World War II Aircraft Missions

Photographs showcasing WWII aircraft in flight formations and bombing operations, highlighting the strategic military operations of the era.

A visual lesson in precision bombing, this view shows one element of First Tactical Air Force B-26's attacking a target in southwestern Germany. The first planes of the V-shaped formation have dropped their bombs on reaching the the objective and as
A visual lesson in precision bombing, this view shows one element of First Tactical Air Force B-26's attacking a target in southwestern Germany. The first planes of the V-shaped formation have dropped their bombs on reaching the the objective and as
257 assets in this story
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Three powerful new Northrup P-61 Black Widow night fighters of the 9th Air force roar over the French countryside. Operating under 9th Air Defense Command, it is their mission to defend U.S. Military installations in Liberated territory
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Coast Guard Anti-Submarine Patrol. This image depicts Coast Guard Convoy Patrols.
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Flying Mother Provides Triple Feeding -- A U.S. Air Force B-29/refueled three British one tine in this 1951 demonstration of the multiple refueling process which has been kept under a blanket of secrecy until now. Fuel lines,which can be controlled individually extend from wing tips and fuselage of the B-29 to the noses of British jets. Flight Refuelling Ltd., the British concern which developed the triple feeding equipment, says the process will reduce by half the number of planes needed for air patrol. May 13, 1953. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).
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A troop carrying glider of the 9th Air force skims over the English country side at the end of a towline attached to a Douglas C-47 of the Troop Carrier Command during maneuvers prior to the invasion of Europe. Gliders are expected to play an
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Royal Air Force- Italy, the Balkans and South-east Europe, 1942-1945. A loose formation of Douglas Dakota Mark IIIs of No. 267 Squadron RAF based at Bari, Italy, flying along the Balkan coast.
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Anefo photo collection. Liberation images. Food fragments above the Netherlands. 1945
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Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 452Nd Bomb Group Wing Their Way Over The German Countryside Enroute To Regensburg, Germany, As The Heavy Bombers Continued Their Daily Pounding Of Nazi Military Installations. 25 Feb. 1944. Taken By S/Sgt. F. Ferreri
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The Fleet at Speed - Remarkable Aerial View: A striking view of the ships of the Home Fleet steaming at full speed while Osprey fighters hurtle through the air overhead.During its homeward passage after the combined exercises with the Mediterranean Fleet of Gibraltar, the Home Fleet underwent full-power trials in the Bay of Biscay. During the trials extensive exercises were carried out by the Fleet Air Arm. April 01, 1935. (Photo by The Associated Press Ltd.).
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World war two Asia: American fighter planes over Malaya 1941
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Returning from a mission against German communication targets, the pilot of this 9th Air force Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber was forced to crash-land the battle damaged craft at his base in Belgium. He escaped, unhurt, just beofre
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High Above A Dense Carpet Of Clouds, Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 381St Bomb Group Head For The Target In Enemy Occupied Europe.
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Ministry of Information First World War Official Collection A British B.E. Naval Air Scout looping
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Anefo photo collection. RAF jet gloster Javelin. July 4, 1957
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A formation of 6 Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune maritime patrol yields and 3 grumman TPM-3 avenger submarine aircraft from the Marine Aviation Service, 1957.
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Royal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. A Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night-fighter of No. 264 Squadron RAF, on the runway at Biggin Hill, Kent, preparing for a night take-off.
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Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Tjileungsir. Mitchell bomber flies low over. July 19, 1946. Cileungsir, Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies
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Boeing B-17S Of The 8Th Air Force In Practice Formation Over Engand.
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''Un Vaillant; Les insignes des quatre escadrilles de chasse formant le groupe des Cigognes', 1915. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.
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DF-SN-86-11664. Base: Vance Air Force Base State: Oklahoma (OK) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Artwork: "Shemya" Artist: Clayton Knight. Country: Unknown
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Photo collection prints Anefo Rousel. Series Print Anefo RVD Own Without Caption. Collection of photo collection prints Anefo Rousel, photo number 157-0435. 1956
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Flying Fortresses Ready For Bombing Of Germany -- Lined up and ready for combat these B-17 Flying Fortresses are only a small portion of the bombing might assembled in England by the U.S. Army Eight Air Force. Two years ago on Aug 17, 1942 an expeditionary force of 12 Flying Fortresses crossed the English Channel for the first time to drop bombs on enemy targets. Up to Aug. 24, 1944, Fortresses and Liberators of the Eight Air Force had flown 162,000 sorties to release about 300,000 tons of explosives on the enemy throughout Germany and German-invaded countries of Europe. September 15, 1944. (Photo by U.S. Office of War Information Picture)
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The "Battle of the Brenner" continues daily. Here 12th Air Force North American B-25's cut a corner after releasing their bombs on a Brenner Pass Line bridge target at Star di Ceraino, 15 miles northwest of Verona, Italy. 10 March 1945. 321st Bomb
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A US Marine Corps (USMC) KC-130 Hercules on approach to land after a refueling mission. The Marine KC-130s and crews conduct combat and combat-support air refueling and airlift missions across US Central Commands (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, SOUTHERN WATCH, and IRAQI FREEDOM. Country: Unknown
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Finnish-volunteer flown Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 bomber during a bombing raid in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39).
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DN-SN-90-02263. Country: Unknown
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Nazi Parachute Troops prepare to murder Civilians. More neutrals invaded -- Some of the Nazi Parachute Troops seen during their training - receiving instructions in the best way to land and smash all opposition daylight and unrestricted murder is their code a code which they cling to mercilessly. May 10, 1940. (Photo by Keystone).
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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.
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A Patrol Squadron 16 (VP-16) P-3 Orion aircraft flies over the guided missile destroyer USS DEWEY (DDG-45) during Phase 0 of exercise Unitas XX. Subject Operation/Series: UNITAS XX Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)
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Royal Air Force Flying Training Command, 1940-1945. Hawker Audax glider-tugs towing GAL Hotspur training gliders of No. 2 Glider Training School, based at Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire.
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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.
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He111 - Tactical Poster 107. Artist: G. H. Tavis. 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
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Silhouette of Boeing B-17s during raid on factory at Brussels, 15 Aug. 1943.
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Two German 'squirt planes': the Messerschmitt ME262 and ME163 fighters, in use during the Second World War. They were unorthodox aircraft, one driven by twin jets, the other by rocket propulsion. 1944
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1940S World War Ii Victory In The Air Montage In Shape Of Vee With American Flag In Center Of Aviation Motif Of Military Airplanes
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Two of the Army's tremendous army armada, one of the super flying fortresses and a mighty air transport as they pass in the clouds during air maneuvers , Airplanes, Military maneuvers, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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The Royal Air Force in Britain, 29 September 1942 Three Avro Lancaster B Mark Is of No 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force based at Waddington, Lincolnshire, flying above the clouds. Left to right: W4125,`KM-W', being flown by Sergeant Colin Watt, Royal Australian Air Force; W4162,`KM-Y', flown by Pilot Officer T G Hackney (later killed while serving with No 83 Squadron); and W4187,`KM-S', flown by Pilot Officer J D V S Stephens DFM, who was killed with his crew two nights later during a raid on Wismar.
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Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Nicknamed 'Special Delivery'. 303Rd Bomb Group, England. 25 May 1944.
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Parachutes Fill The Sky -- Parachutes fill the sky as the 'week-end' ***** drop from the American planes near Norfolk. Many of the parachutists landing in trees which surrounded the dropping area. The biggest airborne territorial exercise since the war took place yesterday-The anniversary of Arnhem.1,200 Officers and men dropped from the sky over Norfolk. They included territorial gunners with 75mm and 25 pounder guns, engineers, signallers, doctors, stretcher bearers. The men taking part in exercise "King's Joker" were of the 44th paratroop brigade which forms part of the 16th Airborne division T.A., now ***** annual training camp in the area. September 18, 1953. (Photo by Paul Popper).
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One Of The First Army Photos Of The Bombing Of Hickam Field, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941. Wrecked Main Px, Hickam Field, 11:30 A.M.
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Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Palembang. Various topics. Bomber flies low over a city. July 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies
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The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Hell'S Angel" Of The 401St Bomb Group At An 8Th Air Force Base In England, 1 June 1944.
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Luftwaffe developments during the Second World War: Germany's new fighters and bombers. Date: 1942
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First Action Picture Of British Airbourne Forces In Holland -- A supply basket dropping on a ***** to be collected by airborne forces with jeeps.When the 1st., Allied the 1st. Allied Airbourne army was dropped in Holland, photographers of the Army Film and Photographic Unit were with them. This is one of the first photographs received back from them.One of the photographers writes in a letter dated Sep. 20th., "This is the fourth day if fighting an camera work is almost of the question. All day we have been under shell, morter and machine gunfire. September 28, 1944. (Photo by British Official Photograph).
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Artwork: "A-1E Mission"- Artist: Gary Meyer Exact Date Shot Unknown. Country: Unknown
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German aircraft used by the Nationalist air Force, fly over Burgos, Spain, during the Spanish Civil War
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Most deadly of long-range fighters: the Beaufighter in detail. Heavily armed, and flying at over 300 mph, the Beaufighter added to the might of the RAF during the Second World War. Date: 1941
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Bomber versus warship and merchantman: difficulties confronting any German attempt at aerial blockade during the Second World War. Date: 1940
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Torpedoes from the air: the technique of torpedo-plane attack, which caused havoc to Italy's fleet at Taranto during the Second World War. Date: 1940
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Vintage photograph. B-29 Superfortress of the Far East Air Force's 19th Bomber group bombing mountainous terrain of Korea
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Boeing B-29S Pass Mt. Fujiyama, Japanesean Enroute To Bomb Japaneseanese Targets.
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Artwork: "Last Man Out (C-130 and Special Forces). Artist: Davis Perkins. Country: Unknown
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Twenty four hours after the first appearance over London, Threats were also seen over New York, Peking, Moscow and Paris. January 19, 1955. (Photo by K. Hutton, Picture Post).
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Flight Lieutenant James Brindley Nicholson shooting down a Messerschmitt 110 fighter-bomber over Southampton on 16th August 1940. Nicholson won the Victoria Cross for this action because he had already been badly wounded in the 'dog-fight' and his own airplane, a Hawker Hurricane, was on fire. Date: 1940
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China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the name used by the United States Army for its forces operating in conjunction with British and Chinese Allied air and land forces in China, Burma, and India during World War II. Well-known US units in this theater included the Flying Tigers, transport and bomber units flying the Hump, the 1st Air Commando Group, the engineers who built Ledo Road, and the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), otherwise known as Merrill's Marauders.
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The Final Victory Weapon Icelandic. 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