Historic Military Operations

A collection of military scenes depicting aircraft landings, shipbuilding activities, and space shuttle operations, showcasing a blend of historical and modern military aviation.

USA - 1918 - Panorama of an active construction site for a Ford shipbuilding plant.

A U.S. Marine salutes the arrival of President Barack Obama aboard Marine One at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Ill., April 2, 2014.

A view of an apron at the Al Jaber Airfield damaged during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Kuwait (KWT)

A B-1B Lancer assigned to the 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota takes off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam to participate in a Bomber Task Force Mission, June 22, 2022. Bomber missions contribute to joint force lethality and deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by demonstrating the United States Air Force's ability to operate anywhere in the world at any time in support of the National Defense Strategy.

CAPT Bob Lasky, an A-10A Thunderbolt II pilot with the 343rd Tactical Fighter Wing, waits for help as he takes part in survival training during CALFEX '90, a joint service, combined arms live-fire exercise. Subject Operation/Series: CALFEX '90 Base: Eielson Air Force Base State: Alaska(AK) Country: United States Of America(USA)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The Project Morpheus prototype lander touches down in the automated landing and hazard avoidance technology, or ALHAT, hazard field after completing its seventh free flight test at the north end of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 83-second test began at 3:41 p.m. EDT with the Morpheus lander launching from the ground over a flame trench and ascending to 580 feet, its highest to date. Morpheus then flew its fastest downrange trek at 30 mph, travelling farther than before, 837 feet. The lander performed a 42-foot divert to emulate a hazard avoidance maneuver before descending and touching down on Landing Site 2, at the northern landing pad inside the hazard field. Morpheus landed within one foot of its intended target. Project Morpheus tests NASAs ALHAT and an engine that runs on liquid oxygen and methane, or green propellants, into a fully-operational lander that could deliver cargo to other planetary surfaces.The lan

220628-N-XN177-2068 EAST CHINA SEA (June 28, 2022) - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 121 prepares to launch from the flight deck of amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 28, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Infantrymen walking and aiming with assault rifles in unknown desert area in the Middle East.

030228-M-5753Q-010. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Camp Ripper Country: Kuwait (KWT)

United States Forces Korea joined with the Republic of Korea military in a demonstration of their combat readiness during a Live-Fire exercise on Oct. 5. This training displayed the ability of the combined ROK-U.S., force to respond quickly to crisis events with U.S. Eighth Army and ROK military personnel conducting a combined live-fire exercise by firing missiles from the northeast of South Korea into the waters east of the Korean Peninsula following appropriate notifications for air and maritime safety. The ROK-U.S. Alliance remains committed to peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. commitment to the defense of the ROK remains ironclad and our alliance has never been stronger.

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. James P. McAnallen, chief instructor with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, signals a Philippine Marine executing Helicopter Rope Suspension Technique during Marine Aviation Support Activities 22-2, July 21, 2022, Subic Bay, Philippines. MASA 22-2 is a bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps, aimed at increasing interoperability and improving aviation-related capabilities in support of U.S.-Philippine mutual defense.

040819-F-4691W-004. Base: Eielson Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Marine Corps recruit with Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, navigates an obstacle during the confidence course at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, May 3, 2022. Recruits became physically and mentally stronger by overcoming obstacles that require strength, balance, and determination.

110925-N-OK922-006PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 25, 2011) Aviation BoatswainÕs Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Alex Cormier, assigned to Air DepartmentÕs V-2 Division, performs maintenance on a catapult before flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are underway conducting operations off the coast of Southern California.

Deep mud coats the street in an area closed off due to a storm-driven mudslide in Montecito, California, Jan. 10, 2018. The California National Guard is providing civil authorities with air and ground support during the disaster response effort.

Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division along with their Polish Paratrooper counterparts descend onto a drop zone in Błędów Desert, Poland after jumping from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, May 29, 2022. Task Force-82 has been training and working closely together with our NATO Allies to increase interoperability across all domains.

The American flag on the garrison flagpole is shown July 19, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin. The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services nearly every year since 1984. Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on the Defense Visual Information Distribution System at https://www.dvidshub.net/fmpao, on Facebook by searching ftmccoy, and on Twitter by searching usagmccoy.

220624-N-VJ326-1111 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 24, 2022) - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 121 lands on the flight deck of amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 24, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The USNS Denebola in port at Mogadishu prepares the ramp to board vehicles from the 155th Motor Transportation Company, Fort Eustis, VA. Subject Operation/Series: UNOSOM II Base: Mogadishu Country: Somalia (SOM)

030417-M-3692C-023. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Iraq (IRQ)

An Army UH-1N helicopter from the High Altitude Training Squadron (HATS) flies above the "ouch" pad touch down point, near the lower debris field, as it brings in more personnel for the A-10 recovery effort. Some of the recovery team members can be seen at the bottom of the frame. Base: Gold Dust Peak State: Colorado (CO) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the Indiana National Guard's 38th Infantry Division Ceremonial Unit raised the American flag during a ceremony at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, Ind., Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. The flag-raising ceremony was part of the Indiana State Fair's military appreciation day which honored the United States military and all of its service members.

Soldiers from Charlie Troop, 3-71 Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, build trust in their ski equipment as they cross a frozen river during Exercise Arctic Forge in Sodankyla Garrison, Finland on Feb. 22, 2023. Exercise Arctic Forge 23 is a U.S. Army Europe and Africa led umbrella exercise that leverages the host-nation exercises Defense Exercise North in Finland, and exercise Joint Viking in Norway, taking place Feb. 16 through March 17, 2023, focused on building capabilities and cooperation in support of the U.S. Army's Arctic Strategy.

The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft is seen as it lands with Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, NASA Flight Engineer Joe Acaba and Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Revin in a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Monday, September 17, 2012. Padalka, Acaba and Revin returned from five months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 31 and 32 crews.

DN-SC-87-05410. Country: Unknown

220629-N-XN177-1018 EAST CHINA SEA (June 29, 2022) - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 121 lands aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 29, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Air Force Security Forces Airmen assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard, 169th Fighter Wing, from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, work alongside Florence County, S.C., Sheriffs Department in evacuation efforts as the Black Creek river begins to crest in Florence, S.C., Sept. 16, 2018. Approximately 3,400 Soldiers and Airmen have been mobilized to prepare, respond and participate in recovery efforts as Tropical Storm Florence has caused flooding and damage to the state.

The 202nd RED HORSE Squadron clear roads in Fort Myers Beach, Florida in response to Hurricane Ian, Sept. 30, 2022.

An aerographer's mate stands on the stern of the amphibious assault ship USS PELELIU (LHA 5) as he launches a radiosonde balloon during PACEX '89. Subject Operation/Series: PACEX '89 Base: USS Peleliu (LHA 5) Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

U.S. Soldiers assigned to 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (3-1 ABCT), operationally assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (1 ID), stand in formation alongside soldiers of Finlands Army Headquarters, Armored Brigade, Pori Brigade, Karelia Brigade, Uti Jaeger Regiment and Logistics Department of the Defense Forces towards the end of Hammer 22, an annual combined forces exercise conducted at a training site near Niinisalo, Finland, Nov. 10, 2022. The 3-1 ABCT is among other units under the 1 ID proudly working alongside allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, Americas forward deployed corps in Europe.

A U.S. Marine with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 172 posts security while on patrol during a field exercise at Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, July 19, 2022. MWSS-172 held this exercise in order to demonstrate proof of concept for external lifts, to refine the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations concept, and to improve the engineer companys combat effectiveness in an expeditionary jungle warfare environment.

030808-M-7837W-010. Base: Bagram Air Base State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG) Scene Major Command Shown: VMA-513

Coast Guard Personnel - Supplies - 26-HK-84-126. Hurricane Katrina

Sustainment training, conducted by Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, includes ice climbing skills at the Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vt., March 5, 2023. Special equipment, such as climbing axes and ropes allows Soldiers to negotiate steep terrain and vertical obstacles that are otherwise impassable.

030220-M-4419R-032. Base: Camp Coyote Country: Kuwait (KWT) Scene Major Command Shown: 5th Marines

U.S. Army Pacific Best Warrior competitors conducted Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction Systems training June 7 during the 2022 USARPAC Best Warrior Competition at the 25th Infantry Division's Lightning Academy, Schofield Barracks East Range, Hawaii. The USARPAC BWC 2022 is an annual week-long competition consisting of competitors from multiple USARPAC units across the Indo-Pacific. The noncommissioned officers and junior enlisted Soldiers are evaluated in several categories such as general military knowledge, basic Soldier skills, and physical fitness.

Senior Airman Caleb Spencer, A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team engines specialist, washes an A-10 Thunderbolt II at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 6, 2022. Spencer is the sole engine troop assigned to the team and is responsible for all engine maintenance for the teams three dedicated aircraft.

Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Thomas Eckert (l) and SENIOR CHIEF Boatswain's Mate (SW) James Broadwater (r) watch from the fantail of USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS(FFG 58) as their shipmates rig up a towing line to a disabled Iranian fishing boat. ROBERTS was patrolling the Arabian Gulf in support of the SWA build-up when she received orders to assist this ship in distress. Subject Operation/Series: SCIENCE EXPEDITION '96 Country: Arctic

DN-ST-89-04404. Base: Naval Air Station, Miramar State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors assigned to the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, taxi to park after landing at Łask Air Base, Poland, Aug. 23, 2022. The 90th EFS forward deployed to Łask Air Base, Poland to enhance the defense posture on NATOs eastern flank.

Members of 19th Engineer Battalion line up for their June 30, 2022 change of command ceremony at Tobacco Leaf Lake, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawks transport USAID Disaster Assistance Response Teams from Incirlik Air Base to Adiyaman, 10 Feb. Following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Türkiye on Feb. 6, 2023, U.S. military forces assigned to U.S. European Command and under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Europe, are providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in support of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), and the international community to the Turkish people during this tragedy.

Recruits with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, take part in square away time on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., April 15, 2022.Square away time gives recruits the opportunities to prepare uniforms and gear for the next day of training, as well as time for extra pt, reading mail, and writing letters.

051228-A-7969G-015. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Camp Cooke State: Taji Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: 320FA,CA

RIO DE JANEIRO (Sept. 19, 2022) Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) heave in the lines while mooring to the pier during UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 19, 2022. UNITAS is the worlds longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Brazil, it brings together multinational forces from Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States conducting operations in and off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. The exercise trains forces to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating naval and marine forces.

A Polish army soldier salutes the Polish flag during an Independence Day celebration in Poznan, Poland on Nov. 11, 2022. National Independence Day is a Polish holiday celebrated on Nov. 11 to commemorate the anniversary of Poland regaining its sovereignty in 1918. U.S. Soldiers, assigned to Area Support Group Poland, attended the celebration to continue to show commitment to U.S. Allies and partners.

020501-F-7964B-164. Base: Fort Smith State: Arkansas (AR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Israeli planes bombed a number of places near residential towers north of Gaza City. Palestine.

Service members at the installation hold training operations at a range June 13, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Annually, tens of thousands of troops complete institutional and transient troop training operations at Fort McCoy. During June 2022, thousands of troops also trained at Fort McCoy, including troops from the Wisconsin National Guard and Iowa National Guard.

A view of the St. Mary's Project site in downtown Georgetown. The exercise participants will rebuild the St. Mary's Primary School, by the middle of September 1997 as part of New Horizon '97, the first combined humanitarian and civic assistance exercise conducted between the United States and Guyana. Military personnel from the Air Force, Air Force Reserve & National Guard, Army, Army National Guard and Marine Corp participated in the exercise which included engineering and medical readiness training. Subject Operation/Series: NEW HORIZON '97 Base: Georgetown Country: French Guiana (GUF)

Recruits with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, are complete the Night Movement Course during Basic Warrior Training on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., May 7, 2022. Basic Warrior Training serves as a test of the field and combat skills that recruits have learned during their time in recruit training.

Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment of the Wisconsin National Guard participate in UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter live-hoist training at Big Sandy Lake on June 7, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Members of the unit regularly complete training operations at Fort McCoy, and the unit also supports numerous training events at the installation each year. This training included hoisting up simulated victims treading water with a basket into the helicopter. The unit completed the training for three hours at the lake on June 7 and Wisconsin National Guard troops complete their annual training at Fort McCoy for 2022.

of 2