Historic Military Aviation

Black and white images of classic military aircraft, illustrating historical moments from the 1940s to 1960s, including bombers and early jet airliners in various operational settings.

Aviano, Italy may 1962: Us airforce base plane in 60s

DN-SC-87-06095. Base: USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69)

Left side air-to-air view of a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft armed with an AGM-84 Harpoon missile, prior to launch. Following is an F-4 Phantom II aircraft. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

NACA

Late night maintenance on one of the 12 KC-135R Stratotankers from the 380th Air Refueling Wing (ARW), Plattsburgh AFB, NY, deployed here in support of Operation Restore Hope II. The primary mission of the 380th ARW (Deployed) is to provide air refueling support over the Atlantic to in-bound (going into Mogadishu, Somalia) and homeward-bound C-5 aircraft, which are ferrying supplies, troops and equipment. A total of 332 personnel and 12 KC-135R Stratotankers (from Plattsburgh, Griffiss AFB, NY, and Loring AFB, Maine) are deployed to Moron.(Exact date unknown). Subject Operation/Series: RESTORE HOPE II Base: Moron Air Base State: Sevilla Country: Spain (ESP)

An air-to-air right side view of a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft refueling an F-16B Fighting Falcon aircraft. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A low angle right side view of an F-104 Starfighter aircraft carrying two AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles in flight. The aircraft of the 69th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, 68th Tactical Training Wing, 12th Air Force, is involved in Tactical Training Luke. Base: Luke Air Force Base State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A Fleet Logistic Support Squadron 48 (VR-48) EC-130T Hercules aircraft taxis down the flight line. Base: Naval Air Facility, Andrews Afb State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Side View of a U.S. Air Force HC-130P Refueling a HH-53B. Side View of a U.S. Air Force HC-130P Refueling a HH-53B. "Southeast AsiaSide view of a U.S. Air Force HC-130P refueling a U.S. Air Force HH-52B helicopter in flight." Photographer: Tech. Sgt. Gerald W. Dunn

An MH-53 Pavelow Helicopter from the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida, is used to test Hurlburt Field, Florida's, newly constructed clear water rinse facility. Base: Hurlburt Field State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An air-to-air, right side view of a Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 136 (VAQ-136) EA-6B Prowler aircraft. Country: Unknown

Boeing B-17 'Flying Fortresses' Of The 8Th Air Force En Route To Bomb Nazi Installations.

Boeing B-17S Of The 8Th Air Force In Flight In England.

A C-141 from Air Mobility Wing, McChord AFB, Wash., takes off for a training flight during Peacekeeper '95. Subject Operation/Series: PEACEKEEPER '95 Base: Mcchord Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An LC-130 Hercules aircraft of Antarctic Development Squadron 6 (VXE-6) flies over the snow-covered terrain while on a mission during Operation Deep Freeze. Subject Operation/Series: DEEP FREEZE Country: Antarctica (ATA)

Yellow Nosed North American P-51S 'Forming Up' As They Climb For Altitude. England.

USAF B-52s flying out of Guam and various air bases in Thailand did tremendous damage in terms of infrastructure and human life, especially during Arclight strikes over South Vietnam and during the Christmas Offensive against Hanoi in 1972. The Second Indochina War, known in America as the Vietnam War, was a Cold War era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the U.S. and other anti-communist nations. The U.S. government viewed involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam and part of their wider strategy of containment. The North Vietnamese government viewed the war as a colonial war, fought initially against France, backed by the U.S., and later against South Vietnam, which it regarded as a U.S. puppet s

Close Up View Of The Nose Of A Consolidated B-24 Of The 15Th Af.

The Royal Air Force in North Africa, May 1943 A Royal Air Force Bristol Beaufighter aircraft circles a desert airfield in North Africa.

Front air-to-air view of an F-14A Tomcat aircraft from Fighter Squadron 102 (VF-102) just after taking off from the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV-66). The aircraft is armed with two AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, centerline, two AIM-7 Sparrow and two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles (outside), mounted on wing pylons. Country: Indian Ocean (IOC)

Removal of Survivors from Plane. This image depicts the removal of survivors from a ditched DC-3 near Ambros Island, Bahamas via Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard planes and helicopters.

DD-ST-88-09428. Country: Unknown

Front view of a Douglas A-26 having its left engine being worked on. Two maintenance men standing on wing.. Front view of a Douglas A-26 having its left engine being worked on. Two maintenance men standing on wing..

A close-up view of a AGM-109 Tomahawk air-launched cruise missile loaded on a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft. Country: Unknown

Project 30-65 - Operation Plumbob (Nevada Test Site) Test Activities. Air-to-air of F-89 sampler aircraft: Series of 9 photos (3 of 9). Photographs of Atmospheric Nuclear Testing at Pacific Island and Nevada Test Sites.

DD-ST-88-09463. Base: Unknown

One-half right rear view of a Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star (s/n 49-755) bearing the markings of the 41st Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), 35th Fighter Interceptor Wing (FIW), somewhere in Korea. The aircraft is parked in front of sandbags and a building. A crewman stands on the right wing, and other works underneath the nose of the plane. A ladder extends from the cockpit. Equipment is scattered on the ground around the aircraft. A jeep and another support vehicle are visible parked on the left side of the aircraft.

Pilot Lt. Mohawk Being Helped Into Parachute By Crew Chief. Italy.

An F-15 Eagle aircraft of the 1ST Tactical Fighter Wing sits in a hangar as another F-15 takes off during Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

An underside view on an Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 4 (VX-4) F/A-18C Hornet aircraft in flight. VX-4 is testing and evaluating the AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM). The Hornet is armed with eight AMRAAMs on four wing pylons and two mounted on the fuselage. The Hornet is also carrying two AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, one on each wing tip. Country: Unknown

Air-to-air left side view of two F-15 Eagle aircraft of the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Country: Unknown

DF-ST-86-12661. State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Royal Air Force BAC Lightning Aircraft in Formation. Royal Air Force BAC Lightning Aircraft in Formation. "Four Royal Air Force BAC Lightning aircraft fly in formation over Bitburg Air Base, Germany, during "Exercise Bold Stand 70." Photographer: Staff Sgt. Robert C. Leach

An air-to-air right side view of an A-6 Intruder aircraft as its crew monitors the flight of two AGM-123A low-level, laser-guided bombs. Country: Unknown

of 2