Historic Aircraft in Flight and Ground

A collection of vintage aircraft depicted in various settings, from the air to the ground, showcasing military and transport planes from the 1940s with a nostalgic black and white aesthetic.

Curtiss C-46 "Commando" Of The 9Th Troop Carier Command Which Took Part In A Parapack Test Drop Somewhere In Germany. 15 Feb 1945.

J.A. Mollison, second from left, with the "Flying Wing" aircraft ready to leave England.Ferry-pilot J.A. Mollison has just flown 4000 miles to French equatorial Africa in the "Flying Wing" aircraft. The plane has two booms instead of a body to hold the tail, and passengers and freight are carried in the centre section of the wing. August 12, 1941. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

Aircraft Saab B 17 with skis, 1941-1942 Motifs: Aircraft Saab B 17 with skis stands on a field, winter time. Under sample with recessed skis.

Speedy Attack Bomber Purchased by the Netherlands -- The Speedy Douglas 8A-3N single engine attack bomber, fastest of its type produced in this country, was purchased by the Netherlands Government. It was a maximum speed in excess of 250 miles per hour at 65 percent power and a service ceiling well above 28,000 feet. In addition to bombing equipment, the bomber carries four wing-mounted machine guns and a flexible mounted machine gun in the rear cockpit. This picture shows the plane being groomed for its shipment. March 08, 1939. (Photo by Wide World Photos).

TP 5 in the air, 1944 Transport aircraft TP 5, Junkers Ju 52 with registration SE-AFD Vikingaland in the air. Seen from below.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Aerial photo catalina flight (Consolidated Pby-5a "Catalina"). April 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1939-1941. Bristol Blenheim Mark IV, Z5899 'GB-J', of No. 105 Squadron RAF based at Watton, Norfolk, about to touch down on the main runway at Attlebridge, Norfolk, during an Army Co-operation exercise.

Maritieme patrouilleamfibie Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina P 216 (ex-Buno USN 48252 ) (1951-1957)

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Miles M.14 Magister. Magister, G-AFBS 1, of No. 8 Elementary Flying Training School based at Woodley, Berkshire, in flight, banking over the photographer's aircraft. This aircraft was impressed from the civilian register and was subsequently given the Air Ministry serial number BB661.

Curtiss C-46 "Commando" Of The 9Th Troop Carier Command Which Took Part In A Parapack Test Drop Somewhere In Germany. 15 Feb 1945.

'Trailer-Truck' Plane For Air Force Tests -- The Fairchild XC-120 Pack Plane, designed to leave its loaded fuselage at its destination and take off for another cargo-laden 'belly', makes its debut as a revolutionary new military transport plane. The craft has a detachable fuselage on separate wheels which can be left on the ground for later unloading. The fuselage has a 20,000 pound capacity. February 22, 1951.;'Trailer-Truck' Plane For Air Force Tests -- The Fairchild XC-120 Pack Plane, designe

Pan America Strato Clipper. March 12, 1951. (Photo by "The Sun" Feature Burs).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm: A Blackburn Skua two-seater fighter dive-bomber.

British Overseas Airways Corporation and Qantas, 1940-1945. Curtiss CW-20A/C-55, G-AGDI 'St Louis', of BOAC is refuelled at Gibraltar. 'St Louis' ran regular supply flights between Lisbon, Gibraltar and the besieged island of Malta from 1941 to 1942.

D.C.3 aircraft at Mascot prior to departure on first flight of Sydney-New Gunea service. April 2, 1945. (Photo by Richard McKinney, Qantas Empire Airways Limited).

RAF Bomber Command 1940 Vickers Wellington Mk IC P9249 in flight, March 1940.

Balikpapan Operation July 1-31, 1945-A Japaneseanese decoy seaplane on a seaplane ramp in Balikpapan Harbor. There were two of these planes made out of wood and palm mats. 5 July 1945.

Police - Plane N.S.W. Police. May 8, 1946.

Soviet aircraft Ilehin DB-3 stands on a field during the Finnish winter war motif: Soviet aircraft Ilehin DB-3 is in a field during the Finnish winter war, 1940. Picture from F 19, the Swedish NGO in Finland.

Britain's Great Stirling Bombers Raid Germany. - One of the giant stirling bombers in flight as it ***** its station for the attack on Germany. January 16, 1942.

A Fleet Logistic Support Squadron 50 (VRC-50) C-2A Greyhound aircraft passes over part of the station while conducting touch-and-go landing operations. Base: Naval Air Station, Agana State: Guam (GU) Country: Northern Mariana Islands (MNP)

The "Hawkers" On Parade -- Hawker "Hunters" taking-off during a demonstration at the R.A.F. Station, Wattisham, Suffolk.Three ***** the R.A.F. Fighter Command, are now full ***** with Hawker "Hunter" jet fighters ***** other squadrons are in process of ***** with this aircraft. The ***** swept-back, mid-wing monoplane ***** design, is a single seat day ***** in large scale production for the ***** and the air forces of other N.A.T.O. *****. The aircraft is armed with ***** m.m. guns in an installation forming ***** of the front of the fuselage. February 16, 1955. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency Limited.).

Flying Fortress. May 5, 1941. (Photo by The Topical Press Agency Ltd.)

Preparing Rocket of an Australian Mustang checked before leaving the base in Japan for a sortie over Korea. Mustangs being prepared for a new strike against the Communists in Korea. July 13, 1950.

1930s EASTERN AIRLINES LOCKHEED ELECTRA AIRPLANE THE TYPE AVIATRIX AMELIA EARHART WAS FLYING WHEN SHE DISAPPEARED

Arrival P2V-5 Neptune (s) at Marineliegkamp Valkenburg. Is part of the AVDKM 530112 to 530114 (116) object series.

1950S People Boarding Constellation Style Airplane Double Tail Outdoor

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Airspeed As.51 Horsa. Horsa Mark I, DP726, of the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment based at Ringway, Cheshire, in flight under tow

Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945 Two Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mark Vs (Z6968, 'WL-J' furthest), of No. 612 Squadron RAF, lined up beside the runway at Reykjavik, Iceland. The Air Ministry censor has obliterated the ASV radar aerials atop the fuselage of Z6968.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC REP. Airports m.l. (Banjoemas, Semarang). A Douglas C-47 Dakota cargo plane is parked at Banjoemas airport. August 1947. Banuymas, Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

A North American P-51 covered with snow after a snowstorm at Ladd Field, Alaska, 12 February 1944.

Maritime patrol level boat Dornier Wal D-10 (1928-1937) Aviolalanda, Papendrecht. Somewhere above Dutch New Guinea

Arrival by plane of General M.P.J.F. Koenig, commander of the French occupation zone in Germany, for a visit to the Netherlands in April 1948. The plane (Lockheed 12) has Dutch license plates and the name "Utrecht".

America's ***** in the Air -- A fine study of an American Hoeing B-17 bomber flying above the clouds. Machines such as these are being sent to Britain in increasing numbers. November 1, 1941. (Photo by L.N.A.)

England Sees New French Giant of The Air -- The "Latecoere 631 arriving at Hythe, Hampshire.The new French flying-boat "Latecoare 631" arrived at Hythe, Hampshire, on a demonstration flight. This giant of the air has a remarkable history. The building was begun in 1938 and was almost ready when the German invaded France in 1940. The craft was dismantled and parts hidden all over the country, until after the liberation, when it was reassembled.The Six-engined Latecoere is the biggest flying-boat yet built in Europe. It has a wing-span of 188 feet, is 142 feet in length and is 34 feet in height. July 16, 1947.

DA-SN-86-08581. Country: France (FRA)

Five aircraft B 4 in the air Five aircraft B 4 from F 1 Hässlö flying in V-formation.

Italian Plane In Maine Prepares For Flight Over Ocean -- The Sabelli Plane, Rome at the Scarborough airport on its arrival here from Connecticut piloted by Roger Williams, and carrying its crew of three, the plane will proceed to Old Orchard where final preparations for the flight to Rome will be made. September 17, 1928. (Photo by International Newsreel Photo).

American Aircraft in RAF Service 1939-1945- Lockheed Model 10a Electra. Electra, W9104, of No. 24 Squadron RAF, taxying on an airfield in the United Kingdom. Formerly G-AFEB of British Airways Ltd, this aircraft was impressed into the RAF and delivered to No. 24 Squadron on 18 December 1939. It was struck off charge after a landing accident at Clifton, Yorkshire, on 12 October 1941.

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. Penfoei airport at Koepang. Tail of the army plane. June 1946. Indonesia, Kupang, Dutch East Indies, Timor

Royal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. A Bristol Blenheim Mark IV of No. 11 Squadron RAF, takes off from Racecourse airfield, Colombo, Ceylon.

Britain's Newest Airliner -- Imperial Airways has ordered five de Havilland Albatross monoplanes (four Gipsy-Twelve 550 h.p. engines), each of them transporting approximately 20 passengers and a big load of mails. Cruising at considerably more than 200 m.p.h. (322 km./h.) the Albatross is to-day the world's fastest four- engined airliner. The photograph shows the first Albatross above the clouds at the start of "altitude" tests undertaken to check rate of climb, attainable "ceiling", and engine

Cessna C-78, "Mother" Plane, Guiding A Culver Pq 8A "Red Fox", Radio Controlled Plane, To Target. Wheeler Field, Oahu, Hawaii, 15 April 1944.

Three aircraft t 2 fly over field . Three aircraft t 2 fly over fields.

Robot Plane Takes Off On Test Flight -- The government's robot controlled plane took off from the Oakland, Calif., airport March 16 at 1:59 p.m. on another of the test flights designed to prepare it for its hop to Hawaii. The flight, according to Airport officials, was expected to last three or four hours. March 16, 1935. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

British Overseas Airways Corporation and Qantas, 1940-1945. A fitter checks one of the DH Gipsy Twelve engines on De Havilland DH.91Albatross, G-AFDK Fortuna of BOAC, at Whitchurch, Hampshire. Parked on the apron beyond 'Fortuna' is another BOAC aircraft, Avro Anson, G-AGGK.

Italian torpedo bomber, Savoia-Macchetti S-79 coming in for a landing.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Reportage Hollandia. Aeroplane. February 1947. Hollandia, Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, New Guinea

Minus its cargo-carrying detachable fuselage, the new Fairchild XC-120 Packplane taxis easily on its specially-designed quad- ricycle landing gear. The cargo compartment fits beneath the plane, held in place by four centrally-placed connections. October 01, 1950. (Photo by Dan Frankforter, Fairchild Aircraft).;Minus its cargo-carrying detachable fuselage, the new Fairchild XC-120 Packplane taxis easily on its specially-designed quad- ricycle landing gear. The cargo compartment fits beneath the p

Aircraft J 21A and J 21R at Saab's airfield in Linköping, 1950s. Two aircraft, J 21A and J 21R set at Saab's airfield in Linköping.

For towing the plane portion of the new Fairchild XC-120 Packplane without its cargo-carrying fuselage, a long bar extends between the two nose wheels to provide easier turning and steering. This bar is not used in taxiing or landing the plane. October 01, 1950. (Photo by Virts, Fairchild Aircraft).;For towing the plane portion of the new Fairchild XC-120 Packplane without its cargo-carrying fuselage, a long bar extends between the two nose wheels to provide easier turning and steering. This bar

Close up view of the British Horsa Glider with American marking as it is being used in the Second Front by 9th Air force Troop Carrier Command.

Anefo photo collection. New American Martin Factory flight. June 23, 1948

A plurality of ski 14a stands on an airfield, 1942 motif: a plurality of aircraft sk 14a is on line on an airfield. View from below. In picture, aircraft marked number 81, 83, 84, 85.

Aircraft, Burma, India &Maintenance,

The Royal Navy during the Second World War A Fleet Air Arm Fairey Swordfish making a rocket assisted take off assisted from a Royal Naval Air Station.

Swedish jet fighter Date: circa 1950

The Famous Boeing B-29 'The Challenger' Taxies Down The Strip At Harmon Filed, Guam, Marianas Islands. The Plane, Carrying A Payload Of Approximately 34,000 Pounds, Broke The World'S Altitude Record When It Winged Its Way To A Height Of 37,400 Feet. Jun

Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Bristol Blenheim Mark IV, Z7631 'N', of No. 14 Squadron RAF, in flight over the Western Desert.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force- Avro 685 York. Avro York C Mark I, MW186, of No. 511 Squadron RAF, parked in a dispersal at Lyneham, Wiltshire.

In Catalina to ***** in cooks river. It is going to reconditioned at we Headlands work ***** for carpenters. February 11, 1947.

New German Bomber on Trial. A new German Bomber has been issued from the German works at Friedrichshafen. It is a single winged monoplane with twin Mehrzweck engines. The plane is an all steel model capable of a top speed (unloaded) of 313 m.p.h. It's normal load of bombs is 3½ tons. July 13, 1939.

Anefo photo collection. WI West Indies / Anefo London series. Visit Princess Juliana Suriname (1943). Princess Juliana visited Suriname landed November 1943 plane. Suriname flew upwind islands pamphlets scattered greeted residents regret visit her. photo KLM plane American combat aircraft accompaniment. November 1943

Wide Open For Britain's Shop-Window Air Show -- A Beverley R.A.F. Transport with its large doors folded back. The plane is one of the biggest in the Farnborough Air Display which opens on Tuesday. On Friday the public will be admitted to the show. September 06, 1953. (Photo by United Press Photo).

Paris International Air Show 1953. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Consolidated B-32S That Had Newly Arrived From Luzon, P.I. On Yonton Strip. Shown Is A B-32 Being Refueled Shortly After Arrival. Two Of These Planes While On A Photo Reconnaissance Over Japanesean Were Attacked After Japanese Peace Rumor. Both Planes Were Badly

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943 Short Sunderland Mark I, N9029 V, of No. 230 Squadron RAF, taking off from Aboukir Bay.

Observation plane.

Anefo photo collection. Dutch Gloster Meteor Mk.IV jet hunter of the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Volendam crevoted or emergency landing. September 28, 1949. Noord-Holland, Volendam

Cant Z 506 Airone seaplane from the Italian airforce, World War II, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year LXVIII, No 23, June 8, 1941.

Poll photo collection. Report Schiphol. KLM mail plane "Hawk" on the runway at Schiphol, drawn by a tractor. 1933. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Britain's Biggest, Fastest Military Transport Plane Leaves On 26,000-mile Test Flight -- The "Hastings" taking off from Radlett for the 26,000-mile flight - powered by its four Bristol 1,775 h.p. "Hercules" engines.Britain's latest military aircraft, the Handley-Pagen "Hastings" took off from Radlett Aerodrome for a combined tropical and operational test flight to Australia and New Zealand.The "Hastings"has a speed of 355 M.P.H. and accommodates fifty fully-equiped troops, or guns and lorries weighing a total of seven-and-a-half tons, and can also be used as a fighter or ambulance. March 10, 1948.

German Dornier Do-335.

"Hythe" Flying Boat. March 07, 1951. (Photo by The Sun Feature Bureau).

Anefo photo collection. Demonstration Safe Power, lifting tap truck for aircraft at Valkenburg (at Leiden). October 15, 1953. Valkenburg, South Holland

Poll photo collection. Report Schiphol. Albert Plesman, director of KLM is on the right wing of the "Arend" plane from Fokker behind the most right-hand aircraft motor. 1934. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Douglas C-47 "Skytrains" in formation over Lake Taal, Luzon, Philippine Islands.

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Fighter Command Typhoon IB DN406/PR-F of No 609 Squadron at Manston, 14 May 1943.

Collection of the Dutch Heidematschappij. Recreation sites, airports E.D., extensions, work, workers, Rotterdam airport. September 1964. Rotterdam, South Holland

North American P-51 (A/C No. 472163) Of The 78Th Fighter Group Crash-Landed On The Runway At 8Th Air Force Station F-357 In Duxford, England. 3 June 1945.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Opening New Station Building Airport Medan. Junction aircraft. P-51 Mustang. March 30, 1948. Indonesia, Medan, Dutch East Indies, Sumatra

Royal Air Force Flying Training Command, 1940-1945. A GAL Hotspur training glider of No. 2 Glider Training School coming in to land over other Hotspurs at Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire.

Looking Like No Constellation Ever Seen - Before, the U. S. Navy's PO-IW Constellation designed to test airborne electronic devices, is shown taking off for its first test flight from Lockheed Air Terminal, Burbank, California. A modified version of Lockheed's familiar commercial transport now in service on 12 major world airlines, the Navy Constellation's flight characteristics are not drastically affected by the bulky radomes visible on the top and bottom of the fuselage. Lockheed Chief Pilot, Joe Towle, flew the airplane on its first hop lasting two hours 15 minutes. April 7, 1955.

North American P-51's in...

A rear view of an A-6E Intruder aircraft resting on its left wingtip after making an arrested emergency landing. The aircraft's port main landing gear was jammed in the up position by the port engine access door. Base: Naval Air Station, Pensacola State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Princess's Plane In King's Cup Race -- Seen at Elmdon Airport, Birmingham, is the blue and gold Miles Whitney Straight aircraft entered by Princess Margaret, for the King's Cup race - "Derby' of the air - taking place at Elmdon to-day (Saturday).In the cockpit is Group-captain Peter Townsend, a Royal equerry and wartime combatant, who will pilot the machine in the race. This is the first King's Cup race since 1938. July 30, 1949. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

PBM-5A, Martin Paliol flying boat. October 02, 1951.

Streamlined For Speed -- This picture of the new de Havilland Albatross monoplane (four Gipay-Twelve engines) shows admirably the perfect shape of the fuselage and the close streamline fairings of the air-cooled engines. The Air Ministry has ordered two Albatrosses for transatlantic airmail experiments, and four passenger-carrying models have also been laid down. The Albatross is designed to cruise at more than 200 m.p.h. March 13, 1937.;Streamlined For Speed -- This picture of the new de Havill

748 - "Seafarer" Seafarer' II - (Mollison Planes) - Aviation. December 3, 1934.

Boeing B-17 Flying ofrtress on way to bomb Oschersleben, Germany.

The first photo of the powerful Northrop Flying Wing YB-49 in flight shows the huge U.S. Air Forces bomber, longest-ranging jet airplanes in the world, knifing through the air high above the California desert. Currently undergoing tests at Muroc Army Air Field, the unconventional, but highly-efficient tailless craft is the world's most powerful airplane. Its eight jet engines provide the equivalent of 32,000 horse-power to thrust the 172-foot wing span craft through the air at undisclosed speeds

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Aviation day military aviation at Kemajoran airport. Fly show. Mustang P51. March 9, 1947. Batavia, Indonesia, Jakarta, Kemajoran, Dutch East Indies

Velivolo G-12. 1967

Anefo photo collection. Demonstration Safe Power, lifting tap truck for aircraft at Valkenburg (at Leiden). October 15, 1953. Valkenburg, South Holland

Anefo photo collection. Arrival of the first plane of the KLM in West Indie. March 7, 1946. Caribbean, West Indies

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Aviation day military aviation at Kemajoran airport. Fly show. Catalina air boats fly over the airport. March 9, 1947. Batavia, Indonesia, Jakarta, Kemajoran, Dutch East Indies

A Douglas C-47 parked in front of the Mediterranean Air Transport Service, British, office at La Senia Airport, La Senia, North Africa. 2 October 1943.

Anefo photo collection. Aircraft at Valkenburg. Hawker Sea Fury. September 17, 1948. Valkenburg (South Holland)

Anefo photo collection. Demonstration Safe Power, lifting tap truck for aircraft at Valkenburg (at Leiden). October 15, 1953. Valkenburg, South Holland

Aircraft/S.O. 9000 "Trident". Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

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