Early Aviation and Military History

Historic photographs capturing early military aviation efforts and significant aircraft from World War I and before.

148th American Aero Squadron making preparations for daylight raid on German trenches and cities, Petite-Synthe, France, U.S. Army Signal Corps, August 6, 1918

A collection of military at seaplane Macchi M.7, 1923 Group portrait. A collection of military stands standing at seaplane Macchi M.7 marked number 943 on land at Lake Roxen at Berg's locks.

World War I, German Gotha bomber, ca. 1917

Twenty-six airplanes in line for inspection, aviation field, Issoudun, France, U.S. Army Signal Corps, April 1918

Winston Churchill With Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps, 1914. First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill (centre, facing camera), stands in front of Short Type S.38 Biplane (a.k.a. Short S.77), No. 66, of the Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps, during a visit to Eastchurch, Kent. No. 66, seen here with a Vickers Maxim gun fitted on the front of the gondola, was used for experimental gun and wireless installation tests at Eastchurch. On the extreme right stands Commander C R Samson, Commanding Officer of the Eastchurch Naval Flying School. The Naval Wing of the RFC was renamed the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 July 1914.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A BE 1 Army Aeroplane on the ground with a group of handlers. The balloon shed can be seen to the right of the photograph.

The Battle of Britain Groundcrew refuelling a Hawker Hurricane Mk I of No. 32 Squadron from a refuelling truck whilst the pilot waits in the cockpit, Biggin Hill, August 1940.

Operations In Connection With The Rescue Of An Injured American Airman Who Had Parachuted Into Enemy Territory And Had Been Behind The Lines For Two Months. A Fieseler Storch Plane Was Sent Out To Make The Rescue And While Landing At A Secondary Airstrip

148th American Aero Squadron making preparations for daylight raid on German trenches and cities, Petite-Synthe, France, U.S. Army Signal Corps, August 6, 1918

''Chez nos allies Belges; Des aviateurs belges recoivent la visite et les felicitations de la reine Elisabeth', 1915. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.

U.S. General John Pershing being Greeted by Captain Strus, National Photo Company, 1920

The Royal Navy during the Second World War An observer stood in the cockpit of his Fairey Swordfish aircraft passes a piece of equipment to another Fleet Air Arm flyer at a North African airfield.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A Bleriot monoplane on the ground and being inspected by soldiers and civilians.

A Farman biplane ready for take off, great military manoeuvres of the east, September 12, 1911, France, photo from L'Illustration, No 3577, September 16, 1911.

French aviator Pierre Daucourt, responsible for the bombings at the Krupp plants, World War I, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XLIII, No 41, October 8, 1916.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War HM King George VI, wearing the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, inspecting inspecting a Supermarine Walrus amphibious aircraft and its crew at the Royal Naval Air Station of Hatston during his four day visit to the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow. A Fairey Albacore can be seen in the background.

Fleet Air Arm pilots and a Gloster Gladiator at HMS SPARROWHAWK, the Royal Naval Air Station at Hatston on Orkney, April 1942. With a chart spread on the wing of a Gloster Gladiator, the Commanding Officer of the squadron gives pilots of Blackburn Skuas and Rocs their instructions before taking off from HMS SPARROWHAWK, the Royal Naval Air Station at Hatston, Orkney. The radio operator (rating with headphone on sitting in cockpit) is receiving last minute messages.

First Photos Walkins-Hearst Antarctic Expedition: Capt. M. Hamsen of the Hektobia, shaking hands with Lt. Carl Den Eielson, pilot of the Wilkins-Hearst Antarctic expedition, before Eielson took off on one of his exploring trips. March 14, 1929. (Photo by Universal Service).

S/Sgt. G.W. Hurst And Two Mechanics Check The Engine Of A 401St Bomb Group Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" At An 8Th Air Force Base In England, 25 March 1945.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The gondola of the army airship Beta just off the ground with a group of army handlers helping to position it.

Karl Ingold

Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.

Lentiai 1917, italian soldier near albatros d.III

War album 106, picture 32563.

Portrait with aircraft in the background Portrait Four men and aircraft Albatross B IIa. The second man from the left is a lieutenant.

Photo collection Spaarnestad topics. Air war - various countries. D-21 "After using" from May 1940. 1940. Monster

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.

'Combat Aerien; Escadre de bombardement de jour, volant au-dessus de la mer de nuages, pour chercher a l'arriere des lignes ennemies les concentrations de troupes, les rassemblements d'artillerie, les convois afin de les disperser sous ses gros projectiles', 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.

Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.

Light anti-tank guns 6-ponder (57 mm) with spread breeding legs. English design. Many deployed in the Second World War. Been to the Army.

Cpl. Palumbo is seen testing the Murray-Carns All Steel Aeroplane at the Acceptance Field in Detroit. The photograph depicts the machine without wings prior to testing. The image was taken on October 14, 1918, and was later censored and released by M.I.9 on November 5, 1918.

The Second Boer War, 1899-1902 Soldiers of one of the British mounted regiments resting in the shadow in their camp. They are probably servicemen of the Lothians and Berwickshire Yeomanry.

03/31/1913. Final of a "Raid" Paris-Madrid. Arrival at the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome of the French aviator Brindejonc des Moulinais, who has completed the flight from Paris to Madrid, leaving Burgos at nine in the morning yesterday and arriving at this court at twelve fifteen. Photo: Hugelmann.

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.

WW1 - The illustration captures a birdseye view of a vast landscape where British aeroplanes are in action, attacking German infantry. The decorated with an image of a bird, the machine-gunner in the British biplane stands and takes aim at the enemy . Date: 1917

'L'Aviateur Norman Prince. Mort Pour la France; L'aviateur americain Norman Prince.', 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVII. La Guerre Juillet, Aout, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Decembre 1916".

Major R. H. Fleet is seen here stepping out of his plane after completing an aerial mail service journey from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C., and New York City, N.Y. He can be seen with a map attached to his leg. This photograph was taken on May 15, 1918, as part of the American military activities during World War One.

The damaged propellers of the military airship P2, coming from Vigna di Valle and directed to Campalto, Arezzo, 1910, Italy, photo by Donato Campolucci, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXVII, No 41, October 9, 1910.

Wings over Palestine-Certificates of Flying School, April 21, 1939. Jewish scouts and marine cadets taking part in celebration, Lydda Air Port. 1939, Israel, Lod

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Tjililitan airport at Batavia various activities. Pilot of P-51D Mustang works log. February 1947. Batavia, Indonesia, Jakarta, Dutch East Indies

Portrait, furir and aircraft furir in front of aircraft thumbs up no 1105 out of flight company.

Aircraft and Balloons Used by Some of the Air Pioneers Who Were Contemporary With Samuel Franklin Cody. Ahmad Shah Qajar the former King of Iran and his ministers inspecting aircraft. In the foreground is a pilot stood next to the nose of his aircraft. On the left hand side of the photograph are two British officers.

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.

Mechanics and a Fokker D VII fighter plane with camouflage pattern. Photography was used in the First World War as a means of propaganda. These shots were probably taken by a military photographer or a photographer in the service of a press agency on the German and Austrian-Hungarian side. To keep the home front informed, shows of photographs were already being held during the war. The large format of these photographs suggests that they were displayed in such an exhibition.

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Coastal Command The shattered remains of Liberator III FL910/H of No 224 Squadron, wrecked while attempting to land at Predannack in Cornwall, 20 October 1942. The aircraft, captained by Flying Officer David Sleep, was crippled by one of its own depth charges during an attack on a U-boat southwest of Ireland. One of six DCs released exploded on contact with the submarine's casing, the blast ripping into the Liberator's tail. Sleep and his crew battled with the badly damaged flight controls for the rest of the trip back to base but lost control on the final approach.

British Built 'Horsa' Type Gliders Are Shown At A 9Th Troop Carrier Command Station In England. Soon These Gliders Loaded With American Airborne Infantrymen Will Take Part In The Invasion Of France. 6 June 1944.

High Commissioner For New Zealand Visits the Training Establishment HMS St Vincent. 15 April 1942 During a visit by the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr W J Jordon to the training establishment HMS ST VINCENT in Gosport, Hampshire. Young New Zealand candidates for the Fleet Air Arm learn how to lower boats from a ship's davits

Side view of an airplane at the Aviation Experiment Station in Hampton, VA during World War One. The airplane is equipped with aerial bombs, as depicted in the image. This photograph belongs to Signal Corps Collection (SUMBER 3402) and is a part of the Photos Reco Collection. It was taken on 18SUED SYMBOL and can be found in OP.5824 on page 3824.

Elsevier photo collection. Caption "The air dye Fehrenbach honored after his parachute jump" Subject Otto Fehrenbach who made a parachute jump at an air show in the Netherlands, in the presence of Prince Hendrik. June 1920

Photograph showing a German Messerschmitt Me-110 fighter-bomber, which crash-landed near Hastings after being shot up by a British fighter, during the summer of 1940. A number of British soldiers can be seen guarding the airplane. Date: 1940

Royal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. The damaged elevator of Supermarine Spitfire Mark VC, EP350 'VL-F', of No. 167 Squadron RAF, at Ludham, Norfolk, after its return from a fighter sweep over northern France on 18 February 1942 during which it was attacked and badly shot up by German Focke Wulf Fw 190s. Despite the damage to the aircraft, the pilot, Pilot Officer C T K Cody, managed to fly the aircraft back to Ludham, where it was repaired and eventually returned to service.

12/31/1919. Paris. At the Villacoublay airfield. The Paris-Timbuktu Raid. 1.- Airplanes. 2.- Pilots Dagneau (A), Commander Vuillemin (3) and Captain Mezer Gues (C).

A U.S. School of Aerial Gunnery in Oneonta, California, where a photograph was taken on September 5, 1918. The subject of the photograph is a Lewis gun with a fixed mount. It was taken by the Director of Military Aeronautics and received with a description. This image is not for publication and is intended for official use only.

Photo collection First World War. A successful German aviator: Sergeant-Major Gottfried Ehmann (at the machine gun), which has shot 13 aircraft so far. On the right the driver Friedrich Huffzky. {1914-1918}

This image depicts a back view of an S.V.A. aircraft at the Aviation Experiment Station in Langley Field, Hampton, VA. The photograph was taken in November 1917. It is part of the collection 111-SC-1290 from the Photographs of American Military Activities during World War One. The photographer is mentioned as Dec. 1917 FOOD DESCRIPTION.

Captain Moizo prepares for a reconnoitring flight in his Nieuport monoplane during the Italo-Turkish War Date: 1911-12

French aviator Jules Vedrines.

The King Pays 4-day Visit To the Home Fleet. 18 To 21 February 1943, Scapa Flow, Wearing the Uniform of An Admiral of the Fleet, the King Paid a 4-day Visit To the Home Fleet. The King inspecting a Supermarine Walrus and its crew during his visit to the Royal Naval Air Station Hatston.

Wright, Lindley, North, Christensen, Stanton, De Boliac & Willson

Women on the Home Front 1939 - 1945 The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF): Aircraftwomen learning how to handle a barrage balloon at the training station at Cardington.

Exercise "London Pride" - The 56 (London) Armoured Division (TA) is now engaged on operation "London Pride", a divisional exercise involving 12,000 men and 4,000 vehicles, on Salisbury Plain.Troops of the Joint Concealment Centre moving into position of the dummy "Centurion" tanks. It is inflated by air. London Armoured Division moving a dummy Centurion tank during a divisional exercise involving 12,000 men and 4000 vehicles, on Salisbury Plain. September 05, 1954.

***** And Air Force To Fight "Battle of Elie" The first large-scale coast defence exercise between air and naval forces takes place today (Friday) and tomorrow of the East Coast of Scotland, The town of Elie in the First of Forth is being attacked by a "red" force and defended by a "blue" force of land-based aircraft. This photograph taken on the eve of the "Battle of Elie" shows a flying boat anchored near the Forth Bridge. From this paint the flying boats set out on Friday from the long-distan

Shah of Persia Iran

Post Master General Albert S. Burleson with officers from the Army-Air Force commemorate the first year of Air Mail in the United States. May 19 1919. LC-DIG-npcc-18659

British Troops Defend Concession during Japanese Bombardment Of Tientsin -- A Group of Lancashire Fusliers manning a section of the Frontier of the British concession in Tientsin during the fight for the city.Whilst Chinese and Japanese troops have been fighting Furiously in tientsin, Foreign Troops manned their Frontiers in defence of their respective concession. September 9, 1937.

Civilians See Evidence of German Atrocities - At Camp Buchenwald, Nazi Horror prison near Weimer, German Civilians are brought to see for themselves evidence of German atrocities. April 19, 1945. (Photo by International News Photo).

Eleven Single-seater Scouting Planes Ready To Start Out For the Enemy Lines S.E. 5 and S.E. 5a biplanes of No. 29 Squadron lined up ready to start a flight over enemy lines.

This contemporary illustration shows German bases in Belgium during World War I being attacked by Allied planes.

AVION MILITAR 'BREGUET XIX'. Modelo construído durante la I Guerra Mundial por Louis François Clément Breguet. "AVION BREGUET BOMBARDEANDO UNA CIUDAD DURANTE LA I GUERRA MUNDIAL". Grabado de 'L'Illustration' (año 1918). S. XX.

AVION BREGUET BOMBARDERO FRANCES EN LA PRIMERA GUERRA MUNDIAL. Author: LOUIS CHARLES BREGUET (1880-1955).

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Visit army commander S.H. Rail along Bali, Timor and Surabaya 12-6-1946 to 16-6-6-1946. Timor. General S.H. Track (with cap in hand) in a field hospital. June 1946. Indonesia, Kupang, Dutch East Indies, Timor

Artwork: "FW-190" Artist: Alfred Hierl. Country: Unknown

01/31/1915. Ballooning in War. Elevation in the French Lines of a captive balloon to assist the artillery with its Indications.

Wreckage of German Albatross D. III Fighter Biplane, Rehse Archive for Contemporary History and Journalism, 1916

WW1 - A scene at a British flying-ground on the night of an air raid. Lit up by surrounding lights, the airmen and mechanics prepare the two aircrafts for the midnight call. Date: 1916

A German soldier at the tail of a spitfire crashed.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War The army airship Beta on the ground with a group of handlers.

Lieut. Scott's Aero Bomb

12/31/1918. England. The Last "Record" of Height. Captain Lang and Lieutenant Blowes, who have taken an airplane flight, leaving Ipswich, to the height of 9600 meters, despite the lack of Oxygen, due to the breakage of the tank where they carried this Gas - date approx.

Woerner Eugen (herr) Collection British airmen forced to land in German lines, Rumaucourt, April 1917.

Fotocollectie Eerste Wereldoorlog. British navy in wartime. Airship starting off on patrol - they are always on the look-out for 'U' boats & enemy aircraft.. 1914-1918}

The Imperial German Army 1890 - 1913 A signal balloon is launched during the manoeuvres of 1899.

Two African American workers walk on the cotton littered waterfront of Seabrook's Plantation, Edisto Island, SC, 1862. Civil War Union soldiers sit on the dock, one of whom looks through binoculars. At left is an 85 year old century plant. Photo by Henry P. Moore (BSLOC_2018_5_75)

Aboard a German zeppelin during an attack, 1917, France, Europe

A Honest John Unbraide Rocket On an International 6x6 5 TONS Truck M139D With launching the 109 field artillery department, the Deignelpunt passes with O.A. H.M. Koningin Juliana and Z.K.H. Prince Bernhard during the Parade in Ede on the occasion of Liberation Day.

DN-SN-85-06109. Base: San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Five aeroplane types required by the army. They are, from top to bottom: two fighting aeroplanes, two reconnaissance aeroplanes, and a light scout. 1914

Artwork: "Wreckage of a British Glider - Normandy" Artist: Schroeder-Brandstadt. Country: Unknown

The Battle of Britain RAF aircraftman guard the remains of Dornier Do17Z-2 (F1+HT) shot down during the low-level attack on Kenley aerodrome, 18 August 1940. The aircraft crashed in Golf Road, Kenley at 1.20pm.

Description: Uncharted Country Between Eil Dur Elan and J. Serut. 8,000 ft. OBS OFR W. L. Roberts. Location: British Somaliland Date: 1919 fly, africa

A delegation visits the arms shops of the royal navy in Den Helder.

Photo collection First World War. Canadian Official Photographs Tasks at The Front. Bringing out a kite balloon for an ascent. 1914-1918}

"Republique"

Air balloons at the aviation festival in honour of aviators and pilots participating in the Italo-Turkish war, Arena of Milan, Italy, photograph by Argus, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XL, No 19, May 11, 1913.

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