Historic Military Aircraft

A collection of vintage military aircraft, showcasing night bombers, transport planes, and floatplanes from World War II, predominantly in black and white imagery.

The first aircraft of its type to come to Australia, this unusually designed Leo 453 photographic survey plane designed and built in France in 1937 flew from Indo China to Brisbane on its built in France in 1937 flew from Indo China to Brisbane on its way to New Caledonia, where it will make high-altitude survey flights during the next two to three months for the National Geographical Institute of France. Note the unusual dihedral tail assembly and the low-slung fuselage. It is fitted with special cameras for its oil and mineral survey role. May 6, 1954. (Photo by The Telegraph Feature Service).

A Whitley night bomber of the R.A.F. These palnes have been largely used for the 1600-mile night flights over the ALPS to bomb aircraft factories and other military objectives in Italy. It carries a crew of five. November 1, 1940. (Photo by Commonwealth Department of Information).

Airplane 17 with floats on carriage, 1943 . Aircraft 17 with floats are set on trolley on the grind.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Avro 685 York. York C Mark I, MW140 Endeavour, VIP Standard aircraft for the use of the Duke of Gloucester as Governor General of Australia, on the ground at Holmesley South, Hampshire, before delivery to Australia by No. 246 Squadron RAF.

Paris-Saigon-Wings of Mercy. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Royal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. A De Havilland Mosquito FB Mark VI of 'A' Flight, No. 27 Squadron RAF, taxying through the monsoon rain puddles from its dispersal to the landing strip at Parashuram, India.

New Doglas DC3 Airliner Kurana at Essendon airdrome "Swinging". January 04, 1938.

The first aircraft of its type to come to Australia, this unusually designed Leo 453 photographic survey plane designed and built in France in 1937 flew from Indo China to Brisbane on its built in France in 1937 flew from Indo China to Brisbane on its way to New Caledonia, where it will make high-altitude survey flights during the next two to three months for the National Geographical Institute of France. Note the unusual dihedral tail assembly and the low-slung fuselage. It is fitted with special cameras for its oil and mineral survey role. May 6, 1954. (Photo by The Telegraph Feature Service).

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Photos with the article 'Experiences in a Mustang coffin' in the magazine Weapon Budders. Aerial recording of a Mustang. October 20, 1948. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Consolidated B-24 'Liberator' Of The 11Th Bomb Group, 7The Air Force, Taking Off Yontain Airstrip For A Mission Somewhere Over Japanesean. 27 July 1945. Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto.

Anefo photo collection. Aircraft at Valkenburg. Fairy Firefly. September 17, 1948. Valkenburg, South Holland

French Potez of ancient vintage which was used by the 3rd Photo Gp as a flying laboratory in Jan. 1943. This old bus flew equipment and laboratory personnel to the Group's first forward Unit near Constantine and was used as a Field Laboratory.

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

First Australian-Built Canberra Jet Bomber stands on the Avalon airstrip near Geelong today before its first official flight. Overhead an Australian built Lincoln bomber demonstrates flying on one engine. The propeller second from the right is the only one rotating. June 29, 1953.

Airplane B 18a stands on a field. Design: Bombers B 18a stands on a field. View from behind.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Hawker Typhoon. Typhoon Mark IB, MN304 FJ-N, of No. 164 Squadron RAF, begins its take-off run at Thorney Island, Hampshire, for a sortie over France.

Anefo photo collection. KLM DC3 Dakota at Schiphol Airport. June 25, 1946

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Bristol Beaufighter. Beaufighter Mark IF, R2153 'PN-W', of No. 252 Squadron RAF preparing to taxy at Chivenor, Devon.

American Aircraft in RAF Service 1939-1945- Bell Model 14 Airacobra. Airacobra Mark I, AH577, of No. 601 Squadron RAF, on the ground at Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

Airplane on ice aircraft 12 with floats at F 2 Hänernäs, winter time.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Hawker Typhoon. Flight Lieutenant Walter Dring, commander of B Flight, No. 183 Squadron RAF, with his Typhoon Mark IB, R8884 HF-L, in a dispersal at Gatwick, Sussex.

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

Anefo photo collection. Arrival harpoon plane at Valkenburg. September 6, 1951. Valkenburg, South Holland

Whirlwind Mark I, P6997, in flight, loaded with two 500-lb GP bombs on underwing racks while undergoing fighter-bomber trials at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, Wiltshire. P6997 subsequently saw operational service with Nos. 137 and 263 Squadrons RAF.

Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. Bristol Beaufort Mark I, N1174, of the Coastal Command Development Unit based at Carew Cheriton, fitted with early ASV (air-to-surface vessel) Mark II radar, while undergoing trials. The transmitter antenna is the black object mounted under the nose, the receiver is the much larger black antenna fitted under the wing, roughly centred in the image.

Major Stapleton's North American P-51 'Esie' Of The 364Th Fighter Group, 67Th Fighter Wing, Parked On The Strip At 8Th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England. 20 December 1944.

Torped flyplan T 2, Heinkel He 115a-2 in the air torpedeplan T 2, Heinkel He 115a-2 in the air.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War A Chance-Vought Corsair of the Royal Navy taxis in at Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Short S.29 Stirling. Stirling Mark III, EH930 EX-N, of No. 199 Squadron RAF, preparing to take off at Lakenheath, Suffolk, for a night-time minelaying operation off the Dutch coast.

C-64 Getting Ready To Take Off From Rosales Airstrip. This Plane Can Carry 3 Litter Cases At One Time And Is Used By The 3Rd Air Commandos To Supplement The L-5S When They Have Too Many Patients On Any One Day. 22 May 1945, Philippine Islands.

J 9 on F 8 BARKARBY CA 1950-1951 Motiv: J 9 landed on F 8 Svea Flight Fleet at Barkarby about 1950-1951. Photographed by Georg Eriksson, consignificant on F 8 during these years.

BOMBPLANPLANBOING B-17 Flying Fortress Close-up. American Bombers Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is on an airfield. In the background, a crowd.

America's New Fighting Unit -- The new type bombing plane of the U.S. Army air Corps the Douglas B-7 bombardment plane. It is powered with two Curtiss 600 H.P. engines, the wings are of the gull type and externally braced, and the fuselage is of metal. The machine carries a crew of three. March 21, 1932. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

The "Hunters" ***** -- Hawker "Hunters" lined up at the R.A.F. Station at 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.

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

Flight Director Gunnar von Köhler at aircraft J 28 on F 3, 1959 Flight Director Gunnar von Köhler at aircraft J 28 on F 3 Östgöta fly fleet, 1959.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Piper cub l-4j grash shopper exploration of military aviation. 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Lockheed F-5, Photographic Plane, Receives Repairs At Meeks Field, Iceland. 2Nd Service Group, 9 August 1943.

Photograph of Biplane.

American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- Lockheed L-214 and L-414 Hudson. Hudson Mark IV, AE610, on the ground at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire. After undergoing flight evaluation at the A&AEE and the Royal Aircraft Establishment, AE610 served as a test aircraft with the Telecommunications Flying Unit and the Coastal Command Development Unit

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

Poll photo collection. Two aircraft at the airport of Cairo. Aircraft belonging to Misr Airlines fleet. "1935 May / June [Report"}. Cairo, Egypt

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

Seaplane Latham 43 HB3 Maritime Aviation Squadron on the beach 'Poniatówka' on the Vistula in Warsaw. On the right the Poniatowski bridge is visible ca. 1930 - The Latham 43 was a flying boat bomber built in France in the 1920s for service with the French Navy.

British Equipment at An American Airfield- Anglo-american Co-operation in Wartime Britain, 1943 American ground crew at an American airfield somewhere in Britain re-fuel an Oxford Trainer aircraft. They are using a British petrol tanker. According to the original caption, this aircraft is used for 'training and inter-aerodrome transport'.

North American P-51 "Mustang" landing.

Douglas C-54 Of The 2Nd Service Group Parked Along The Airstrip At Meeks Field, Iceland. Notice The C-47 About To Take Off. 27 May 1943. Note: The C-47 Is Crossed Out Both Times And Replaced With 'Marlin B-26'.

American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- Douglas Db-7 Havoc. Havoc Mark I (Night Fighter), BL228 VY-Y, of No. 85 Squadron RAF based at Debden, Essex, taxying at an airfield in Britain. 85 Squadron used this aircraft for crew training, after which it was passed to No.1422 Flight, followed by No. 1454 Flight and No. 51 Operational Training Unit.

B-29

Boeing B-17's ready for take-off in England on D-Day.

Repaired Consolidated B-24H 'Bi-U-Baby' Taking Off From Emergency Strip Near Lydd, England. October 1, 1944. (Aircraft No. 42-95619) 491St Gp 855Th Bs

Military aircraft on an airfield motif: military aircraft on an airfield. In the background a crowd. Closest aircraft J 21a. View from the side.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Saro S.36 Lerwick. A Lerwick of No. 209 Squadron RAF based at Stranraer, Ayrshire, in flight.

Marathon II, the world's first ***** feeder-line transport, is engaged on flight *****.Powered by two A.S. Mamba engine ***** 22-seat airliner is a direct development of the ***** Marathon I which is in current production ***** Page (Reading) Ltd. for the Ministry of Supply to ***** British European Airways Corporation. Designed for a normal still-air range of 770 miles (and a maximum of 900 miles), the Marathon II has the high cruising speed of 256 m.p.h. at 10,000 ft., and a maximum of 290 m.p.h. at 20,000 ft. For its normal still-air range, it carries 18 passengers and 540 lb. of luggage. For 500 miles it carries 22 passengers and 1,000 lb. of luggage or 2½ tons of freight. September 01, 1949.

Boeing B-17 Combat Planes. Greenland.

Tripolitania, Libya-A Beaufighter on the ground with its engines running just before taking off on a sortie.

Brig General Robert B. Willims' Plane, A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Is Parked Along The Taxi Strip During His Visit To The 91St Bomb Group Base At Bassingbourne, England.

The Piper Cub, used by U.S. Ground forces, an artillery Liaison plane is shown in flight after its conversion into a rocket firing craft by installation of bazooka guns under each wing. Mounted, three under each wing, the guns may be fired

Anefo photo collection. Gliding to Velp. Models. August 29, 1948. Gelderland, Velp

Set aircraft on the ground aircraft J 11 set up on the ore.

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943 Lockheed Lodestar, 1371, of a SAAF air ambulance unit, waits to evacuate casualties at a landing ground in the Western Desert.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Taylorcraft Auster. Taylorcraft Plus C/2, HH982, of No. 651 (AOP) Squadron RAF, about to depart on a training flight from Old Sarum, Hampshire. Formerly a civilian machine (registration G-AFVA), impressed in August 1941, HH982, went on to serve with Nos. 653 and 654 (AOP) Squadrons RAF, and with No.2 Group Communications Flight, before being restored to the civilian register as G-AHAE in December 1945.

Anefo photo collection. National Air Aviation Day Schiphol, O.A. Visit students. April 20, 1954. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

A Douglas C-47 taxiing to parking area on Valencia Strip, Leyte, Philippine Islands.

Jet-Wing No. 1 Secrets on Show. A view of the Armstrong-Whitworth AW 52 'Flying Wing' at Coventry, December 16. Some of the secrets of Britain's first jet-propelled flying wing, the Armstrong Whitworth AW 52 were shown December 16 at Coventry, England. This new type - all wings except for wing-tip rudders - is practically finished. Soon it will be taken for flying tests. December 17, 1946. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

New York, New York: July 14, 1938 Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14N Super Electra airplane at Floyd Bennett Airport in Brooklyn when he landed there after flying around the world setting a new record of 3 days, 19 hours and 14 minutes, breaking Wiley Posts's record. It was part of a promotion to attract people to the New York World's Fair.

Water Type Muffler Test

A Head View Of The Douglas A-26 "B", Solid Nose Version Of The Douglas Invader, Shows Its 70-Foot Wing Span, With Underslung Engines Mounted Close To The Fuselage.

Royal Air Force Operations in the Far East, 1941-1945. A Douglas Dakota of No. 177 Wing RAF, carrying mail, ploughs its way through monsoon water on arrival at a forward airfield in the Arakan, Burma.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Aerial photos Djokja. Recording from plane. North American P-51 Mustang with shark joint. July 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

J 22 at F 8 BARKARBY CA 1950-1951 Motiv: J 22 landed on F 8 Svea Flight Fleet at Barkarby about 1950-1951. Photographed by Georg Eriksson, consignificant on F 8 during these years.

After Three Engines Had Been Shot Out Of Commission Over France, This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Returned, But Had To Make An Emergency Landing And Undergo Repairs On The Spot. Here, It Is Shown At Dawlish, England, Awaiting The Building Of An Emergen

American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service, 1939-1945- Martin Model 187 Baltimore. Baltimore Mark II, AG793 N, of No. 55 Squadron RAF, operating from landing grounds in the Western Desert, in flight with other aircraft of the Squadron during the Alamein offensive.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Taylorcraft Auster. Taylorcraft Auster AOP Mark I, LB316, at the Taylorcraft Auster production facility at Rearsby, Leicestershire. LB316 enjoyed a long service career with Nos. 654, 652 and 656 Squadrons RAF, No. 43 Operational Training Unit and No. 22 Elementary Flying Training School, before being reduced to an instructional airframe in April 1945.

Douglas C-47S Parked On The Runway At An Airfield In Courtils, France.

B-29 TAKING OFF - The Army's huge new plane, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, is seen taking off for a flight. - CHINA

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

Collins' machine, the first in, crossing the finishing line to win the speed section. December 28, 1936.

Royal Air Force Flying Training Command, 1940-1945. An Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley Mark V glider tug of the Heavy Glider Conversion Unit, tows an Airspeed Horsa over the airfield at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

Royal Air Force- the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, 1939-1945. Boeing Fortress Mark III, HB762 'H', of the A&AEE, over Cornwall while flying back to Boscombe Down, Wiltshire.

SK 16 fly over clouds, 1950 . airplane so -1 marked number 58 flying over clouds. Aircraft belonging to war air school F 5. Side view.

Photograph of a Hunting Surveying plane. Dated 20th Century

PZL.37 o (moose), a Polish twin-engined medium bomber designed and manufactured by national aircraft company PZL (Moose Crews next to their planes) .

North American P-51s are...

British Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service, 1939-1945- Handley Page Hp.57 Halifax. Halifax B Mark III, PN369 A, of No. 1341 (Radio Countermeasures) Flight based at Digri, India, in flight: one of five such Halifaxes specially modified for the investigation of Japanese radar and radio transmissions.

Society Women to Fly Atlantic Ocean Alone -- Mechanics giving Mrs. Beryl Markham's Aeroplane, "The Messenger," a final overhaul before she leaves for Abingdon to begin her Atlantic flight, at Gravesend, Kent.Mrs. Beryl Markham, 31 - years - old blonde society woman, is to face the perils of an Atlantic flight by herself. Her Aeroplane, a Percival Vega gull, called "The Messenger," has a cruising speed of 150 miles per hour. She hopes to in be in New York 26 hours after leaving Abingdon Royal air force Aaerodrome, Berkshire. She will not carry radio. September 28, 1936. (Photo by Associated Press Photo)

Aviation-Qantas Airway-Aircraft-DH-86. February 15, 1937.

Airplane Pettersson S-81 lands on Malmen . Civil aircraft Pettersson S-81 lands on ore airfield.

Anefo photo collection. The Dutch press on board HR. Ms. "Karel Doorman". September 24, 1947

Laura Ingalls' Pontoonless Plane Out For First Test Flight -- "What, no pontoons" this was the remark typical of veteran airmen when they viewed the New Lockheed Monoplane in which Miss Laura Ingalls, crack woman flier, hopes to fly to France. "Certainly Not," said Miss Ingalls Disdainfully. "When i land this Bourget Airdrome!" The Eyes of the World are focussed on Miss Ingalls' forthcoming trans-Atlantic race with Miss Ruth Nichols. June 09, 1931. (Photo by International Newsreel Photo).

RAF Fighter Command 1940 Supermarine Spitfire Mk I R6800 LZ-N, flown by the CO of No. 66 Squadron, Sqn Ldr Rupert Leigh, running up its engine at Gravesend, September 1940.

Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. Weatherbeaten Short Sunderland Mark III, W4004 'Z', of No. 10 Squadron RAAF is hauled up the slipway at Mount Batten, Devon, for an overhaul. Note the ASV Mark II anti-submarine radar aerial masts and transmitter loops on the rear fuselage.

Airplane Gloster Gladiator starts in backlight from F 19 . Airplane Gloster Gladiator starts in backlight from F 19, Swedish Volunteer in Finland. Five military people in work.

Accident X-14B crash on VTOL Pad Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

Anefo photo collection. At the Volkel airbase, four Thunderstreaks hunting bombers were transferred by the United States of America to the Dutch government. December 9, 1955. Noord-Brabant, Volkel

The Boeing B-29 Superfortress 'Enola Gay' Landing After The Atomic Bombing Mission On Hiroshima, Japanesean. Tinian, Marianas Islands

American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- North American Na-82 Mitchell. Mitchell Mark I, FK161, of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment based at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, making a test flight.

Vintage Photograph. Two private airplanes in field.

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,WRECKS War

New Air Liner -- Our photograph shows the new Douglas air liner on its arrival at Croydon on November 21. It belongs to the Dutch K.L.M. Company, who have ordered a number for their London-Amsterdam-Berlin service, and for that between Amsterdam and Batavia. It carries 21 passengers. December 14, 1936.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- De Havilland Dh 89 Rapide and Dominie. Dominie Mark II, X7372, of No. 1680 (Transport) Flight based at Prestwick, Ayrshire, flying over the coastline of Barra Island.

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