Historical Military Aerial Operations

Aerial images from historical military operations showing troop landings, bombings, and aircraft during significant events, highlighting wartime activities.

Target Pointers, Marker Bombs and flares.

BREACHHEAD LANDINGS. Men...

Allied landing craft along the coast of France on Invasion Day 6/6/44.

Returning over Holland, P-47s (Republic) escort the battle damaged forts.

Tripoli Ripples. This exceptional aerial photograph was taken from tremendous height as U.S. Air Force bombers dropped their damaging load on Tripoli Harbor, Tripolitania, Libya. Having severely dmaaged the Spanish Mole, on an earlier raid

Rjuken Attack, Norway (Nov. 16, 1943) Boeing B-17 coming out of dive.

Strike Attack, Hamamatsu, Japan - 18 June 1945.

CONTRAILS BLANKET THE BERLIN SKY--During the largest daylight attack of the war on military targets in the Berlin area, carried out by more than 1,300 U.S. AF Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and Consolidated B-24 Liberators. Mustangs almost completely

(AAF photo by Sgt. Robert George) 15th Army Air Force--AAF Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th U.S. Air Force blast harbor installations at Pola in Italy. In this oblique view, taken from the open hatch in the top of a Fortress radio

Target Pointers, Marker Bombs and flares.

Burning Hun transport litters road near Dasburg, Germany on 22 January 1945. Bad weather made strafing attacks extremely tough.

UNUSUAL CELESTIAL PATTERN: 8th AAF Liberators and fighters draw a celestial design as they sweep through German skies to attack Hitler's airdromes and industrial targets deep in the Reich on Monday, 21 February 44.

Before -- Pre-Strike Photo Of Yokohama, Japan. 28 January 1945.

Bombs burst in the midst of Japanese destroyers, a submarine and submarine tender in the devastating Allied air attack on Rabaul. A destroyer, running clear, leaves a spine-like wake. Evidence of how completely the Japaneses were taken by surprise is seen in

formation of Consolidated B-24 Liberators on mission to St. Josse Du Bois, France, 29 Feb 44.

Well above flak, 15th AF B-24s bomb Odertal, Germany.

As U.S. Eighth Aaf Fighters Sweep Down Onto A Nazi Airdrome In Occupied France Recently, And Fw-190 Sits Parked On The Runway... Then A Hail Of Bullets From The Spouting Guns Of The American Fighters Sends The Enemy Craft Up In Flaming Smoke. Picture No.

Despite Heavy Cloud Cover, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 12Th Air Force Blasted The Railway Yards At Genoa, Italy, On October 29, 1943. Hits Were Made On The Tracks, Rolling Stock And Industrial Buildings In The Yards. This Photo Shows The Bombs

A Gun Camera mounted on a Republic P-47 records pictorially a victory of the Thunderbolt over a German ME-109. Flames spouting from the Hun plane give proof of the accuracy of the eight guns that comprise part of the fire power of these hard hitting

Over The Netherlands - Supplies Are Dropped From Consolidated B-24S To The Paratroopers Fighting Near Best, Holland. Note, Overturned Glider In Center Of Photo. 18 Sept.1944.

JAP WARSHIPS IN EVASIVE ACTION-Scattering wildly to escape bombs dropped by attacking U.S. Army 13th Air Force Liberators, 12 Japanese warships in a task force headed for the Philippines leave these minnow-like trails in the Sulu Sea

A Large Formation Of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 381St Bomb Group En Route To Bomb Enemy Installations Somewhere In Europe.

In A Mission Mounted From Bases In India, Boeing B-29S Of Brig. Gen Roger M. Ramey's 20Th Bomber Command Struck The Work Shop Area Of The Singapore Naval Base. Pictured Here Are Four Superfortresses Flying Over A Part Of The Important Japaneseanese-Held Stron

Boeing B-17 raid on Stuttgart, Germany, 6 Sept. 1943.

Keeping up their daily schedule of trips to German industrial areas, U.S. Eighth Air Force Fortresses, again hammered Messerschmitt fighter plants and ball bearing factories in a large-scale daylight operation 25 Feb 44. Heavily damaged were the Ober

Formation Of Boeing B-29's Over Japaneseanese Unidentified Installation.

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.

Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 15th Air Force attacked the Sudetenlandische Treibstoffwerke Refineries at Brux, Czechoslovakia on 16 Dec. 44. The target was the largest benzol refineries left to the Germans after heavies of the 15th Air Force

Consolidated B-24 Liberators Of The 467Th Bomb Group, Wing A Republic P-47 Escort En Route To Bomb Enemy Installations Somewhere In Europe. 1 August 1944. 453Rd Bg

POUNDING NAZI COMMUNICATIONS IN ITALY to support the Allied land drive from the south. Camera caught the flash of a bomb which exploded on railroad bridge at Incisa, Italy attacked by Martin B-26 Marauders of the 1st Tactical Air Force.

With their contrails blending into the clouds below them, these Flying ofrtresses of the U.S. Army 9th Air force head out over Europe, to blast Nazi installations deep inside Germany. The large black burst in the center of the photo is thought to be

Flak Encountered By The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 91St Bomb Group, 8Th Air Force, As They Were Enroute To Andres, France. 24 December 1943. (Altitude 21,000 Feet).

A U.S. Army 9th Air Force Douglas A-26 Invader, its starboard engine set ablaze by enemy flak, heads for home after participating in our attack on the important communications center at Munstereifel, Germany. Bomb bursts are visible at lower right.

Photo taken from the nose of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress showing clouds of smoke rising from the Showa Steel Works during their daylight raid on Anshan, Manchuria, 29 July 44.

Both the white smoke trails of the "marker" bombs and the flak puffs of bursting flak are proof that a formation of heavy bombers has located its cloud-covered target somewhere in Germany. A pathfinder aircraft, equipped with special devices, leads

Wherever the Luftwaffe bases its planes in the Battle for Italy, the bombers of the Strategic Air Force hunt them down, smash their fields and hangars. Bombs here are carpetting the landing area of Villaorba, in Northern Italy at the head of the

Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" Of The 2Nd Bomb Division 8Th Air Force, Enroute To Bomb Nazi Installations 24 November 1944, Leave Fleecy Vapor Trails In Their Wake.

Aerial View Of An Airfield At Gardelegen, Germany. 10 May 1945.

EUROPE-(top left) Attack on rail line by 2 Typhoons shows lead aircraft at moment of release of first volley of rockets. (top right) Lead aircraft continues in dive, releases second pair of rockets (flashes on wings) as first two streak for track.

Bombing of Vunakanau...

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Over Frankfurt, Germany.

Rostock, Germany-Heinkel Flugzeugwerke smoking from the 8th AF attack of August 4, 1944, during which bombers dropped tons of bombs.

Four North American P-51 Mustang fighter planes of the U.S. 8th Air Force wing high overhead, protecting a bomber formation on the way to bomb targets deep inside Germany.

Smoke Bomb at far left explodes too low to spread. Cape Gloucester area, New Britain.

A specially equipped Lockheed P-38 Lightning photo plane ofllowed these fighter bombers into their target over Southern France. Here, they are swinging into their target.

Torishima Retto-Smoking badly, North American B-25 slowly swings to starboard and will crash in a moment. Japaneseanese Oscar breaks off.

Looking Like An On-Rushing Tornado, A Huge Column Of Smoke Looms Above The Synthetic Oil Plant At Politz, Germany, Second Largest Nazi Controlled Plant Of Its Kind. 29 May 1944.

An important link in the German supply system, the railway bridge at Pontecorvo is well covered by bombs of the Flying Fortresses of the 15th AAF in support of the new allied landings South of Rome.

Boeing B-17's "Flying Fortresses" leave vapor trails over Bremen, Germany.

Vapor Trails Left By Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 381St Bomb Group And Their Fighter Escort, High Over Europe, Form A Peculiar Pattern.

Formation Of Boeing B-29's Flying Over Water On Way To Tokyo, Japanesean.

Aircraft, Burma, India &Troops &Paratroops

Formation Of Douglas A-20S Attached To The 410Th Bomb Group, Enroute To A Mission Over Enemy Territory In Europe. 11 July 1944.

ANOTHER FLYING FORTRESS DOWN--The burning remnants of a Flying Fortress can be seen in this spectacular photo as they fall to earth during a U.S. Army 8th Air Force raid over Germany. The raiders encountered heavy opposition of flak and fighter

Their mission accomplished, the Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 494th Bomb Group, leave their target behind them as they head back to their base. The target was a Japanese bivouac area in a partially wooded section six miles west of Cebu City

The Gsap (Gunsight Aiming Point) Camera Photographs The Gunsight As Well As The Target And The Accuracy Of Aiming. It Is Automatically Synchronized To Take A Picture Of The Sight As The Gun Fires. The Camera'S Importance In Aerial Photography Is Three-F

Attack of a German submarine by a plane of the 479th Anti Submarine Group somewhere in the North Sea. 29 July 1943.

Heavies Hit German Pocket In West -- Activity For The Second Day Flared Up On The German Atlantic Pocket At The Mouth Of The Gironde River, Which Still Blocks The Great Port Of Bordeaux. Meager Anti-Aircraft Fire Opposed More Than 1,000 Us 8Th Af Heavy B

This photo shows the Japanese heavy cruiser AOBA taking evasive action during an attack by Allied airplanes on 6 June 44, off the western tip of Dutch New Guinea. The AOBA is the oldest of the Japanese heavy cruisers and is the only one of her class still

Battle Damage To The Wing Of A North American P-51 Mustang, 17 August 1944.

Formation Of Boeing B-29's Over Coastline Of Japanesean.

Germany - Target Model Of Bohlen, Germany Synthetic Oil Refinery Made By 325Th Photo Wing, 8Th Af, Is On A Scale Of 1:2,640.

Allied landing craft along...

Flak And Forts Over Berlin -- German Ground Defenses Throw Up An Intense Barrage Of Flak Over Their Capital In An Attempt To Fight Off Attack Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 452Nd Bomb Group, Us 8Th Af During Their Raid On Teh Tegel Munitions Plant I

Leaving the target area following their attack on Misburg oil refinery near Hanover, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses pass by a mile long plume of smoke pouring from burning oil storage tanks. Attack was made on last day of the old year.

A 15-ship Japanese Task force is attacked by U.S. Army 13th Air Force heavy bombers in Brunei Bay Harbor, western Borneo, Nov. 16, 1944. A direct hit, scored with a 1,000 lb. bomb on the powder magazine of a cruiser, sank the ship. Note the intense

LANDING STRIPS HIT--At Epinoy in northern France, high explosives concentrate on the landing strips and field proper as U.S. Eighth AAF heavy bombers unleashed a heavy attack there June 12, 1944.

The Musashino Aircraft Engine Plant, Outside Of Tokyo, Was One Of The First Industrial Targets Hit By B-29's Dropping Both High Explosive And Incendiary Bombs. By August 1945, When The Last Attacks Were Made, The Plant Was Completely Destroyed, And Produ

Bombs dropped by planes of the 301st Bomb Group, 32nd Bomb Squadron, fall toward the railroad yards at Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Bombs dropped earlier in the mission are already bursting on the target, 9 August 1944.

Photo taken during bombing...

Bombing of Ammunition ship...

AGS-27 Kane , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

DD-789 Eversole , Ships, Naval Vessels, Boats, Naval History, Navy

Taken At The Battle Of Midway, June 4, 1942, Approx. 0820Mt. Taken By 431St Bomb Sq. (H) Commanded By Lt. Colonel Walter Sweeney, Jr. Altitude: 20,000 Feet With 12 Inch Lens. Scale: 1/5700. Identification: Japanese Carrier Akagi.

Fire breaks out on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress of the 15th AAF while on a mission to blast targets at Ploesti, Rumnaia, on July 9, as heavy bombers keep hammering away at the Hun's oil and rail points. A few minutes after this picture was taken

A Cluster Of Bombs From A B-29 Superfortress Falls Toward A Damaged Japanese Warship In Johore Strait Off The Naval Base At Singapore, Malay Peninsula.

8Th Air Force Rescue Demonstration At Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto, 27 January 1946. Close Up Of "Survivor" Being Taken To The Nearest Beach By An R-6 Helicopter. (Note Streamlining Effect Causes "Survivor" To Ride Backwards Lessening The Effect Of Wind -- Air

Victoria Bay, New Guinea, Bombing. 27 September 1943.

Pedro Miguel/Locks - Smoke Screen Tests, Aerial Photograph.

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,RESCUE War

Aircraft, Burma, India & Bombing,

A Towering Column Of Smoke Almost Forces This Consolidated B-24 Liberator Of The 15Th Aaf To Gain Altitude After It Smashed At The Oil Storage Facilities At Lyon, France On Aug 6 1944, Scoring Direct Hits On Oil Tanks And Other Facilities.

High In The Substratosphere, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 381St Bomb Group Leave A Trail Of Condensing Vapor As They Drone Steadily On Toward Their Target, Somewhere In Europe.

Gun camera pictures showing enemy planes being strafed by U.S. fighter plane. EUROPE.

Kriegsmarine Werft, Kiel, 7/25/43.

Bombs from B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S. 8th AF fall toward the railway yards at Stendal, Germany, as the 8th AF joined the other Allied Air Forces 22 Feb. 1945 in a simultaneous attack of huge proportions against communications lines at key

Small Puffs Of Smoke Merge To Form One Large Billow Over The Rail Yards At Munich, Germany, As Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" Of The 15Th Af Attacked Targets In That Area, On 22 Sept. 44.

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.

Formation Of Lockheed P-38 Lightnings Of The 94Th Fighter Squadron, 1St Fighter Group In Flight Over Their Base Somewhere In Italy.

Nettuno, Italy-More bombs rain down but most bursts are wild. Only a few enemy planes got through our air defense over the beachhead. Nine enemy planes were shot down here on D-Day. We lost only one Spitfire and three P-40's.

Europe-Gun camera photo records the effect of American .50 caliber bullets on German aircraft. Note German pilot bailing out before plane exploded.

Kongo class battleship is bracketed by 1,000 lb. bombs during 26 Oct. 1944 strike on Jap task force off Panay.

Air Sea Rescue Kit Used By Men Of The 70Th Service Group, Based At Boxted Field, Essex, England. 16 August 1943.

Allied landing craft along...

Planes Leave A Long Path Of Vapor Trails In The Sky While On A Bombing Mission Over Cologne, Germany. 14 July 1944.

Bombing of Cassino on March 15, 1944.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 91St Bomb Group Flying High Above The Clouds, Approach Their Target At Leipzig, Germany For Another Attack On Enemy Installations On 20 February 1944.

Operating from a Russian Base, this Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress of the 15th AAF drops its bombs on the target somewhere over enemy territory on the return trip to its home base in Italy.

Bursts Of Deadly Flak Appears As Innocent Puffs Of Smoke, But Each Burst Showers Approximately 1400 Jagged Pieces Of Metal At Any Plane Near It. 381St Bomb Group. Europe.

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