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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
British passenger liner with BOAC. Date: circa 1950The plane Savoia-Marchetti S.64 by ferrari and del prete takes off for trasvolata Italy- brazil, 1928Killer Gnat - The Folland Gnat, Britain's latest light jet fighter with a speed near that of sound.The plane, powered by the new Bristol Orpheus turbo jet, made its first last Monday afternoon. Dimensionally, it closely resembles its forerunner, the Midge, which is a low power version of the Gnat. The Midge, with the lower power engine, has a level flight speed of over 600 miles per hour and has several times reached supersonic speed in a dive. July 19, 1955. (Photo by Reuterphoto).Small, but Oh My!. With respect to size - the Coast Guard plane "dwarfs" the camera, yet this 9-lens wonder camera of the Coast and Geodetic Survey - the only one of its kind in the world - it is valued at $100,000. The cost of the plane was in the neighborhood of $200,000. This plane, a converted B-17, flying fortress of World War II fame, has been especially modified for map-making and carries the wonder camera on map-making flights for eight to ten months of each year. Eight Coast guardsmen "man" the plane - two members of the Coast and Geodetic Survey operate the camera. On a recent "mission" the two camera operators were ex-coast guardsmen - making it a real "family affair".Royal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. Gloster Meteor F Mark I of No. 616 Squadron RAF, based at Manston, Kent, in flight over the countryside between West Hougham and Dover.Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,Transportation WarGiant new flying boat -- The new three-decker flying - boat Solent, after its arrival in Sydney. Purchased by Tasman Empire Airways, the flying-boat will be used on the Sydney - Auckland service. September 29, 1949.Britain Had 1,000 M. P. H. Jet Almost Ready -- A model of the miles 'Bullet' aircraft designed to fly at 1,000 M. P. H.Within a few months of completion, production orders were cancelled for miles M.52. Jet plane which was designed to fly at 1,000 M. P. H. This piloted projectile shaped machine, was first planned at the request of air ministry, about three years ago, but orders were cancelled for 'reasons of economy' in February. September 06, 1946. (Photo by United Kingdom Information Office).A Cg-4 Glider Of The 439Th Troop Carrier Group At An Airfield Somewhere In England. 3 July 1944.Photograph showing a British Boulton Paul 'Defiant' fighter airplane, flying over Southern Britain in 1940. The four-gun turret, situated behind the pilot, is clearly visible in this image. Date: 1940Poll photo collection. Berlin airport - Tempelhof. V.l.n.r. A pilot and Harry Laponder at the JUKERS JU-52 / 3M D-2624 Rudolf Berthold at Berlin airport - Tempelhof. October 1934. Berlin, Germany1930s 1940s PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS CLIPPER FLYING BOAT BOEING 314 FLOATING AT DOCK IN THE WATER 'Parasite' Fighter Plane -- Mounted on a special dolly, the U.S. Air Force's new 'parasite' jet-powered fighter plane, the XF-85 (above) is ready for ground and wind tunnel tests. Plane has no landing gear and is designed to fit into the bomb bay of a B-36 from which all landings and takeoffs are made by means of a hooking mechanism. Craft has a wing span of 21 feet and is 15 feet long. Wings are folded back within the bomb bay. Odd tail assembly gives maximum flight stability and still permits Vintage Photograph. Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Bomber.S.B.A.C. Flying Display At Farnborough -- An Avro Vulcan delta-wing bomber powered by four Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire jet engines seen landing at Farnborough with the assistance of a parachute after demonstration flight today. September 9, 1953. (Photo by Fox Photos).;S.B.A.C. Flying Display At Farnborough -- An Avro Vulcan delta-wing bomber powered by four Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire jet engines seen landing at Farnborough with the assistance of a parachute after demonstration flight today.Close-up of tail of Curtiss C-46 being repaired with parts taken from another C-46.An underside view of a Soviet Tu-16 Badger reconnaissance aircraft during a probing mission north of the British Isles. Country: North Atlantic OceanAircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Percival Q.6 Petrel. Q.6 “Petrel”, P5634, of the RAF Northolt Station Flight, parked alongside Bristol Blenheims at Wyton, Huntingdonshire.A new version of the Lockheed "Neptune" for air-sea rescue york, carries a big well-equipped lifeboat under the fuselage. A fleet of Neptune long-range patrol bombers has been ***** New bomber. A Lockheed Neptune long=range patrol bomber a number of which has been ordered for the RAAF. This one is carrying a big, well-equipped lifeboat under the fuselage for air-sea rescue work. May 11, 1951. ;A new version of the Lockheed "Neptune" for air-sea rescue york, carries a big well-equipped lifeboat uRoyal Air Force- West Africa Command, 1941-1945. Short Sunderland, T9040 'SE-E', of No. 95 Squadron RAF, moored in Fourah Bay, Freetown, Sierra Leone.Vintage photograph. US Air Force North American Aviation T-28 Advanced TrainerLA - Port Eads Depot. Port Eads Depot, Louisiana. Additional unidentified negatives.A Douglas C-54 'Skymaster', Air Transport Command, Is Being Loaded With Rations And Plane Parts By A Fork Lift Truck On Kadena Airstrip - Destination, Japanesean. Another Elevator Truck With Rations Is Patiently Waiting Its Turn To Be Loaded On Board This CarA TA-3B Skywarrior aircraft from Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron 33 (VAQ-33) approaches to land aboard the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63) (not visible). Country: UnknownRoyal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. Supermarine Spitfire Mark VIII, LV648, prepares to move from its dispersal point on the Maidan in Calcutta, India to take off on the Red Road. This area of central Calcutta was cordoned off to traffic and used as an airstrip for the defence of the city from Japanese air raids.Royal Air Force Ferry Command, 1941-1943. Lockheed Hudson Mark IIIs are prepared for their trans-Atlantic ferry flights at Gander, Newfoundland. At left, one is being refuelled for the journey while two aircraft facing the camera undergo engine checks. Five aircraft facing the runway are ready for the flight and a final Hudson can be seen about to land after flying from the main Ferry Command airport at Dorval, Ontario.DN-SN-85-10423. Country: UnknownWewak Airdrome, Northeast...Anefo photo collection. D6 PH-TKW "Wilhelmina" van de KLM crashed Schiphol training flight. 2 1948. SchipholVampire jet planes from 78 Fighter Wing ***** about to ***** off for a ***** to days ***** the city of there planes ***** been selected for ***** then Middle East of Korea. March 13, 1952. (Photo by Martin/Fairfax Media).Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,GLIDERS WarAircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,BOMBS WarAnefo photo collection. KLM Instruction department. January 2, 1946. Noord-Holland, SchipholAircraft, Burma, India &Aircraft, TAKE-OFF,BOEING WarArtwork: "AN Engine Fire on a JU-88" Artist: H. Recksiegel. Country: UnknownVintage Photograph. Lockheed X F-104 Starfighter supersonic fighterUS Navy FJ2 in flightA right side view of a Soviet Tu-126 Moss airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft in flight. Country: UnknownDN-SN-86-00495. Country: UnknownThe United States Navy recently authorized production of a "Sizeable quantity" of its new F7U-3 "Cutlass", a radical twinjet, tail-less, fighter plane. Adapted to aircraft carrier operation, the fast-climbing airplane 30mbines high-altitude performance and extreme maneuverability. The Cutlass bas a top speed of more than 600 miles per hour, and is powered by two trubo-jet engines, with after-burners for short bursts of additional speed. The F7U-3 Cutlass is shown during a recent test flight is tWreck, airfield Two aircraft albatrosses wrecked. Work to turn the plan right is ongoing.Three-quarter left rear view of a Douglas RB-26 Invader (s/n: 44-35651; c/n 28930) being towed by a small tractor. A row of parked RB-26 Invaders is visible in the background.. Three-quarter left rear view of a Douglas RB-26 Invader (s/n: 44-35651; c/n 28930) being towed by a small tractor. A row of parked RB-26 Invaders is visible in the background..Anefo photo collection. Children's broadcast to England. Girl at plane. 1945Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- De Havilland Dh 95 Flamingo and Hertfordshire. Flamingo R2766 Lady of Glamis, of No. 24 Squadron RAF based at Hendon, Middlesex, in flight.Natousa Anti-Malarial Organization Aircraft Phase. Douglas A-20 Havoc Modified For Dusting, Being Loaded With Paris Green Dust For Anti-Malarial Mission. Italy.American Aircraft in RAF Service 1939-1945- Curtis Hawk 81a Tomahawk. Two Tomahawk Mark IIBs on a test flight following assembly at No. 107 Maintenance Unit, Kasfareet, Egypt.B-57B in flightBoeing Strato jet tanker refueling another B - 47 Strato jet medium bomber"Planes With A Bite" - At The Air Show -- In the right background is a British Overseas Airways Corporation "Comet" - the world's first jet airliner. Aircraft that 'pack & punch' are on show at the society of British Aircraft Constructors' exhibition here. In the foreground is the Avro Type 707A, a delta-wing research aircraft, powered by one Rolls-Royce Derwent Turbo jet engine. September 1, 1952. (Photo by Planet News Ltd.).;"Planes With A Bite" - At The Air Show -- In the right background is He'll Pilot Vertical Takeoff Plane -- Test Pilot James F. (Skeets) Coleman, 35, looks over the revolutionary vertical takeoff plane which he is scheduled to pilot on its first test flights in the near future. The plane, built by Consolidate-Vultee Aircraft for the Navy, sits on its tail and takes off straight up. It backs down to the ground, tail first, when landing. The counter-rotating propellers had been removed when this picture was taken yesterday. Lockheed Aircraft has made a similar planeDN-SC-85-01953. Country: UnknownBritain's Latest Jet Fighter -- Britain's latest experimental Jet fighter, the Hawker P.1052, which has been designed and built for the purpose of obtaining accurate aerodynamic measurements at speeds approaching that of sound. Developed largely from an earlier model, the P.1040, the new aircraft is characterised by its swept-back wings, which make it easily recognisable in the air. It is powered by a single Rolls-Royce 'Nene' engine. Performance details are still secret. July 20, 1949.Hunter On Its Tail -- A Hawker Hunter, transonic single-seat day fighter, stands on its tail as it Zooms above the clouds. The Hunter, now in large-scale super-priority production for the Royal Air Force and the air arms of some other NATO countries, has briefly held the world speed record. October 26, 1954. (Photo by Reuterphoto).S. O. - 4050 Vautour Aircraft. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and PersonnelAir Ministry Second World War Official Collection Short Sunderland believed to be of No. 422 Squadron RCAF (identified by squadron code 2), at RAF Castle Archdale, Loch Erne, Northern Ireland.Airplane Installation Of Rc-103 Antenna And An/Arn-5 Antenna Used In Localizer-Glide Path Instrument Landing System. England.Naval Review Flypast - Here's just one section of the coronation naval review at Spithead, England, during the Naval Aircraft flypast salute today June 15.Queen Elizabeth II, aboard the Royal yacht "Surprise" reviewed some 300 British And Foreign warships. The flypast was made by about 300 planes. June 15, 1953. (Photo by Associated Press Photos Ltd.).With the Rock of Gibraltar as a background, a Douglas C-47, "Superman" transport plane parked at a Gibraltar airfield. 2 October 1943.Photo collection of the poll. Repatrict-range India. Ambulanses in the harbor van Tandjong Priok. 1946. Batavia, Indonesia, Jakarta, Dutch-India, Tandjong PriokTasman flight ***** Mrs. Battles machine coming to a standstill of Manager aerodrome, Auckland. November 2, 1936. (Photo by The N.Z. Herald).T-33A (49-0939)Arrived at NACA HSFS February 5, 1958Departed September 20, 1961 to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, for storage.British jet fighter Date: circa 1950The Lockheed P-3C (UPDATE II) Orion long distance maritime patrol goal 300 (1981-2006) on patrol over a foreign coast.Delta Wing Plane On View -- The A.V. Roe type 707, Delta-wing research aircraft is seen in flight at a preview of the society of British Aircraft constructors display at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough today, September 10. The 707 is powered by a Rolls-Royce derwent turbo-jet engine. The show will be open to the public from September 12. September 10, 1951. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).;Delta Wing Plane On View -- The A.V. Roe type 707, Delta-wing research aircraft is seen in Artwork: "Witold Urbanowicz's Hurricane, Sept. 1940" Artist: Max Crace. Country: UnknownThe Royal Navy during the Second World War A US seaplane, a Curtis SOC-3 Seagull, leaving its hangar, watched by US and British sailors at Royal Naval Air Station Hatston.The Refuelling taking place in the air. ***** The system, revealed here for the first time, was evolved by Sir Alan ***** collaboration with imperial airways. It means: 1. Safety in taking off on long-distance flights; 2. Safety in fuelling; 3. Safety in having adequate supplies of petrol. At present, a pilot about to take off on a long distance flight is torn between the desire to have sufficient petrol to meet all emergencies and the doubt as to whether the Wight will allow his 'plane to rise.Artwork: "Old But Not Forgotten" Artist: Dennis Merritt. Country: UnknownConnecticut - New London, Aerial Photograph.Pre-View At Farnborough Supermarine Swift, one Rolls-Royce Avon turbo-jet engine, single seat, swept-wing fighter, seen in flight at the Farnborough preview today. It is in super-priority production for the RAF. September 01, 1952.Douglas C-47 "Sure Skin" enroute to Finschhafen, N.E. New Guinea, carrying supplies for a fighter group. 18 December 1943.Crusader on runway. Navy aircraft number 6340. L59-6101 caption: The Navy's Vought XF8U-3 Supersonic Fighter was an entirely new design as compared to the earlier F8U Crusader series. This jet plane lost in competition with the McDonnell F4H, however, and was never put into production. Langley used the XF8U-3 in some of the first flight measurements of sonic boom intensity. Photograph published in Engineer in Charge A History of the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, 1917-1958 by James R. Hansen. Page 507. Caption: Chance Vought F8U-3 airplane used in sonic boom investigation at Wallops, June-August 1959. Photograph published in A New Dimension Wallops Island Flight Test Range: The First Fifteen Years by Joseph Shortal. A NASA publication. Page 672.Aircraft, Burma, India &Maintenance,Collection of the Dutch Heidematschappij. Recreation sites, airports E.D., Expansions TaxIbans, Workers, Ground Vibers, TD 3070. October 1963. Rotterdam, South HollandChildren admire a Hawker Hunter Mk.4 from the Royal Netherlands Air Force in the field of the Army and Air Force Exhibition "Paracy" in Zevenaar.Anefo photo collection. National Air Aviation Day Schiphol, O.A. Visit students. April 20, 1954. Noord-Holland, SchipholR.A.F. Over Greece. An R.A.F. Sunderland Flying Boat over the Isles of Greece. The R.A.F. is playing to small part in the successes against the Italian forces in Albania. March 7, 1941. (Photo by British Official Photograph).Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith with the Lady Southern Cross before his last flight. Kingsford-Smith . . . and the missing Aeroplane. August 27, 1934. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).An air-to-air right side view of a Soviet MiG-23 Flogger-G aircraft with an AA-7 Apex air-to-air missile attached to the outer wing pylon and an AA-8 Aphid air-to-air missile on the inner wing pylon. (From Soviet Military Power 1985). Country: UnknownA right side view of a T-34C Mentor trainer aircraft parked on the flight line. Base: Naval Air Station, Whiting Field State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)A Lockheed Hudson Mark V, AM853 'OY-K', of No 48 Squadron RAF based at Wick, Caithness, Scotland, in flight along the coast, early 1942.Vintage photograph. Air to air refueling of a USA fighter jet employing the British probe-drogue system"Fastest World" - First-In-Flight Picture Hawker P1067 -- ***** the fastest in the world" by Minister ***** Air Mr. Arthur Henderson, the British Hawker P1067 jet fighter is seen in this impressive first ***** picture.Performed details of the swept-back wing, Avon jet engine *****, are still a closely guarded secret. When jet takes its first public appearance at the forthcoming Farnborough air show it will be roped off and ***** will not be allowed near it.The plane is to go into quantity production for the Royal Air Force.Pharmacies Airplane Type P 6, 1944 The map of the map P 6 with registration designation SE-KAC, winter time. The aircraft seen obliquely from the side. Building in the background.Three-quarter right rear view of a North American RF-51D Mustang (s/n 44-84779; c/n 44635) taxiing, somewhere in Korea. Also visible are the noses of three other RF-51D Mustangs, including one with nickname 'Miss Mimi' (s/n 44-84778; c/n 44634), whose propeller is spinning. Another one is visible at the left of the image. In the background are three Douglas B-26 Invaders.Air Arrow Shows Shape Of Planes to Come -- This air-to-air picture gives a good view of the underside of the new Avro 707A Delta high-Speed research aircraft, during one of its successful test flights. Clearly shown are the air intakes at the wing roots, a future distinguishing the plane from the earlier Avro 707B, which had a single intake behind the cockpit. Since the 707A first flew in July, it has become increasingly clear that the delta shake has come to stay, one of its main advantages beiAviation in the 1962 victory parade.Vintage Photograph. Convair F-102A Supersonic Interceptors in formation. Frame 1Cunningham of the Comet, Cairo for Lunch - All in a Day's Work.With John Cunningham at the controls the Comet ***** into the air off the Hatfield runway for another test flight. It is from this aerodrome that the Comet has made most of its record-breaking flights to points in Europe and *****. May 1, 1950.Artwork: "Sprucing Up the Tub at Langley" Artist: Dick Kramer. Country: UnknownFlight drivers Torsten Rapp in driver's seat on airplane Flight drivers Torsten Rapp in driver's seat on airplaneThe Duke Flies Over Windsor -- The first air-to-air picture of the Duke of Edinburgh flying his Harvard trainer aircraft over Windsor Castle - One of his last flights before receiving his royal air force 'Wings'.The picture-was taken from another aircraft piloted by Flight-Lieutenant C.R. Gordon, the Duke's flying instructor. May 6, 1953. (Photo by United Press Photo).Air Arm's Salute for the King -- Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm in the fly-past the Royal Yacht, seen below, during the taken from on of the "Swordfish" Squadrons taking part. May 20, 1937.SNCASE Aircraft Factory (Armagnac, Vampire, Grognarde, Helicopters, Mistral). Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and PersonnelSome Aimer - Precision-built model of the 'Canberra', Britain's first jet bomber, is carried by Corporal Frank Pearson (of Iver, Buckinghamshire) into the Royal Horticultural Hall, Westminster, London, for the model Engineering Exhibition opening there tomorrow (Wednesday). The six-foot model was made by the English Electric Company, builder of the "Canberra' bomber, for exhibition on the Royal Air Force stand. August 21, 1951. (Photo by Reuterphoto).North American P-51B 'Mustang' fighter in flight over bay area. The P-51 with its new laminar-flow wing sections developed by NACA was the first airplane selected for testing of airplane drag in flight and wind tunnel comparisonDA-SN-85-13054. Country: Unknown'Hawker Hurricane Fighter', 1938. Artist: Unknown.Altitude Test First turbo-prop airliner to fly in Africa, the Vickers Viscount, undergoes high altitude trails over Mount Kilimanjaro, East Africa. This picture was taken from another aircraft. June 27, 1950. (Photo by Fox Photos).The hard-hitting Curtiss Hawk P-40 of the United States Army , Fighter planes, P-40 Fighter plane, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States