Historic Military Explosions

A series of dramatic explosions during WWII, showcasing military engagement from various locations. The images capture smoke clouds and destruction, reflecting wartime chaos.

U.S. Air Base In China Bombed -- Smoke Rises from a burning U.S. Liberator Bomber, hit during a Japanese Aerial attack on an advanced American air base "Somewhere" in China". American Forces lost this plane: Japs Lost 15 aircraft shot down, and 10 "Probables." June 30, 1943. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Hitler's "West Wall" Is Blasted -- Thousands of concrete splinters hurtle up into a vast smoke cloud to mark the end of one Hitler's bastions of the West. It is one of the 56 concrete bunkers forming part of the famous "West Wall" near Huisduinen, Holland. More than three thousand cubic feet concrete went into the construction ***** German anti-invasion measure. October 16, 1948. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Ho Frung bridge, French Indo-China. Bombs explode under span on 19 Feb 44. four cannon hits were scored and four more on rolling stock nearby. 22nd Bomb Squadron, 341st Bomb Group.

U.S. Air Base In China Bombed -- Smoke Rises from a burning U.S. Liberator Bomber, hit during a Japanese Aerial attack on an advanced American air base "Somewhere" in China". American Forces lost this plane: Japs Lost 15 aircraft shot down, and 10 "Probables." June 30, 1943. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Photographs depicting military activities in France, May - June 1940. Included photographs of Rommel, Guderian, Dreuz, Bottcher, Italian General Garaboldi, Lucie Rommel, shots of Rommel with Hitler. Photographs of equipment and troops arriving and in action, from the personal collection of Rommel.

North Africa Operations. 12 November 1942, Bougie, Algeria. SS CATHAY explodes off Bougie, Algeria.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Aerial recording. Dark clouds. Burning oil installations?. 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Bombs bursting on the docks and harbour of Pantelleria, as seen from on board the cruiser HMS ORION, in preparation for the allied invasion of the island in 1943.

The Maginot Line is speaking! -- A gun in one of the Maginot Line emplacements "speaks" in no uncertain manner. November 17, 1939. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Japs Get Warm Reception On Saipan Island -- A Marine flame throwing tank directs attack against a Japanese pillbox on Saipan Island, while a lone Leatherneck looks on from his foxhole nearby (in foreground). Flames and billowing smoke marks pyre of resisting Jap soldiers who refused to surrender. This first photo of flame throwing tank used on *****. July 21, 1944. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Tarakan Invaded -- Amidst Burning Oil Tanks, Australian ***** invaded the ***** of Tarakan ***** May 1. The Aussies found little opposition on the beaches where Japs Left Pillboxes Unmanned. May 21, 1945. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Aircraft, Burma, India & Bombing,

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930), directed by LEWIS MILESTONE.

The Smoke Of Battle Hangs Over Blasted Cassino -- A pall of smoke hangs heavy over the blasted ruins of the German strong point of Cassino after the concentrated aerial and artillery Bombardment of March 15 shattered buildings to Rubble. But to this shattered point the Germans clung stubbornly. (Upper Right) The ruins of La Rocca, Italian castle on a hilltop. March 29, 1944. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

A.I.F. In Middle East Bardia & Libyan Desert (See Also: A.I.F. In Tobruk & Western Desert) - Australian Military. March 08, 19842.

Top left: the fortifications of Le Havre in the bombing

The Battle For Crete, 20 - 31 May 1941 Invasion: The bombing of Heraklion aerodrome in Crete by the Luftwaffe. The British officers in Crete had showed more concern about the possibility of a sea invasion. This meant that a fundamental weakness of the British defence was the complete lack of air support and anti-aircraft weaponry.

Russia: 1943. A Nazi tank takes a direct hit from Russian forces on a battlefield in Russia.

War album 106, picture 32491.

Demonstration of a flame thrower.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Reporting Deli Tu. Landscape with smoke plume in the distance. July 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Sumatra

32 Die In London-Bound Airliner Disaster -- The burning fuselage of the Qantas BOAC Constellation which burst into flames upon landing at Singapore's Kallang Airport today March 13th.A London-bound Constellation owned by British Overseas Airways, crashed and blew up in flames while landing at Kallang Airport, Singapore, today March 1.Thirty-two persons were killed - all the passengers and one member of the crew of nine. The other eight members of the crew scrambled to safety through a crack in the fuselage as the nose of the aircraft broke away. March 23, 1954. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Explosion on hill ...

The Battle Of Teruel -- A farmstead on fire after being ***** Government troops, it was learnt later that they had taken Teruel. December 25, 1937. (Photo by Keystone).

British liquid fire attack

Early Wars & Battles - War Files (See Also: Early Uniforms See Also War Games). March 7, 1938.

Caroline Islands - Pacific War File. October 23, 1944.

Photographs depicting military activities in France, May - June 1940. Included photographs of Rommel, Guderian, Dreuz, Bottcher, Italian General Garaboldi, Lucie Rommel, shots of Rommel with Hitler. Photographs of equipment and troops arriving and in action, from the personal collection of Rommel.

Dutch Landing At Republican PortWith palm trees at left, Dutch Marines advance beyond Probolinggo in trucks, watch smoke columns rising from fire raging in the harbour.American trained Dutch Marines landed at Probolinggo, the republican port on the North Coast of Java, July 21, as a part of the pinger movement towards the East Java Republican center of Malang.Heavy fire raged in the harbour following Dutch air attacks and Republican scorched earth efforts. August 04, 1947. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Anefo photo collection. HR. Ms. Evertsen in Action at Wonsan Molen van Oostvoorne. April 26, 1951. Oostvoorne

The carcass of Zeppelin LZ93 (L44), St Clement, France, 20 October 1917. Artist: Unknown

Storm troupe in an exercise in USZKowice, 1917.

Shopping exercises, Vladimir Wolinsky.

Photograph of U.S Marines using flamethrowers on a Japanese position, Tarawa, Kiribati. Dated 1944

Department Of Air -- Mandalay, second city of Burma, fell to troops of Britain's Fourteenth Army this week after nearly three years of occupation by the Japanese. Taken during the fighting in the streets of the city, this photograph shows a pagoda, which had been turned into a Jap stronghold, burning from fierce artillery firs. March 02, 1944. (Photo by Department Of Air)

Photo collection Spaarnestad topics. Africa 1940/1941. Italian troops at their rise in Egypt. September 21, 1940

Photographs depicting military activities in France, May - June 1940. Included photographs of Rommel, Guderian, Dreuz, Bottcher, Italian General Garaboldi, Lucie Rommel, shots of Rommel with Hitler. Photographs of equipment and troops arriving and in action, from the personal collection of Rommel.

Texas City Fire Aerial.

During The Huge Raids Against All Vital Nazi Rail Networks On 22 Feb 1945, Escorting Fighters Of The 15Th Aaf Dropped Down Long Enough To Strafe And Blow Up This Train Ten Miles Southeast Of Regensburg, Germany.

The second wave of 8th A.F. bombers come over the target comprised three large plants, two owned by the Vereingte Kugellager Fabriken A.G. (see C & E) and one by Fishcher A.G. often referred to as Kugelfisher (see A). B indicates the Ficktel & Sachs

Photograph of the USS Bunker Hill taking two kamikazes. Dated 1945

Exercise of the storm troop in USZKowice 1917.

Latest Pictures Released of the Attacks on Truk and Marshall Islands -- Japanese seaplane base on Dublon Island, Truk group in the Carolines ablaze after a raid 16 February 1944 by United States Navy carrier-based planes. This is looking straight down on the hangars and repair and supply buildings. March 13, 1944. (Photo by Official U.S. Navy Photograph).

'Les hasards du service d'etat-major; Reperee sur la route, une automobile d'etat-major est criblee d'eclats et de pierres par les explosions ; ses occupants ont trouve un abri dans un fosse', 1917. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 1" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.

This Liberator bomber of the U.S. Army 15th Air Force successfully dropped its bombs on its target in southern Germany, then gallantly fought off the attacks of a host of German fighters on the way home, only to crash land on an airfield in southern

Liberation of Europe: A flying bomb installation in Northern France during an attack by R.A.F aircraft. The launching site situated in a wood is completely blanketed by bombs. R.A.F. Bombers attack flying bomb installation in France. September 4, 1944. (Photo by British Official Photograph).

Bombing Of Lobau Island On The Danube River, Near Vienna, Austria, By Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" Of The 15Th Air Force. 1 July 1944.

USSR, 1942. Fighting in the city of Karmanov (Smolensk region).B150

"Atomic" Cannon Shell in "Battle Royal" -- The Mushroom shape of a simulated "Atomic" explosion following the firing of one of the American Atomic Cannon at Paderborn training area, near Hanover, Germany, today September 26 during the Nato Autumn Manoeuvre, "Battle Royal". Yesterday, a mock shell fired by the United States 256th Atom Gun battalion on the banks of the Weser River, was adjudged by the umpires to have "killed" nearly half the men in two British Infantry battalions and to have put out of action a dozen centurion tanks and most of the Brigade's reconnaissance group. October 5, 1954. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,WRECKS War

A lone Consolidated B-24 Liberator crew of the "Fightin' 13th" AAF did this workman-like job to the Japaneses' fuel storage tanks at Lutong, Western Borneo, on Pearl Harbor Day. In addition to this, the crew, headed by Capt. Robert D. Wallace, Limerick

Aircraft, Burma, India &CHEMICALACTIVITIES War

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Vertical aerial photograph showing smoke from exploding bombs smothering the Colombelles steelworks, east of Caen, France during the attack by aircraft of Bomber Command in support of the Second Army's armoured advance in the Normandy battle area, (Operation GOODWOOD).

Battle against soviet tanks at Jucourica Operation Barbarossa - German Invasion of Russia, 1941 - 15th Infantary Division of the Thuringia-Kurhessen Division

Howitzer bombing during a war, 155mm Howitzer, Korea, US Military

Bombs fall toward the target at Ploesti during a recent raid through dense clouds of smoke spiralling up from the refineries.

Anefo photo collection. Exercise Marines at the Harskamp. September 18, 1957

Dunkirk and the Retreat From France 1940 Petrol and other stores burning during the demolition of St Malo harbour, 25 June 1940.

Canadian Troops in Italy & Sicily - Foreign Troops. March 21, 1944. (Photo by British Official Photo).

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Atlantic storms breaking over the focsle of HMS INGLEFIELD while she is on patrol protecting a winter convoy carrying vital supplies of food and war equipment. One of her 4.7 inch guns can be seen in the foreground.

German Equipment Smashed By Air Attack -- German tanks and war vehicles were converted into this pile of wreckage in Italy by Allied Aerial attacks on the retreating 14th German Army. A French infantry truck rolls along the highway in background. This is an official British Photo. July 03, 1944. (AP Wirephoto).

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Operation CHASTISE: the attack on the Moehne, Eder and Sorpe Dams by No. 617 Squadron RAF on the night of 16/17 May 1943. No. 617 Squadron practice dropping the 'Upkeep' weapon at Reculver bombing range, Kent. Second launch sequence (5): a group of observers watches as the bomb bounces toward the shoreline. Dr Barnes Wallis, on the extreme left of the group, can be seen urging the bomb on.

Scene at the height of the fire which did millions of pounds worth of damage to the building and its contents, including aircraft engines, Air Force equipment and a large quantity of baled wool. September 28, 1946.

Burning Unoccupied Native Huts To Clear Area For Headquarters Of 163Rd Liaison Squadron, 10Th Army, Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto.

Fire in train and snow gallery at the national border.

Extension course Rohatyn. Fight with hand grenades around enemy trench A).

The Second British Naval Action Off Narvik. 13 April 1940, Aerial Photographs From a Fleet Air Arm Aircraft. HMS WARSPITE in action with three British destroyers in the foreground.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Instrumentation Arnhemia. PADANG sector. Instrumentation of Arnhemia. About 73 houses from Chinese owners are set on fire by the Republican troops, just before they left Arnhemia. Fortunately, the Dutch troops arrived in a timely manner, so that worse could prevent. Arnhemia looked like this, when the first Dutch troops interpressed .. July 21, 1947. Arnhemia, Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Sumatra

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. Air recording. Dark smoke clouds. Burning oil installations?. 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Terrific Bombardment Of Cassino Hits Every Building -- The Shattering aerial and artillery Bombardment loosed on the German strong point of Cassino in Italy, March 15, left not a building untouched. This reconnaissance photo through the pall of smoke over the target was made only a few minutes after the last wave of Bombers Loosed their loads. March 29, 1944. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

DESTRUCTION OF RUSSIAN STORES AT GHEISK, IN THE SEA OF AZOFF

Men From An A.T.C. Crash Crew In Iceland Receive Practical Instruction In Rescue Work And In Proper Methods Of Extinguishing Fires Resulting From Burning Gas And Oil.

Photograph of US Aircraft being hit by two Kamikazes. Dated 1945

When The Japaneseanese Air Force Struck At Broadway Field In Burma, They Caught One Northamerican P-51 Of The 1St Air Commando Force Attempting To Take-Off. The Plane Can Be Seen Burning On The Field. At Right Is A British Spitfire Of The Ace Squadron.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Reporting Hollandia. Exploring. February 1947. Hollandia, Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, New Guinea

Combat training corps CommandTokken, Stormschool Bloemendaal, 26-28 August 1947

Shining Exercises, Lockfire, Vladimir Wolinsky.

Houses that burn (up) (down) ...

Soviet bomber crashes on outskirts of Helsinki:All crew were killed. Bomber was of all metal type.These pictures were obtained by A.N.S. representative in Finland (J.Aldridge).December 01, 1939.

The 1929 riots. August 23 to 31. Artuf burning. Jewish colony set on fire by Arabs, also threshing floors going up in smoke. 1929, Palestine, History, Arab Riots, 1929, Smoke

Gis Watch A-Blast -- Soldiers who participated in today's spectacular atomic explosion on Yucca Flat watch the atomic cloud rise into the clear Nevada sky shortly after the detonation. Earlier they had occupied foxholes less than five miles from ground zero. April 22, 1952. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Striking Picture taken from the air as the great rubble cloud drifted away after the blowing up of the German fortress island of Heligolan. Ripples on the water made by falling masonry are seen in the left foreground. Part of the island is seen extreme left. March 26, 1947. (Photo by The Associated Press Ltd.)

Netherland East Indies-Hoarded barge fuel, hidden along Borneo jungle waterway near Bandjermasin, is located by 13th AF "snooper." Bomb hits and strafing scattered and fired hundreds of drums.

A pre-invasion strike at Balikpapan by 13th AAF Consolidated B-24 Liberators set fire to storage tanks at the former 15,000,000-barrel-per-year oil and gas producing center. "Jungle Air Force" Liberators, which flew in the first 2,600-mile raids

Wreckage Of A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" (A/C No. 29751) Of The 381St Bomb Group, England, 31 March 1944.

Texas City Fire Aerial.

Flames Devour City on Hokkaido : Struck by U.S. carrier-based planes of the Third Fleet, buildings in Kushiro on Hokkaido are consumed by flames, July 14. In the right foreground, a locomotive, another target of the attacking planes, also has caught fire. The attack on Kushiro occurred during the Third Fleet's daring sweep of the Japanese home islands. August 06, 1945. (Photo by Official U.S. Navy Photo).

Closeup of Marauder bombs smashing the railroad bridge South of Orvieto one day before the Allies landed on the beaches below Rome on 22 Jan.

Mushroom cloud with ships below during Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons test on Bikini Atoll

USS Bunker Hill hit by two Kamikazes, May 11, 1945

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Action southwest of Indramajoe after a railway. In early October, treatment actions were held southwest of IndramaJoe in order to free this area of terrorist gangs. In the very difficult terrain, even the carriers have a lot of work, but they come there. October 19, 1948. Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies

Fire Fighting Coast Guard, Texas City Disaster.

A flame tank burns out a hedge row used by the Viet Cong as concealment to reach the river. This photograph was taken on June 15, 1967, during Operation Arizona, 15 miles Southwest of Da Nang, Vietnam. The image showcases the activities of the 1st Marine Division. (50 words)

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