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Historical Aircraft Moments

Vintage photographs of military aircraft during World War II, showcasing operational readiness and maintenance activities at air bases.

Mechanics Repair The Engine Of A Douglas C-47 At A 14Th Air Force Base In China.

Pvt. Zael A. Goodenough of Paw Paw, Mich., steams and soaps the body of a Consolidated B-24 during its first 100-hour checkup at the 4th Air Depot engine overhaul and repair depot at Garbutt Field, Townsville, Australia. 12 May 1943.

A troop transport, right, plunges to earth in Holland during landing of the 1st Allied Airborne Army. Crew members are coming to earth under 'chutes, faintly discernible. 23 September 1944.

Maintenance Of The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Hell'S Angels' By Ground Crew, 303Rd Bomb Group. England, 10 October 1943.

Aircraft, Burma, India &Fields & Installations,MISCELLANEOUS War

Republic P-47 'Thunderbolt' Of The 318Th Fighter Group Landing On Ie Shima, Ryukyu Retto After Long Flight From Former Base On Saipan, Marianas Islands.

Left Rear View Of A British Mark V Spitfire Used By The U.S. Air Force At Membury Airdrome, England. 15 March 1943.

A native laborer moves fuel drums which have been unloaded from a Douglas C-47 of the 318th Troop Carrier Commandos at Laoag Air Strip on Luzon, Philippine Islands. 20 May 1945.

CUDDLES--This ferocious looking U.S. Army 9th Air force B-26 Marauder has been playfully named "Cuddles" which is the nickname the pilot, Capt. John H. Shaffer, Ridgewood, N.J., applies to his wife. FRANCE.

Anti-aircraft in position, somewhere in New Guinea. In the background an Army transport can be seen taking to the air. 21 February 1943.

Capt. Gerald E. Budd's Republic P-47 'Roger The Ledger' Of The 78Th Fighter Group Based At 8Th Air Force Station F-357 In Duxford, England. 16 September 1944.

Wreckage Of The Martin B-26 'Crime Doctor' Of The 386Th Bomb Group Which Crashed At Its Base In Great Dunmow, Essex, England On 28 July 1944.

North American B-25 Mitchell Bombers Of The 12Th Af Provide 'Air Mail Service' For The Leaflets. Nickeling Missions Are Not 'Milk Runs' For Jerry Gunners Are Not Eager To Receive The Latest News. Although Fighters Are Rarely Encountered, Flak Barrages A

Aircraft, Burma, India & Training

Operation Grubworm - With The Japaneseanese Advancing Steadily In China And War-Weary Allied Forces Falling Back, The Logical Solution To Stop This Onslaught Was To Relieve The 14Th Chinese Division From Their Duties In Burma And Take Them Quickly To The Front

Personnel Of The 33Rd Fighter Squadron Indulge In A Terrific Snow Ball Battle At An Air Base Somewhere In Iceland. Note The Curtiss P-40 In The Background. 3 February 1944.

Aircraft, Burma, India &Aircraft, GROUND,VULTEE War

North Africa-German JU 88, shown, was shot down during a futile bombing mission when intercepted by U.S. fighter planes over North Africa. The Junkers JU 88 is referred to as both a dive-bomber and a light bomber.

Members Of The 14Th Air Force Stand In Formation In Front Of The North American B-25 'Gopher' During A Ceremony At An Air Base In China. Left To Right In Foreground: Capt. Robert A. Waidner, Colonel Clinton D. Vincent, Maj Gen. Clair L Chennault.

The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress", "My Devotion" At An Airbase In England, 20 September 1943. 388Th Bomb Group, 563Rd Bomb Squadron.

Capt. Tucker And Crew Of The 381St Bomb Group In Front Of A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" At 8Th Air Force Station 167, Ridgewell, Essex County, England. 15 July 1943.

Pilot And Co-Pilot Of The 9Th Troop Carrier Command Discuss Mission Before Glider, 'Old Canvas Sides' Is Towed From A Field Somewhere In France. 3 February 1945.

Personnel Of The 458Th Bomb Group Examine The Wreckage Of A Consolidated B-24 (A/C No. 44-110141) Which Crashed As It Came In For A Landing Somewhere In England. 24 July 1944.

B-29 TAIL - This rear view of the huge new Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber is the first to be released with armament undeleted. Photograph was made in the China-Burma-India theatre. Note native workers in background.

Mobile Control Tower-Signal Trailer Directs A Boeing B-17 Of The 379Th Bomb Group To A Safe Landing At An 8Th Air Force Base In England. 7 February 1944.

At A Former German Air Strip No Time Is Lost In Unloading The Supplies From The Douglas C-47 At The Advanced First Tac Af Base.

P-47S Of The 4Th Fighter Group, Debden Airdrome Debden, England Just Before Their Take-Off On A Sweep Over A Dutch Coast. May 1943. 335Th Fs

Lockheed P-38's of the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group warm up their engines prior to taking off on a mission from Corsica.

Consolidated C-87 Destroyed When Struck By A Cluster Of Anti-Personnel Bombs Dropped By Japaneseanese Planes During An Attack On An Advanced Xx Bomber Command Base In China, On The Night Of 27 October 1944.

A Cloud Of Smoke Rises From This Rail Bridge As North American B-25 Mitchell Bombers Of Mediterranean Allied Air Forces Blast Every Operational Bridge That The Enemy Controls. This One "Bitch-N-Mitch" Is Located In France Just North Of Nice. Attack Wa

Wounded British And Indian Soliders Are Being Placed On A Dakota Aircraft By Raf And British Army Medical Orderlies At A Forward Airfield In Italy, For Evacuation To Base Hospitals.

Just before sunset the engines are turned over and "Bomb-Boogie" is taken up for a test flight in preparation for the next day's Bombing Mission.

Unloading rifes & ammunition salvage from the Buna district.

Grouped About A Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter-Bomber, Jewish Soldiers Of Colonel Ray J. Stecker'S 365Th Group Participate In A Public Passover And Sedar Service, One Of The First To Be Held In Germany Since 1938, At A 9Th Af Fighter-Bomber Base In Rei

This Mk-13 Torpedo Inscribed 'Yankee Baka' Is The Forst To Be Designed For Launching From Aircraft Only. 41St Bomb Group, 47Th Bomb Squadron. Kadena Airstrip, Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto. 30 July 1945.

War Activities - Theatre 5 - Caribbean Area

The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress", "Battlin Betsy" At An Airbase In England, 19 September 1943. 388Th Bomb Group, 563Rd Bomb Squadron.

Test Pilots At The Warrington Burtonwood Air Depot In England, Where Flak-Torn Planes Are Repaired And Modified For Future Missions, Give Their Final Approaval On The Boeing B-17 'Jezebel' After The Repair Work Is Done. The Men Are, Left To Right: W/O M

Lt. C.F. Armstrong, Stands By His Republic P-47 "Gun Melody" Of The 352Nd Fighter Squadron, 353Rd Fighter Group.

Consolidated B-24J 'Oklahoma Gal' After Crash Landing At Bungay, Norfolk, England. 27 August 1944. (Aircraft No. 42-50567).

German Rocket Propelled Intercepter "Natter".

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,WRECKS War

A North American B-25 Made A Forced Landing On One Wheel When Returning To Its Base In China After A Mission. 12 December 1942.

Lt. Perpente And His Ground Crew Pose Beside Their Republic P-47 "Fran" Of The 351St Fighter Squadron, 353Rd Fighter Group, Somewhere In England.

A flight of Martin B-26 "Marauders" taking-off from a desert strip in North Africa.

8th AF: 2nd Lt. Urban L. Drew, Detroit, Mich., flies his North American P-51 Fighter-bomber over France.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Visit Minister Romme to Grote Oost Makassar, Menado, Ambon, Flores, Surabaya. Menado / Minahassa. DR. C.P.M. Romme, in slight shirt, received by a company, including clergymen and officers. In the background the Mitchell B-25 of the 18th Squadron. January 28, 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Italy - Snout Of Lockheed P-38 Lightning "Shooting Star" Has Far More Bite Than The Shark It Resembles.

NORTH AFRICA-Wheels down, a Lockheed P-38 "Lightning" is caught landing after just-another-mission against the Axis in Sicily. This fighter air base was one of dozens which dotted the fertile valleys of North Africa.

This is a formation of Douglas A-20's of the 9th AF flying above the clouds over LeHarve France, en route to a target somewhere in France.

British "Spitfire" comes in for landing on airstrip in Corsica. Note construction equipment of 815th Engineer Aviation Battalion on left.

Wreckage Of The Curtiss P-40 (A/C 41-13429) Which Crashed In The Snow At 2Nd Service Group Airfield Somewhere In Iceland. 6 February 1943.

A Dump Truck Empties Its Load Of Smoking Hot Aspalt Into The Tray Of The Aspalt Spreader At The Runway Which The 72Nd See Bees Are Building For The 11Th Bomb Group On Agana Field, Guam, Marianas Islands. October 10, 1944.

North American P-51 "Mustangs" Of The 493Rd Bomb Group At An Airfield In England. 11 November 1944.

Chinese Laborers Have "Chow" In The Shade Of The Wing Of A Consolidated C-87 At Kunming Air Base, China. The Coolies Load And Unload Planes At The Base Of The India China Wing, Air Transport Command. July 1943.

August 29, 1943: Boeing B-17 afire, caused while testing new carburetor on #4 engine.

On 13 November 1943, a North American B-25 skidded while landing on the runway at Alexai Point, Attu, Aleutian Islands, and slid off the north end of the runway, creating an obstacle in the event of a like accident. Naturally the bomber was too heavy

Air Bags Are Used To Lift The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Rotherhithe'S Revenge' Of The 381St Bomb Group. The Landing Gear Of The Plane Penetrated A Soft Spot In The Runway As The Plane Landed. England, 27 April 1944. (Aircraft No. 31761).

Pvt. Louis Sidor, Cleveland, Ohio And Pfc James E. Merrell, Garry, Ohio, Of The Pack Artillery Reconnaissance, Third Prov. Pack Battery In Italy, Hold The Poles Bearing The Message Cord And The Message Bag For Air-Ground Message Pick-Up, While Plane Comes

Wreckage Of Republic P-47 Of The 78Th Fighter Group Which Crash-Landed At 8Th Air Force Station F-357 In Duxford, England. 23 March 1944.

Neilson Field 5th Air Service Area Command Depot #7-Manila, Luzon, Island, Philippine Islands, 8 May 1945. Lockheed P-38 "Lightnings" are shown being brought ashore on barges four at a time, and towed off the barge by a tractor.

High Above A Line Of Republic P-47S (Right) And Boeing B-17S (Left) A Formation Of "Flying Fortresses"Flies Over 8Th Air Force Station 167 In England. 10 July 1943.

Lockheed P-38 Lightning Is Serviced By Ground Crews Personnel Of The 94Th Fighter Squadron, 1St Fighter Group At An Airfield Somewhere In Italy.

Airbourne Reserves For The Battle Of Meiktila - An Unexpected Arrival On The Field At Thabutkan, Burma, Was This Republic P-47 Of The 1St Air Commando Group Which Landed A Few Minutes After The Field Was Opened. While On A Close Support Mission A Few Mile

Consolidated B-24 Liberator "Betsy" with Jolly Roger Insignia, on mission to Wewak, New Guinea, 24 Feb 44.

Jet Planes Line Airfield At Erding, Germany Where Nazis Were Assembling Them When The Area Was Taken Over By The 14Th Armd. Division, Third U.S. Army.

Martin B-26, Nicknamed "Truman Committee", Of The 322Nd Bomb Group, Andrews Field, Essex, England, 30 April 1944.

Army Photo 'planes

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,RESCUE War

North American P-51 (A/C No. 415505) Of The 78Th Fighter Group Crash-Landed At 8Th Air Force Station F-357 In Duxford, England. 2 January 1945.

Captured Japaneseanese Planes At Shanghai, China, 7 September 1945.

All petrol supplies in Malta are reserved for use by the bombers and fighters of the Allied Air Forces which are attacking the Axis form the island's bases. There is strict economy in its use. Personnel servicing the aircraft use bicycles to travel

Bomber Crews Arriving At Funafuti Are Taken To Their Quarters In Jeeps And Trailers.

Tripolitania, Libya-Curtiss P-40's in line to take off for an attack on enemy positions in Tripolitania. The activities of fighter bombers have been the principal feature of Allied air attacks in the present offensive in Libya. Since the attack was

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,CREWS War

A Waco Cg-4 Glider, Loaded With Guns, Is Airborne Over Runway At Comiso Airfield, Sicily, During Maneuvers In 1943.

An Anglo-American combination that struck the Hun a devastating blow on D-Day is pictured here. Tow planes of a 9th Troop Carrier Command Group that spearheaded the glider assault on France are marshalled alongside British Horsa gliders ready

A Waco Cg-4 Glider, Towed By A Douglas C-47, Is Airborne Over The Runway At Comiso Airfield, Sicily, 1943. During The Maneuvers Of The 52Nd Troop Carrier Wing, The Glider Will Be Released Over Ponte Olivo Airfield, And The Paratroopers Will Jump.

An air-to-air left side view of an Attack Squadron 304 (VA-304) A-6E Intruder aircraft near Naval Air Station, Fallon, during Reserve Carrier Air Wing 30 annual training operations. State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A Douglas A-20 Of The 410Th Bomb Group, Enroute To Release Its Bombs On An Enemy Installation Somewhere In Europe.

General Henry H. Arnold'S Plane Is Being Serviced At An Air Base Somewhere In India. 30 January 1943.

Detachment 101, an enigmatic Allied intelligence and special operations unit during World War II, played a pivotal role in the Burmese theater. Operating deep in the jungles of Burma, their mission was multi-faceted, encompassing guerrilla warfare, espionage, and sabotage against Japanese forces. Comprising a diverse group of individuals, from OSS agents to indigenous fighters, they effectively disrupted Japanese supply lines, gathered critical intelligence, and supported resistance movements.

Collection of World War I Photographs, 1914-1918 that depict the military activities of British and other nation's armed forces and personnel during World War I.

Photo collection Government information service. Meidagen 1940. German paratroopers over the Netherlands jump from Junkers JU-52. May 10, 1940. The Netherlands

Cadets Lend a Hand to the R. A. F.. 1942 - 1945. Office for Emergency Management. Office of War Information. Domestic Operations Branch. Bureau of Special Services. 3/9/1943-9/15/1945. World War II Foreign Posters

This Photograph Taken After Japaneseanese Surrender At 1340Th Aaf Base Unit, Kunming, China. 27 August 1945.

Bombs Are Readied For Loading Onto The Boeing B-29 'Maximum Load' Of The 314Th Bomb Wing At North Field, Guam. 13 April 1945.

Aircraft, Burma, India &Maintenance,MISCELLANEOUS War

As Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses"Of The 379Th Bomb Group Peel Off For Landings At An 8Th Air Force Base In England, Ground Personnel Gather Around The Damaged Tail Of One Of The Planes (A/C 338420) Which Has Just Landed After A

Vickers Wellington Mk II of No. 104 Squadron RAF, about to be loaded with 500-lb bombs for a sortie over the Western Desert, 1942. Wellington Mark II, Z8524 U, of No. 104 Squadron RAF, about to be loaded with 500-lb GP bombs for a sortie, on a landing ground in North Africa. The front turret has been removed from this aircraft, which also carries 52 operation symbols on its nose.

A Marine Attack Squadron 223 Skyhawk jet is catapulted off the crosswind runway at Chu Lai, Vietnam on August 1, 1967. The catapult allows for an ultra-short takeoff when the regular field is unusable or when wind directions prevent heavy load takeoffs from the main runways. The launching dolly is visible below the jets in the image. This photograph is an official Defense Department photo taken by Corporal Cowen.

The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Boche Buster" Of The 401St Bomb Group At An 8Th Air Force Base In England, 4 July 1944.

Protestant Easter Services In England. 1945.

The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Gremlin Gus Ii' At An Airbase In England, 12 August 1943. 388Th Bomb Group.

Wreckage Of The Lockheed P-38 (A/C 42-67960) Of The 364Th Fighter Group, 67Th Fighter Wing, Which Crash-Landed At 8Th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England. 3 May 1944.

The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Cock O' The Walk" At An Airbase In England, 10 November 1943. 388Th Bomb Group.

1St Lt. Malin E. Francis Of The 9Th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Poses In The Cockpit Of His Lockheed F-5 At An Air Base Somewhere In India.

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator 'Punjab' At An Airfield On Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, July 1944.

Miami Air Station, General Muster. This image depicts General Muster, Miami Air Station, Lieutenant C. B. Olsen, Commanding.

Marines land by helicopter in training maneuvers , Military facilities, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States

Covey -- An Air Base in Korea-Advancing Allied ground forces are kept supplied with combat materiel by the enormous carrying capacity of these Far East Air Forces C-54 Skymsters of the 374th and 61st Troop Carrier Wings. When the heavy tonnages have been unloaded, these huge transports will return to Japan filled with UN troops scheduled for rest relaxation leaves. June 17, 1951. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Photo).;Covey -- An Air Base in Korea-Advancing Allied ground forces are kept supplied with

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