Military Aviation Moments

Captures significant moments in military aviation history, featuring aircraft handling, arrivals, and notable military figures in historical contexts.

General Colin Powell, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, waves farewell as he prepares to board a VC-137 Stratoliner aircraft following his visit to Griffiss Air Force Base.

General Colin Powell, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, waves farewell as he prepares to board a VC-137 Stratoliner aircraft following his visit to Griffiss Air Force Base.

DN-ST-89-02745. Country: Unknown

DD-ST-89-11765. Country: Unknown

DN-ST-86-02104. Base: Naval Air Station, Sigonella State: Sicily Country: Italy (ITA)

Ground crewmen from the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing perform maintenance on an F-4 Phantom II aircraft during Exercise Gallant Eagle '82. Subject Operation/Series: GALLANT EAGLE '82 Base: George Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of a Joint Services Honor Guard carry remains to be identified. The remains are being brought to the Central Identification Lab of Hawaii located at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Base: Hickam Air Force Base State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Heavy equipment is driven on board a foreign Hercules via the tailgate.

LT Sue Faris, a pilot with Fleet Logistic Support Squadron 30 (VRC-30), and Aviation Electrician Shelly Bentley prepare to greet their passengers as they stand beside a CT-39E Sabreliner aircraft. Base: Naval Air Station, North Island State: California(CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Members of the 101st Airborne Division Airmobile team steady the rotor of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter following its unloading from a C-5 Galaxy aircraft during Operation Sand Eagle '88. Subject Operation/Series: SAND EAGLE '88 Base: Mcdill Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

The "The City of Goldsboro", the first KC-10A Extender aircraft to be assigned to the 68th Aerial Refueling Wing (68th AREFW), stands on the flight line at Mcdonnell Douglas' Long Beach Plant. The aircraft has transported base personnel and civic leaders to Long Beach for the ceremony during which the 68th AREFW will receive its twentieth KC-10A, dubbed the "Spirit of Kitty Hawk", the final KC-10A to be delivered to the Air Force. Base: Long Beach State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A Canadian military transport aircraft and a C-130 Hercules aircraft parked on the flight line during the multi-service, multinational Operation URGENT FURY. Subject Operation/Series: URGENT FURY Country: Grenada (GRD)

After providing security at the Cuban Migrant Camps, the 571st Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion boards the aircraft for Fort Lewis, Washington. Subject Operation/Series: SEA SIGNAL V Base: Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay Country: Cuba (CUB)

President Kennedy departs Andrews Air Force Base for Mexico, 8:55AM. President John F. Kennedy (left of group, holding hat) prepares to board Air Force One for his flight to Mexico. Also pictured: Military Aide to the President, General Chester V. Clifton; White House Secret Service agent, Gerald A. Jerry Behn; Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa. Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

DART Exercise 2002 'Response to Terrorism'

DN-ST-85-03932. Subject Operation/Series: INTENSE LOOK Base: Naval Air Station, Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

British Foreign Minister Anthony Eden arriving at Berlin-Gatow airfield, Berlin, Germany, 15 Jul 1945

Presentation of the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) to Astronaut John Herschel Glenn, Jr., at Cape Canaveral. President John F. Kennedy (standing at the top of the airplane stairs) exits Air Force One upon his arrival at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for the presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. White House Secret Service Agent Emory Roberts stands at the bottom of the stairs, at left; United States Air Force Honor Guard stands at attention in the foreground. Brevard County, Florida.

Pallbearers of the 101st Airborne Division march single file out of a 437th Military Airlift Wing C-141B Starlifter aircraft which will carry the remains of members of the 3rd Bn., 502nd Inf., 101st Airborne Div., from Gander Airport to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. On December 12, 1985, 248 soldiers of the 3rd Battalion were killed in a plane crash at the airport. They were returning to the United States after participating in peacekeeping duty with the Multi-national Force and Observers in the Sinai Desert. Base: Gander State: Newfoundland (NF) Country: Canada (CAN)

DM-SC-88-09669. Base: Marine Corps Air Station El Toro State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

980622-F-9580Z-017. Base: Mcchord Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-87-06213. Base: Naval Station, Rota Country: Spain (ESP)

Members of a Strategic Air Command inspector general team arrive on base after debarking from a Boeing 737 aircraft. Base: Fairfield Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

041022-F-9429S-001. Subject Operation/Series: CRISIS OUTLOOK 2004 Base: Phelps-Collins Angb State: Michigan (MI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A Navy aircraft mechanic works on the tail section of a UH-1N Iroquois helicopter inside the hangar. Base: Naval Air Station, Moffett Field State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-87-09530. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

Trip to Western States: San Diego, California, arrival at Lindbergh Field, motorcade, and commencement address at San Diego State College. President John F. Kennedy (right, descending stairs of Air Force One) shakes hands with Governor of California, Edmund G. Pat Brown, upon his arrival at Lindbergh Field in San Diego, California. Descending stairs behind President Kennedy (front to back): Representative Lionel Van Deerlin (California); Senator Clair Engle (California); Secretary of the Navy, Fred Korth; White House Secret Service agent, Gerald A. Jerry Behn; Special Assistants to the President, Kenneth P. O Donnell and Larry O Brien. Agent, Bob Lilley, stands at far left.

C-130 Hercules aircraft parked on the flight line during exercise Purple Duck, a deployment from Yokota Air Base, Japan, to Kwang Ju Air Base for joint operation readiness maneuvers with Korean troopers. C-130 Hercules aircraft parked on the flight line during exercise Purple Duck, a deployment from Yokota Air Base, Japan, to Kwang Ju Air Base for joint operation readiness maneuvers with Korean troopers.

030416-F-0365G-001. Country: Unknown

Crewmen off-load seats from a KC-10 Extender aircraft onto a Cochran Loader. Base: Raf Mildenhall Country: Great Britain / England (GBR)

A patient is transferred from a C-141B Starlifter aircraft to an ambulance upon arrival. American DC-10 aircraft crash survivors were medically evacuated from Malaga, Spain. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SN-89-06980. Country: Unknown

U.S. Air Force maintainers assigned to the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron get ready to marshall and conduct post-flight checks for F-22 Raptors returning from a training flight, Sept. 7, 2022 at Łask Air Base, Poland. The 90th EFS forward deployed to support NATOs Air Shielding mission.

British Troops Leave England By Air For Korea -- A detachment of men of the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, entering the aircraft at Lyneham Airfield, Wiltshire, on the first stage of their journey to Korea.British troops are now being flown to Japan by the R.A.F. Transport Command to reinforce those already in Korea. Hastings four-engined planes, carrying about 35 men are being used and each trip will take about eight days. September 15, 1950. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

A portable electric power generator is loaded aboard a C-141B Starlifter aircraft for shipment to Kauai, Hawaii. The generator is being airlifted to Kauai to provide power to areas left without electricity by Hurricane Iwa. Base: Hilo State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Flight deck personnel take a break near several aircraft parked aboard the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-60) during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Red Sea

The 52 former hostages arrive at the base after their release from Iran. Base: Rhein-Main Air Base Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

A ground crew member loads mail into a Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40) C-2A Greyhound Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft for delivery to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69). Base: Naval Air Station, Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Anefo photo collection. Mr. From Zeeland to Indonesia. December 15, 1947. Indonesia

Pallbearers of the 101st Airborne Division carry the casket of one of their fellow soldiers across the flight line after unloading it from an aircraft. The soldier was killed in an air crash in Gander, Newfoundland. Base: Dover Air Force Base State: Delaware (DE) Country: United States Of America (USA)

CAPT. Hawe, MASTER Sergeant Becket and STAFF Sergeant Rencher of the 73rd Aeromed Evacuation Squadron carry a patient on a litter into the C-9 Nightingale aircraft. Base: Scott Air Force Base State: Illinois (IL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-86-11275. Base: Van Nuys Air National Guard Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-ST-87-07754. Base: Pago Pago State: Tutuila Island Country: American Samoa (ASM)

An airman stands beside the landing gear of a 105th Military Airlift Group, New York Air National Guard, C-5A Galaxy aircraft following its arrival. The aircraft has brought the U.S. Navy submersible search and rescue vehicle Deep Drone and its support equipment to Okinawa to aid in the recovery of an Air Force helicopter that crashed off the island's coast. Base: Kadena Air Base State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

Arrival ceremony for Sylvanus Olympio, President of Togo, 11:00AM. President of Togo, Sylvanus Olympio, speaks at arrival ceremonies in his honor. On platform (L-R): President John F. Kennedy; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Togo, Paulin Freitas (in back); President Olympio (at microphones); Togolese Ambassador to the United States, Dr. André Akakpo; Chief of Staff of the United States Army, General George H. Decker (behind Ambassador Akakpo, wearing hat); Under Secretary of State, George Ball; US Ambassador to Togo, Leon B. Poullada; US Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke. Also pictured: Air Force Aide to President Kennedy, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (below platform at left); Naval Aide to President Kennedy, Captain Tazewell Shepard (behind platform at right, hands folded); Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of Togo, Dr. Hospice Coco (in group behind platform); White House Secret Service agent, Gerald A. Jerry Behn (in background, at right). US Marine Band stands in ba

Dutch and American pilots at the Leeuwarden airbase during Mot & E.Gheel right Crechief Spaan van de Klu.

Former prisoners of war released by the Iraqi government disembark an International Red Cross DC-9 aircraft from Geneva at the Riyadh Air Base during Operation Desert Storm.. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Base: Riyadh Air Base Country: Saudi Arabia(SAU)

Cubans migrants are greeted by U.S. Air Force personnel at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. As they head for a processing center for Immigration and Naturalization Service Interviews. Subject Operation/Series: OPERATION SEA SIGNAL Country: Unknown

A member of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 122 (VAW-122) stands beside an E-2C Hawkeye aircraft on display at the 1991 Paris Air Show. Base: Paris Country: France(FRA)

Marietta, GA, August 16, 2007 U.S. Coast Guard Pilot Lt. Jo'Andrew Cousins speaks to the press upon arrival to Dobbins Air Reserve Base. The Coast Guard is flying the FEMA Federal Incident Response Support Team (FIRSTeam) to Puerto Rico in advance of Hurricane Dean. Mark Wolfe/FEMA.. Photographs Relating to Disasters and Emergency Management Programs, Activities, and Officials

157th Air Refueling Wing Commander, Col. John Pogorek, waves at his family on the flight line after landing his fini-flight at Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire June 2, 2022. Pogorek flew more than 6,675 flying hours with the U.S. Air Force and New Hampshire Air National Guard.

Soldiers from the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) board a chartered airliner as they begin their journey to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Base: Hunter Army Air Field State: Georgia(GA) Country: United States Of America(USA)

Aftermath and Relief - 26-HK-295-39. Hurricane Katrina

Maintenance personnel work on an engine of a Military Airlift Command C-141B Starlifter aircraft during a stopover en route to Kinshasa, Zaire. The aircraft is transporting Belgian troops and equipment to Zaire as part of an effort to evacuate French and Belgian citizens from the country during a period of political upheaval.. Base: Dakar Country: Senegal(SEN)

No Leisurely stroll next time they come through this way but all bustle of refueling for the last stages of the New Zealand air race. These six men brought to Perth (WA) today the two Canberras which the RAAF has entered in the race and which they are taking to London for it. Picture leaving their aircraft at Pearce this afternoon are (from left) Wing-Commander D.R. Cuming (officer commanding), Squadron-Leader P.F. Raw, Flying-Officer F.N. Davis Flight-Lieutenant W.D. Kerr, flying officer R.J. Atkinson, Squadron-Leader C.G. Harvey. October 13, 1953.

DF-SN-85-12586. Base: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-86-10981. Base: Colorado Springs State: Colorado (CO) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 169th Operations Support Flight (OSF) is loaded with pallets containing water purification units by personnel from the 437th Aerial Port Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. The 169th OSF is assigned to the 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire Air National Guard Station in South Carolina. During this five-day mission, this crew will make two trips to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. They will deliver much needed water purification units, food, and medical supplies to assist local civilians affected from the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Base: Charleston Air Force Base State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

The Royal Air Force Red Arrows flight demonstration team (standing) and the US Air Force Thunderbirds, pose for photographers at the Open House Air Show. Behind them is the British BAe Hawk aircraft that the Red Arrows fly. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-SC-88-02361. Country: Unknown

GEN Edgar S. Harris Jr., Commander 8th Air Force, speaks with a television interviewer as they stand near the KC-10A Extender aircraft that was just delivered here by Douglas Aircraft Company..

News media personnel record the arrival of the E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, from the 961st Airborne Warning Control and Support Squadron, for exercise Kangaroo '81. Subject Operation/Series: KANGAROO '81 Base: Raaf Amberley State: Queensland Country: Australia (AUS)

DF-ST-89-07776. Base: Aviano Air Base State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

Ground crew members check the engine intake of a C-5A Galaxy aircraft. Base: Tempelhof Airport Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

Students from the Saint George's University School of Medicine board a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Point Salines Airfield. They are being evacuated from the island during the multiservice, multinational Operation URGENT FURY. Subject Operation/Series: URGENT FURY Country: Grenada (GRD)

A member of the delegation from China is photographed with three Navy flag officers. Vice President Walter Mondale's official aircraft is in the background. Base: Naval Air Station, North Island State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

980616-F-2907C-058. Base: Mcchord Air Force Base State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-SN-86-12749. Base: Andrews Air Force Base State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-85-12509. Base: Palmdale State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

MAJ. Stelphanie Wells, 433rd Military Airlift Wing, U.S. Air Force Reserve, reviews maintenance documents during a preflight check of a C-5A Galaxy aircraft. Base: Kelly Air Force Base State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Military personnel and their families board a waiting airliner. They are among the first group to leave after President Bush's order to reduce the number of US citizens in Panama. Base: Howard Air Force Base Country: Panama (PAN)

Postal clerks sort packages on the hangar deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) during Operation Desert Shield. Approximately 41,000 pounds of mail was received by the KENNEDY in this one shipment. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Red Sea

Representatives from the Royal New Zealand Air Force tour a C-130J Super Hercules during a site visit to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, May 5, 2022. The RNZAF is in the beginning stages of building a C-130J Super Hercules Formal Training Unit, and visited LRAFB to witness and discuss best practices on how best to support the New Zealand governments Future Air Mobility Capability (FAMC) project. The goal of the FAMC project is the provision of an effective air mobility and response capability beyond the retirement of the RNZAFs existing C-130 Hercules aircraft. As they build out their training program, the RNZAF intends to continue its partnership with both the 19th Airlift Wing and 314th Airlift Wing to support the project. (U.S. Air Force photo Airman 1st Class Maria Umanzor Guzman)

Combined services pallbearers place the flag draped casket of a former Missing In Action (MIA) person into a bus during a ceremony on the flight line. Fifteen former American MIAs from Southeast Asia are arriving at the base for positive identification by the Army Central Identification Laboratory. Base: Hickam Air Force Base State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)

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