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Historic Aircraft Moments

A collection of vintage aircraft images, showcasing various models and incidents from the mid-20th century, featuring notable landings, crashes, and air shows.

Mission To Moscow Air Liner Crashes At Heath Row -- The crashed aircraft showing its nose in the Canal.Mr. Horald Wilson, Secretary for Overseas trade, was injured at London Airport, when the Air Liner, which had brought him back from Moscow on the conclusion of his talks there, crashed on loading.Members of the British trade delegation to Moscow had narrow escapes from death when their York airliner crashed on landing at Heath Row Airport, near London, last Saturday week. Mr. Harold Wilson, secretary for Overseas Trade and leader of the delegations, escaped with bruises. July 26, 1947. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
Mission To Moscow Air Liner Crashes At Heath Row -- The crashed aircraft showing its nose in the Canal.Mr. Horald Wilson, Secretary for Overseas trade, was injured at London Airport, when the Air Liner, which had brought him back from Moscow on the conclusion of his talks there, crashed on loading.Members of the British trade delegation to Moscow had narrow escapes from death when their York airliner crashed on landing at Heath Row Airport, near London, last Saturday week. Mr. Harold Wilson, secretary for Overseas Trade and leader of the delegations, escaped with bruises. July 26, 1947. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
301 assets in this story
Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Short S.29 Stirling. Stirling Mark I, N3641 MG-D, of No. 7 Squadron RAF, running up its engines on the ground at Oakington, Cambridgeshire.Boeing B-17 "Flying ofrtress" damage to right Aileron.Royal Air Force Coastal Command- No. 247 Group Operations in the Azores, 1943-1945. Aircraft parked at the Transport Command Staging Post at Lagens. In the foreground is the tail of a Douglas C-54A Skymaster of USAAF Air Transport Command, and in the background a Consolidated Liberator B Mark VI of the RAF, being ferried from the United States to the United Kingdom for operational service.Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Bristol Type 152 Beaufort. Bristol Beaufort Mk I, N1172 'AW-S', of No 42 Squadron RAF based at Leuchars, Fife, in flight.Loaded with its wounded human cargo, the Douglas C-54 Skymaster bound for America, takes off from the great trans-Atlantic airdrome at Prestwick, England.The new Aircraft "Heron" that arrived from London to day at Bankstown to day. Having a cruising speed of 165 M.P.H. and Valued at £37,500 the aircraft is the first to arrive in Australia. May 11, 1952. (Photo by Mulligan J. A.).A Douglas C-47 Of The 439Th Troop Carrier Group Taking Off On A Mission From An Air Base Somewhere In England. 29 May 1944.An Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk V of No. 58 Squadron RAF takes off on a night sortie from Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, June 1940. Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mark V, N1463 'GE-L', of No. 58 Squadron RAF, takes off on a night sortie from Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire. This aircraft later went missing during a bombing sortie to Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on 17/18 June 1940.Lancaster aircraft Description: Lancaster aircraft: Lancaster III ED825-G Date: 1943 airplane, aircraft, aviation, wwii, rr, rollsroyce, merlin, lancaster, ww2, bomber, raf, airfield, avro, militaryaviation, secondworldwar, dambusters, royalairforce, avrolancaster, lancasterbomber, merlinengine, rollsroycemerlin, 617squadron, avroe, operationchastise, rrmerlin, avrolancasteriii, lancasteriiied825gVintage Photograph. US Air Force Northrop F-89J Scorpion in flight.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, SumatraAirplane TP 9 from F 1 and S 18 from F 3, 1947 Motifs: Aircraft TP 9 No. 78 from F 1 Västerås and aircraft 18 from F 3 Malmen flying over landscapes. In the foreground, part of propeller is visible from another aircraft.Airplane Saab Safir SE-CAE in the air. Aircraft Saab Safir SE-CAE in the air.'Imperial Airways Ltd Ensign Air Liner', c1930s. Artist: UnknownAviation. December 4, 1946.The annual air photo exploration competition Royal Flush IV for NATO countries that was held in the Netherlands for the first time and this time parked at the Eindhoven airbase.Two apparatus of the French Air Force of the NORT NORATLAS type. Ground photo archive Klu no. 1521.Aircraft, Burma, India &Maintenance, PAINTING &WASHING WarAirplane TP 80 001 on the runway. Aircraft TP 80 001 Related to the experimental center is on a runway.Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Handley Page Hp.52 Hampden and Hereford. Hereford Mark I, L6006, at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, where it served with the Special Duties Flight of The Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment until July 1940.Vintage photograph. US Navy North American Aviation AJ-1 carrier based large attack bomber in flightMade-To-Measure -- A Pan-American aircraft in the unusual looking nose-dock at London Airport.A curious looking hangar, built been erected as an engine dock for aircraft at London Airport by Pan American Airways. It is fitted with fluorescent lighting with power from its own petrol electric engine, and has been constructed to give comfortable working conditions to engineers engaged on routine overhaul in the Winter. As the structure is not take the weight of an engine, removal has to be done outside by crane. May 04, 1949. (Photo by Fox Photos).DN-SN-86-03131. Country: UnknownFlight formation of F-9f Blue Angels1950s FRONT OF JET AIRPLANE SLIDING COCKPIT FORWARD GUN BAY WITH DOOR OPEN ON TARMAC AT LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE HAMPTON VA USAAir Force week 1960 -- RAAF Vampire ***** Melbourne. September 11, 1950.Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Short S.25 Sunderland. Sunderland Mark I, L2163 &#145;DA-G&#146;, of No. 210 Squadron RAF based at Oban, in flight over the Atlantic while escorting Canadian Troop Convoy 6 (TC.6), inbound for Greenock."Memphis Belle", 3/4 front view, close-up.Simplicity And Streamlining Were Prime Factors In German Jet Engine Design, As Shown Below In Night Flight Version Of Me 262, France."Wings" For The Duke Of Edinburgh -- The Duke of Edinburgh at the controls of a plane at White Waltham, prior to taking-off for his final training flight at White Waltham yesterday.The Duke of Edinburgh completed his flying training at the R.A.F. Station at White Waltham, (Berks) yesterday morning and received his "wings" from the Chief of the yesterday afternoon (Monday May 4th). May 5, 1953. (Photo by Fox Photos).Our Fastest Airliner Has First Flight -- The new Hand lay Page 357 mph Hermes 17 after taking-off for it's first flight.Britain's fastest airliner, the Handley Page Hermes IV, 357 mph., made it's first flight at Radlett, Herts., and was in the air for 75 minutes piloted by Squadron-Leader H.G. Hazleden. According to observers on board, the machine behaved perfectly. The B.O.A.C. has ordered 25 of these 40-seats liners for use on Empire routes, and delivery is to begin early-next year.Hermes IV, has a cruising speed of 300 mph and a range of 3,500 miles. September 6, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).Worlds largest bomber planeAircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Airspeed As.10 Oxford. Oxford Mark II, V3792 73, of No. 3 Flying Instructors School based at Castle Combe, Wiltshire, coming in to land at Hullavington.Lockheed F-5 "Lightning" Taking Off From Lingayen Airstrip, Luzon Island, Philippine Islands, 17 May 1945. These Planes Operated Over Formosa.Poll photo collection. Report Schiphol. An airplane on the runway at Schiphol. 1933. Amsterdam, Noord-HollandThe Royal Air Force in the 1930s Handley Page Harrows of No. 214 Squadron RAF, parked in front of the hangars at Feltwell, Norfolk, in the spring of 1938.Anefo photo collection. The appliedW 114 The world's groan plane at Schiphol. May 29, 1964. Noord-Holland, SchipholParis International Air Show 1953. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and PersonnelAnefo photo collection. Visit of Veldmaarschalk Montgomery to Amsterdam (1945). Montgomery in conversation with Prince Bernhard after leaving the plane. 1945W.H. MCAVOY AMES TEST PILOT RETURNING FROM AN EARLY FLIGHT OF FIRST TEST AIRPLANE AT AMES, A NORTH AMERICAN O-47F-51 Mustang taxis through a puddle in Korea, September 1951Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- General Aircraft Gal.48 Hotspur. Two Hotspur Mark IIs (BT551 &#145;L&#146; nearest) of No. 2 Glider Training Unit based at Weston-on-the-Green, in free flight over the Oxfordshire countryside.Photograph of Crew Filling an Auxiliary Fuel Tank on the Wing of The Truculent Turtle Before Takeoff in Perth, Australia.Low angle view of a military airplane in flightAircraft, Burma, India &Aircraft, TAKE-OFF,BOEING WarRoyal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. Gloster Meteor Mark IIIs (EE354 'XL-H' nearest) of No, 1335 (Meteor) Conversion Unit taxy to dispersal after a demonstration flight for the Brazilian Air Minister and his party at Molesworth, Huntingdonshire.Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Coastal CommandJet Plane -- America's Latest. With its four jet engines roaring, an XB-45 credited with a speed of "more than 4801 miles an hour" sweeps the deck at the US Air Force Muroc Test Base. More than 100 of these bombers are being built for the Air Force at Long Beach, California. April 14, 1948.Anefo photo collection. Children's broadcast to England. Airplane becomes follower tank. 1945Saab 29 Tarn at F 8 BARKARBY CA 1950-1951 Saab 29 Throw landed on F 8 Svea Flight Fleet at Barkarby about 1950-1951. Photographed by Georg Eriksson, consignificant on F 8 during these years.Aircraft, Burma, India &Aircraft, LANDING,BOEING WarA Douglas C-54 Is Parked At An Air Transport Command Base In China. Note The Trucks Loaded With Fuel Drums In The Background. July 1943.Col. Lindbergh Takes Deliver Of His Special Touring Plane -- Colonel Lindbergh flying away from reading airdrome after taking delivery of his new touring plane. Colonel Charles Lindbergh, famed American flyer, took final delivery of the special built for him here to the designs of Mr. and Mrs. F.G. Miles. The machine, a 200 horse power, can fly non-stop at 200 miles per hour for 1,000 miles. It is to be used for touring Europe. February 22, 1937. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).High angle view of a group of people standing near a fighter plane, B-58 HustlerUnited States Air Service -- The German four-engined "Nordemeer" arrived Lisbon, and left there at 10 O'clock for Horta (Azora ***** with its Commander the Airman Blackenburg, Comte de victories Federation, the pilot, Count Schack, Flight Captain von Buddenrock, a wireless operator, a mechanic and the Portuguese Wing Commander Carlos Beja, representing the Portuguese Government. From Horta, the "Nordmeer" will be catapulted by the S.S. "Frizenlands" on her journey to the U.S.A. On the return jouJ 26 on F 8 BARKARBY CA 1950-1951 Motiv: J 26 landed on F 8 Svea Flight Fleet at Barkarby about 1950-1951. Photographed by Georg Eriksson, consignificant on F 8 during these years.Grinnell shows other ground crew members hole in right stabilizer sliced by the runaway prop.Paris International Air Show 1953. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and PersonnelThis Bell Xv-3 Convertriplane, developed for the Army, was unveiled recently at the Bell Aircraft Corporation plant, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. The Aircraft has combination rotor-propellers which operate as helicopter rotors for take-offs and landings and tilt forward to perform as conventional propellers for cruising and high speed flight. February 18, 1955.Inauguration Of The Empire Air Mail Programme -- The "Centurioin" ready to leave under the inaguration of the Empire Air Mail Scheme today, June 29. August 3, 1937.;Inauguration Of The Empire Air Mail Programme -- The "Centurioin" ready to leave under the inaguration of the Empire Air Mail Scheme today, June 29.Used Extensively For R.A.F. Work -- Fire we see the Flamingo (two Perseus engines) planes which are used extensively for R.A.F. work, although originally designed as a commercial aeroplane. ***** for 402 gallons are provided. The maximum speed is speed m.p.h. 6,500 ft. January 17, 1941. (Photo by London News Agency Photos Ltd.).St. Louis, MIssouri: June 30, 1931 The 400 Racer airplane in which Major Doolittle hopes to break the world's speed record. The plane crashed in a test flight when the wing structure weakened and Doolittle threw the plane into an inside loop and leaped to safety from 200 feet in a parachute.Royal Air Force- 1939-1945- Coastal Command Close-up of the nose of a Sunderland of No 210 Squadron at Oban, August 1940. A mooring compartment was situated in the nose of the Sunderland, containing anchor, winch, boat-hook and ladder. The front turret was designed to slide back, enabling the crew to secure the aircraft to a buoy, as demonstrated here. The circle painted on the fuselage just below the cockpit is a gas-detection patch.B 5 Motor running on a field Airplane B 5 Marked number 25 With the engine running stands on a field. The aircraft belonging to F 4 Frösön. In the background, airplane B 5 marked number 23.Hr.Ms fly camp vessel. Karel Doorman (2) (1948-1968), A / B during journey from Smaleeld 5, consisting of Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman, Gelderland, Amsterdam and Sea Lion, to Lounyport, Key West, Tampa, Netherlands Antilles, Guantanamo and BermudaPlanes and hangers wrecked in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec 7, 1941. A B-17C near Hanger No 5 at Hickman Field.Sunderland Flying Boat moving slowly up to a mooring buoy at Rose Bay delete air standards each ***** of man standing. March 28, 1944.Anefo photo collection. B49 April 1 Mop at Schiphol. April 1, 1949. Noord-Holland, SchipholThe "Yankee Clipper", The Pan-American Airways giant flying boat, Arrives at Southampton after her Trans-Atlantic Flight.The "Yankee Clipper" morning at Southampton. April 04, 1939. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).Britain's Latest Jet Takes The Air -- Britain's latest jet fighter the Hawker N7/46 during it's flight to-day (Tuesday). Britain's latest jet fighter the Hawker N7/46 gave it's first public performance at Langley, Bucks. to-day (Tuesday) when Mr. "Wimpey" Wade, the Company's Chief Test Pilot put the new naval strike aircraft through it's paces at well over 600mph. He was cheered by hundreds of Hawker Aircraft workers as he was lifted out of the bubble cockpit after the flight. August 24, 1948. (Paris International Air Show 1953. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and PersonnelTHE CONSTELLATION'S WING SPAN of 123 feet is three feet greater than the distance covered by Orwille Wright in the first Heavier-than-air flight in 1903.The wing of Lockheed's big supertransport is an aerodynamtic enlarge- ment of the P-38 "Lithning's" wing, proven for strength and stability on the fighting fronts.Lockheed-Fowler flaps give it three distinct sets of flying characteristics for fast flight# for quick take-off and maneuvering# >> and for slow, sure landing. (T-8475)".Of The Secret List To-day -- Nearest the camera is the Venom high altitude day fighter. The Vampire night-fighter is seen next with a mechanic working outside the cockpit. At the preview of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors' show at Farnborough, Hants to-day were two new de Havilland jet fighters, which have just come off the secret ***** to-day in time for the show. September 6, 1949. ;Of The Secret List To-day -- Nearest the camera is the Venom high altitude day fighter. The Vampir'The Avro Anson XX', c1940s. Artist: UnknownThis Dornier 335, Shown With American Markings Is Driven By A Propeller Mounted In The Front And By Another Installed In Rear. France.Aircraft of the Royal Air Force, 1939-1945- Supermarine Spitfire. Spitfire F Mark XII, MB882 EB-B of No. 41 Squadron RAF, on the ground at Friston, Sussex. Note the slipper fuel tank fitted between the undercarriage.Soviet aircraft Ilehin DB-3 stands on a field during the Finnish winter war subject: Soviet aircraft Ilehin DB-3 stands in a field during the Finnish winter war, 1940. People in motion around. Picture from F 19, the Swedish NGO in Finland.Artwork: "F-106, Montana Air National Guard" Artist: Dick Kramer. Country: UnknownAircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,Transportation WarLockheed Transport Plane. This image depicts a Lockheed Aircraft Company transport plane, V-151.Subjects: Jim King Collection; Transportation; Aircraft; Aircraft; Alaska. . 1998 - 2011.British Overseas Airways Corporation and Qantas, 1940-1945. Boeing Model 314A 'Clipper', G-AGCA 'Berwick', of BOAC, lands on Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria, for moorings at the West African flying boat terminal at Iquoi <Ikoyi>.Royal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. Captured Fiat CR.42, BT474, of the Air Fighting Development Unit, parked in a dispersal at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. The aircraft was salvaged following a forced landing at Orfordness, Suffolk, on 11 November 1940, and was kept by the AFDU through the war. It is currently preserved and displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum Hendon, as MM5701 '13-95'.Aircraft J 9 in the air Hunting aircraft J 9 marked 28 from F 8 Barkarby in the air.An Aeronca Tg-5 Light Glider Of The 1St Air Commando Group Is Towed By A Noorduyn C-64 Norseman While On A Practice Flight Over Asansol, India. 14 August 1944.The Mosquito - The world's fastest bomber -- A line of Mosquito planes, drawn up at a British Base, ready to start on an operational flight. December 01, 1942. (Photo by Planet News Ltd.).Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Westland Whirlwind. Whirlwind Mark I, P7094 HE-T, of No. 263 Squadron RAF, on the ground at Warmwell, Dorset, with Flying Officer J P Coyne, a Canadian pilot, in the cockpit. The markings below the cockpit indicate that this aircraft was presented to the RAF by the Bellows Foundation in South America.Sabre Jets For R.A.A.F. -- F.86 Sabre Jet fighters, as shown in this photo, are to be produced in Australia for the R.A.A.F. Sabres have fought Russian-built jet in Korea. They are designed and produced in California by North American Aircraft, Los Angeles. They are described as the best United Nations jet fighters yet made. February 27, 1952. (Photo by R.A.A.F. Official).;Sabre Jets For R.A.A.F. -- F.86 Sabre Jet fighters, as shown in this photo, are to be produced in Australia for the R.A.A.F.Aviation 849A - Douglas Dakotas, D63/4/5 Airlines & Uiver. D.C. 2. May 3, 1954.British Overseas Airways Corporation and Qantas, 1940-1945. Short S.23 'C' Class Empire Flying Boat, G-ADUV 'Cambria' of BOAC, taking off from the Nile at Rod-el-Farag flying boat base, Cairo.Royal Air Force Bomber Command 1939-1941. Handley-Page Halifax B Mark II Series Is of No. 35 Squadron RAF, taking off from Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire.Photograph showing Mrs. Beryl Markham's (1903-1986) aeroplane stuck in a bog on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, 1936. This was the end of Mrs. Markham's flight from RAF Abingdon, in England, to North America, whereby she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic solo from East to West. Mrs. Markham was, fortunately, unhurt in the landing. Date: 1936New British Jet Fighter May Be World' Fastest Details Just Released -- A side-on view of the new top secret superjet hawker P1067, first details of which have just been released in London by the Hawker Siddeley Group with a statement by Sir Frank Spencer Spriggs, K.B.E., saying 'we believe this is the best fighting aircraft flying anywhere in the world to-day.' Designed by the famous Hawker team, led by Sidney Camm, C.B.E., of Hurricane fame, and developed and produced at gone through its first flight trials at the Ministry of Supply experimental station at Boscombe Down, piloted by Squadron Leader Neville Duke, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C. July 26, 1951.Artwork: "ME-109" Artist: L. Wenninger. Country: UnknownRoyal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. Hurricane Mark I, V7608 XR-J, of No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF, lined up with other aircraft at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire.Date Dec 6, 1951 NACAAv - Qantas - Cooee - Aricraft. July 13, 1938.Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Catalina flight floats on a river. 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East IndiesUSA: A B-25 Mitchell medium bomber gunship parked on a runway c. 1945Bristol Blenheim Mk IV of No. 40 Squadron RAF, July 1940. Blenheim Mark IV, R3612 &#145;BL-V&#146;, of No. 40 Squadron RAF based at Wyton, Huntingdonshire, in flight. R3612 previously served with the Photographic Development Unit. It was lost with its entire crew on 8/9 September 1940 during a night raid on invasion barges at Ostend.