Historic Military Aircraft

Images of vintage military aircraft from mid-20th century, featuring take-offs, landings, and airport settings.

Flyers returning from bombing missions often found this makeshift clubmobile from Bengasi at the hangar. Red Cross girls, like homecoming pilots, waited for the "safe landing" signal before driving in from the edge of the landing field with their

After Being Transported By Rail & Barge From Budge Budge, India, Gasoline Was Then Transported By Consolidated C-109's Of The 7Th Bomb Group, 10Th Air Force From Kurmitola, India, To Kunming, China. Here Gasoline Is Unloaded From A C-109 By Pumping Unit

North Africa-Lockheed F-5 taking off on a photo reconnaissance mission.

Lockheed "12". April 19, 1938.

Fiat G.91 Is An Italian Jet Fighter Aircraft Designed And Built By Fiat Aviazione. 50s

Vintage Photograph. Air Force SM-64 "Navaho" intercontinental strategic guided missile.

The Engine Of A North American P-51 Is Tested Before The Test Flight At The Lockheed Reassembly Plant At Liverpool, England. 14 December 1943.

Prepare for departure from the first revised airplane factory avised and delivered Consolidated Pby-5a Catalina Maritime Patrol Amfibie (Registration 16-214, 1951-1956) of the Marine Air Carring Service (MLD) on Sept. 14. 1951.

Anefo photo collection. Marine Aviation Service England. launch Netherlands England escaped Fokker T-VIIIw water aircraft .. 1940. Britain

Vintage Photograph. Four Super Sabre Jets #F-1000 in flight.

Aircraft, Burma, India &Maintenance,REFUELING War

New Jet Plane On First Flight -- The Navy's new jet plane, the Skystreak, takes to the air on its first flight at the Army Air Base here. Built by Douglas aircraft company, the ship carries 500 pounds of recording instruments. its designers expect it to fly at supersonic speeds. June 5, 1947. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

England - Australia Air Race. Entry No. 34 - a de Havilland Comet 'Grosvenor House' owned by Mr A.O. Edwards and piloted by C.W.A Scott and T. Campbell Black. This plane set an amazing record time of 2 days, 4 hours, 34 minutes, flying from Mildenhall, Suffolk to Darwin, Australia, a distance of about 9,200 miles Date: 1934

Vintage Photograph. Snark on pad. Frame 2.

Subjects: Jim King Collection; Transportation; Aircraft; Aircraft; Alaska. . 1998 - 2011.

Vintage photograph. Boeing Stratocruiser mid flight above the clouds - cruising speed 340 mph

Vintage Photograph. Snark missile seen on pad. Frame 1.

Tinian, Marianas Islands. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress 'Enola Gay' Which Was Used In The First Atomic Bombing Mission On Hiroshima, Japanesean.

German Trucks Don'T Refuel Any More At Cremona, Italy. As The Last 12Th Af Martin B-26 Marauder Leaves The Target Twin Towers Of Smoke Mark Where The German Gasoline Dumps, Beside The Po River Are Burning.

Kuma class cruiser taking...

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Coastal Command Hudson III T9465, 'Spirit of Lockheed-Vega Employees', was famous as a 'presentation' aircraft, purchased for the RAF from funds raised by workers at the Lockheed-Vega Corporation, at Burbank in California. This image show the aircraft being prepared for a sortie at Wick in May 1941, not long after being delivered to No 269 Squadron. A clutch of 250lb bombs are being hauled into the bomb bay.

The Flying Icing Wind Tunnel

Royal Family's First Flight On South African Tour -- The Queen's standard (right) flying from her Viking aircraft for the first time at Bloomfontein aerodrome. Left is the Royal Air Force flag.For the first time during the British Royal Family's tour of South Africa, the King's Flight of Viking aircraft were used to convey the Royal party when the King and Queen and the two Princesses flew 90 miles north from Game Reserve at Biltfontein, and then returned to Bloamfontein in time for dinner.King George and Princess Margaret flew in one plane (the Princess's first flight), Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth in another.In the Game Reserve, the Royal tourists were able to in their natural environment. March 13, 1947.

No hardstands on this Dalmation Island. Any patch of grapevines along the runway is eligible for a parking plane for an airplane under repair.

At The Farnborough Air Show -- A Lincoln four engined and a Meteor aircraft take part in a flight refueling demonstration at the Farnborough (Hants) display given by the Society of British Aircraft Constructors this week. The Avro Lincoln has four Rolls-Royce Merlins, and the Gloster Meteor fighters two Rolls Royce Derwents. Flight Refueling Ltd. gave the display. September 06, 1950. (Photo by Fox Photos).;At The Farnborough Air Show -- A Lincoln four engined and a Meteor aircraft take part in a

A left front view of a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft as it approaches for landing on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV 66). Base: USS America (CV 66)

07/31/1936. Spanish Civil War. Junkers-52 lined up of those that took part in the Strait airlift during its later phases. In its first phase, however, the airlift was exclusively Spanish.

The 41 ton Yankee Clipper seaplane arriving at Marignane Airport Date: 4th April 1939

New German Flying Boat for Non-Stop Atlantic Flight Service -- The flying boat seen over the Mueggelsee lake during a demonstration flight yesterday.The New German Lufthansa Atlantic Flying-Boat "Do 26" Built specially for mail service between Lisbon and New York, non-stop, gave demonstration flights yesterday over the Mueggelsee lake, Berlin. It has a top speed of over 200 M.P.H., and a flying range of 9,000 kilometers. The flying boat is powered with four Junkers-Jumbo-Desel Engines. September 02, 1938. (Photo by Keystone)

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

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Dropping for insulated part, Kali-assisten. Air recording. Dakota in the picture. Photo taken from other Dakota. December 27, 1948. Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies

Photograph of Fireball Airplane - Against Clouds.

The 70-ton flying-boat Mars on a *****. Mr. Henry Kaiser. US shipbuilder, says he will go ahead with an order for the construction of 100 similar sky giants without interfering with his shipbuilding activities. Kaiser claims that he can secure materials for the planes from hitherto untapped sources. September 11, 1942. (Photo by Fox Movietown Newsreel picture).

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

Low angle view of a bomber plane in flight, B-52C Stratofortress, US Air Force

Fueling Airplanes From Drums Of Gasoline, Salala Field, Salala, Arabia.

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,GLIDERS War

X-1B engine run on Air Force thrust stand.

British Jet Plane Establishes New Speed Record -- Mr. John Derry ***** from the cockpit of his De Havilland 108 after his record breaking flight at Hatfield, Hertfordshire.Mr. John Derry, 26 year old test pilot, flying a De Havilland 108 jet aircraft a tail-lese monoplane broke the air speed record for the 100 kilometres closed circuit, with a speed of 605,23 m.p.h. His top speed was 635 m.p.h. record recently set up by Mr.M.J.Lithgow flying a Vickers-Armstrong Supermarine "Attacker", on February 27. climbing. December 4, 1948. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency Limited).

An air-to-air right side view of a Soviet I1-38 May anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

A North American Harvard lesson plane at the Aviolaland aircraft factory. Various aircraft for the Marine air shipping service (MLD) and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLU) were built by Aviolanda.

Aircraft, Burma, India &Aircraft, TAKE-OFF,CURTISS War

North American B-25 of the 341st Bomb Group on taxi strip prior to take-off on another mission. India.

The Spruce Goose during trails. "Spruce Goose" the huge seaplane. June 28, 1948. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Planes ready for delivery to Russians.

SK 11 in the air, 1932 . Aircraft so-called 11 marked number 5564 of war air college F 5 in the air.

DN-SN-89-01227. Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

United States, c 1947The Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing, a heavy bomber turbojet prototype, on a test flight.

Lockheed Neptune P2V-7

Curtiss C-46 damaged in landing being dismantled to be used for spare parts.

Clipper In From Orient For ChristeningThe California Clipper sails over the golden gate International Exposition inbound from the orient for her formal Christening ceremonies. It will be Christened here April 25. At the game time the Atlantic Clipper will be Christened in Baltimore and the Honolulu Clipper at Honolulu. April 17, 1938. (Photo by Acme Newspictures).

Low angle view of an aircraft in flight

It Flies -- A fine aerial view of the Mayo Composite plane in the air today, Feb. 5.The mayo composite plane, a seaplane pick-a-backed on a flying boat, made its second short test flight here today over the river Medway.The two machines take off together, and when when the flying boat has lifted the parasite craft several thousand fleet up, the smaller machine is released to carry its load on along distance journey. The two machines did not part at today's trials. March 4, 1938. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

New "Workhorse" Helicopter Largest Built For U.S. Military -- The new Air Force helicopter, "The Workhorse," capable of carrying 14 soldiers or 12 litter patients, is shown today at a public demonstration as a smaller helicopter, the HUP, hovers in background. The new helicopter is the largest ever built for the U.S. military service. It is designed so that it can be equipped with flotation gear for land, swamp or water landings in rescue operations. May 5, 1952. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Jap Jet Plane - The only jet-propelled plane the Japs built is displayed for the first time at Lockhead airport yesterday. "Shushu" as it was named, was built for the Jap navy and test flown but didn't get into combat. It has a 19-foot aluminum fuselage, plywood wings with a 30-foor spread, and a 325-pound jet engine that uses hydrogen peroxide. The plane, which the Japs copied from the German ME-163, was captured by occupation forces and brought to the United States for study. July 22, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto)

Anefo photo collection. Dakot machine. February 6, 1946

4191-V111112901

Cargo Planes Which Aren't Equipped With Permanent Storage Tanks Carry Gasoline Over The "Hump" In Fuel Drums. Here, Chinese Coolies Lower Drums Of Fuel Into A Waiting Truck, Kunming, China. The Plane Is A Curtiss C-46. China. 1943.

Aviation in Britain Before the First World War A Bleriot monoplane flying high over a large crowd of spectators.

DN-SN-89-06992. Country: Unknown

Soon To Fly Ocean -- The $60,000 Monoplane of Capt. Alex Papana, Rumanian ace aviator, is shown as it Landed at Floyd bennett Airport with papana at the controls after a flight from Detroit, Mich. Papana will attempt a nonstop flight from here, across the ocean, to Bucharest, Rumania. He Expects to make the flight in 32 Hours. It will be A "Good will Flight," Sponsored by the Rumania Government. Papana will fly the plane to Hartford conn. , for a final checkup on the motors Before taking off on the ocean hop. July 18, 1938. (Photo by International News Photos).

Air Record Breaker Here TodayNotable feature of the new Qantas Empire Airways Constellation airliner, Rose ***** flew from Sydney to Melbourne today in the record time of 1 hour 37 minutes, is the tail assembly - triple fins and rudders. This picture was taken on her arrival Essendon. The plane will be used on the Australia London service. November 17, 1947.

Aircraft S 17 equipped with retractable ski stand on F 3, winter time 1940s . airplane 17 equipped with retractable ski stand, on f 3 östgöta fly fleet, 1940s. Wintertime.

Resupply Transports. A Military Air Transport Service C-124 Transport plane dwarfs two 4-engine C-54s used in airlifting supplies and equipment to personnel building the air base, at Thule, Greenland. September 18, 1952. (Photo by Official Air Force Photo).

1940S 1950S Bell X-1 Us Air Force Supersonic Plane Designed For Maximum Speed Of 1700 Mph In Flight

A Grumman TBM-3S2 Avenger Submarine Boot Plane (1954-1961) of the Marine Aviation Service (MLD) creates landing at the flight deck of the aircraft camp Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman (R 81, EX-VENERABLE), 1958. The brake hook on the tail of the device is out and the brake cables on the flight deck have been slightly lit.

Vintage photograph. Lockheed Constitution over the top of Catalina Island

Views of F-8U Crusader Aircraft at NASA Langley

St nicolò airport in venice. 1930.

'The Consolidated Catalina', 1941. Creator: Unknown.

P-61A Airplane at NACA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California

World War II, U.S. airplanes flying, circa 1940-1946.

X-4 In Flight -- This is the first flight photo of the Northrop X-4 as it streaks across the California desert here on a test flight. The X-r will continue research in faster than sound speed. It measures only 25 feet from wing tip to wing tip and has no horizontal stabilizer or elevator assembly. July 26, 1949. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

DN-SN-90-01077. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Right side air-to-air view of a Soviet Tu-142 Bear-F aircraft. Country: Unknown

Aircraft, Burma, India &Maintenance,

Smokejumping - General. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History

Members of the Council of State make a boat trip with the cruiser Hr.Ms. De Ruyter (C 801) (1953-1972) from Rotterdam, via Ijmuiden, to Den Helder. Demonstration with an Agusta Bell (I) UH-1 helicopter.

Formation of Curtiss P-40s of Major John Chennault's "Flying Tigers" fly over the airfield at Umnak Island, Alaska while others are lined on the steel mat runway. The low ceiling is typical Umnak weather.

DA-SN-85-13040. Country: Unknown

Aircraft and Balloons Used by Some of the Air Pioneers Who Were Contemporary With Samuel Franklin Cody. The same auto-giro flying over a small wood in the distance.

Caroline Mars After Long Flight -- The four-engined Navy flying boat Caroline Mars is moored in Burnham Lagoon here today after completing a record non-stop flight from Honolulu. Crew members stand in center of wing. A fireboat is at left rear. August 28, 1948. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Servicing Engine Of A Curtiss C-46 At An Airdrome On The Continent.

The British Lancaster 'Fanny Ferkin Ii' Lands On The Runway At An 8Th Air Force Base In England, 3 May 1944. 401St Bomb Group.

Two pieces J 28 flying in Rote, 1951 motif: Two pieces of aircraft J 28 from F 3 Malmen flying in Rote. View from below.

1936. Lorenzo Richi's small plane with which he made the trip to Spanish Guinea.

Anefo photo collection. Aerial recording. Airplane city railway placement (Amersfoort). {1940-1945}

Now She Is Rolled Outside For Further Minor Repairs And Servicing. Docis Is Proud Of His Crew Of Mechanics. Bomb-Boogie Had Some Mechanic Trouble To Begin With, But Now They Have That All Cleared Up. 'We Sort Of Resented That Article By Steinbeck, Or W

California - San Francisco, Aerial Photograph.

Poll photo collection. Report Schiphol. The "Arend" of Fokker in the hangar. 1934. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

A Lockheed P-3C (Update II) Orion long distance maritime patrol fluke (1981-2006) of the MLD.

Two Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron A-4F Skyhawk aircraft prepare to take off for a performance during the celebration of the 75th anniversary of naval aviation. Base: Naval Air Station, Pensacola State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Vintage photograph. United Air Lines Airplane flying in the clouds

DOUGLAS XA3D-1 #413 AIRPLANE MOUNTED IN THE NACA AMES RESEARCH CENTER'S 40X80_FOOT SUBSONIC WIND TUNNEL sweptback wing Testing the wing boundary layer control of the A3D in the 40 x 80 wind tunnel. Boundary layer control was added to increase the lift of the wing for aircraft carrier take off and landing.

Poll photo collection. Report Schiphol. Schiphol Platform seen from the Tower Tower. June 1933. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Submarine booth control Helicopter Westland WASP (1966-1981) On-board Helicopter Hr.Ms. Van Nes

Airplane in flight

Aircraft and Airports - Minnesota. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History