planes to return from mission are seen encircling field before peeling off for landing. Ground crews below "sweat it out."
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Robot bomb.
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Royal Air Force- Italy, the Balkans and South-east Europe, 1942-1945. A Douglas Dakota of No. 216 Group RAF, flying over orange groves and farmland in Apulia, Italy, while delivering supplies to RAF wings at Grottaglie.
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U.S. Navy Vought F4U-1 Corsairs of Fighter Squadron 17 (VF-17) "Jolly Rogers" in flight, in 1943.
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Fastest Things On Wings -- The three jet planes shown on formation pass on arrival at Wright-Patterson Air Force base yesterday afternoon from Washington D.C. are the fastest things on wings. Upper left is the ***** fastest bomber the Boeing B47. To the right is the batlike Northrop XB-49. Below the B47 is the North American F-86 fighter. World's fastest airplane. February 19, 1949. (Photo by AP Wirephoto). ;Fastest Things On Wings -- The three jet planes shown on formation pass on arrival at W
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DN-SN-85-01689. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)
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''Combat Aerien; Un raid de jour; Escadre Francaise sur l'objectif; des usines au d'une riviere', 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.
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North American P-51 "Dear Arabella" peels off: Pilot, 1st Lt. Richard E. Locke, Caddo, Oklahoma. 361st Fighter Group.
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Paris International Air Show 1953. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel
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Artwork: "And That's My Draft Board Down There - Oops, There Goes That Damn Bomb Release" Artist: Kramer. Country: Unknown
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Captured German Gliding Bomb, England. 10 September 1944.
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U.S. Bombers return from attack on German installations in France. Their mission executed, six U.S. B-26 Marauder medium bombers of the Eighth U.S. Army Air Force, wing their way to their bases in England after successfully bombing docks and installations used by the Germans on the Cherbourg Peninsula in France. They are shown leaving the northern coast of France to cross the English Channel. February 28, 1944.
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Insignia Of The 365Th Bomb Squadron, 305Th Bomb Group. 20 July 1943, England.
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Leaving a mass of smoke and dust behind them as they left the target area, Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 15th AAF are shown here returning to their base after the 15th AAF attack on the railroad yards at Nice France, on 26 May 44. The yards
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Dead or dying Japaneses. Wewak Area-19 March 1944.
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When Air Liaison Officers Failed To Reach Observation Areas From Which They Could Direct Bombers To Targets; L-5S Were Used To Direct The Air Attacks. While Bombers Circle The Mountians Above, This L-5 Is Preparing To Mark The Target With Smoke. Philipp
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Ground crew members stand in formation as Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17) F-14A Tomcat aircraft conduct a flyover upon their arrival on base. Personnel from CVW-3 and CVW-17 are returning home after serving in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Base: Naval Air Station, Oceana State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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U.S. Navy PBM-3 "Mariner" Patrol Bomber, Office of War Information, 1940's
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A Boeing B-17 Of The 92Nd Bomb Group Prepares To Take Off On A Mission From An Airfield Somewhere In England. 10 January 1945.
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The Royal Navy during the Second World War The BISMARCK seen in the distance from a Fairey Swordfish from the aircraft carrier HMS VICTORIOUS just before the torpedo attack.
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BREACHHEAD LANDINGS. Men...
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The deadly teamwork of the Flying Fortresses: massed precision bombing and defence gunnery during the Second World War. Flying in a tight formation designed to give the closest cooperation in attack and defence, a group of aircraft drop their bombs simultaneously on the target. Date: 1943
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U.S. Navy Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat from Fighting Squadron 71 (VF-71) and Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc of No. 603 Squadron RAF on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7) on 19 April 1942. Having landed her torpedo planes and dive bombers at Hatson in Orkney (UK), Wasp had loaded 47 Spitfires of No. 603 Squadron at Glasgow on 13 April, then departed on the 14th for "Operation Calendar". Wasp and her consorts passed through the Straits of Gibraltar under cover of the pre-dawn darkness on 19 April. At 04:00 hrs on 20 April, Wasp spotted 11 Wildcats on her deck and launched them
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Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Dropping stocks per parachute. November 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies
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Boeing b-17's in raid over Lille, France.
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Smoke Markers And Bombs Are Released From Consolidated B-24 Liberators Of The 467Th Bomb Group While On Bombing Raid Over Cologne, Germany. 17 Oct. 1944.
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Vintage photograph. Lockheed Aircraft Corporation's F-90 Penetration Fighter tries its wings over the US Air Force's desert test base at Muroc, California accompanied by a USAF F-80 jet fighter flying as a chase plane.
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Scout Airplan S 12 marked number 24 from F 2 Hänernäs in the air, about 1942. Scouting aircraft S 12 marked number 24 from F 2 Hägeräs in the air.
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Caption: "A photograph taken from a plane of the Yale aviation unit during training at Huntington Reach, L.I., NY in 1917. Many Yale students and alumni, including H. Trubee Davison, son of Henry P. Davison, were a part of this unit. Davison provided substantial funding for the unit's equipment."
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Two of the Army's tremendous army armada, one of the super flying fortresses and a mighty air transport as they pass in the clouds during air maneuvers , Airplanes, Military maneuvers, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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Anefo photo collection. Repros of missiles, degradation atomic bomb and Hiroshima. October 11, 1957
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Ju88 - Tactical Poster 110. Artist: G. H. Tavis. 1942 - 1945. Office for Emergency Management. Office of War Information. Domestic Operations Branch. Bureau of Special Services. 3/9/1943-9/15/1945. World War II Foreign Posters
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DF-SC-85-01763. Country: Unknown
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Photograph of Formation UB-3 (Scout Bombers).
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Blasting at Galtåsen. Helicopter monitors the exercise. SJ B5 888
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1037B. April 18, 1955.
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La domenica della gazzetta, illustrated supplement of the gazzetta del veneto, 1 September 1918
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Photo collection Government information service. Meidagen 1940. German paratroopers over the Netherlands jump from Junkers JU-52. May 10, 1940
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Identification poster for British army military aeroplanes of the First World War, Radstock museum, Somerset, England, UK
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Germany's Flying Fortresses, bi-motored bombers of Goering's Air Force during World War II. Hermann Wilhelm Göring (12 January 1893 - 15 October 1946) was a German politician, military leader and convicted war criminal
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B-26 Flying over Mac Dill Field. ca. 1943, Tampa, Florida, USA, 120--B-26, Mac Dill Field, Tampa, Florida
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España. La artillería del ejército popular apoyando una intervención aéra de la aviación republicana. Portada de la revista Mundo Gráfico, editada en Madrid, septiembre de 1937.
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Poster affixed in February 1915 along the streets of London for citizenship in the event of airships or aeroplanes raids, United Kingdom, World War I, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XLII, No 9, February 28, 1915.