World War II Aircraft Operations

Historic images of World War II aircraft, showcasing fighter planes, military soldiers on runways, and various flight maneuvers. Black and white, capturing the era's military mood.

An animation shows the breakdown of an Army Air Force fleet during World War II

Soviet Pilots Fly U.S. Bombers.American-built Boston bombers of the U.S.S.R. Air Force wing over the Black *****. August 1, 1943. (Photo by U.S. Office Of War Information Photo).

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Aviation day military aviation at Kemajoran airport. Fly show. Catalina flight. March 9, 1947. Batavia, Indonesia, Jakarta, Kemajoran, Dutch East Indies

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Inspection travel General P.L.G. Doorman (September-October 1946). View of propeller. September 1946. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Nationalist 'Junker 52' aircraft supplied by Germany to the Francoist forces in the Spanish Civil War

DF-SN-87-03875. Subject Operation/Series: HOG STAMPEDE Country: Unknown

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The new American built Grumman Avenger three seater torpedo bomber in flight during exercises from HMS SPARROWHAWK, the Royal Naval Air Station at Hatston. Note the fact that the torpedo is fully enclosed so as to improve the aerodynamics of the aircraft.

World War II, U.S. paratroopers in action, circa 1940-1946.

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. Close up of the nose insignia on Handley Page Halifax B Mark III, LV907 'NP-F' 'Friday the Thirteenth', of No. 158 Squadron RAF, after returning to Lissett, Yorkshire, from its 100th operational sortie, a night raid on Gelsenkirchen, Germany, flown by Flight Lieutenant N G Gordon and crew. LV907 was so named because it was delivered to the Squadron on 13 January 1944, and was accordingly painted with depictions of various unlucky omens. However, it completed 128 successful sorties before being struck off charge in May 1945.

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.

Royal Air Force- 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945. Armourers attach the nose and tail units onto a cluster projectile containing 26 x 20-lb anti-personnel bombs, fitted under the wing of a Hawker Typhoon Mark IB of No. 439 Squadron RCAF at B78/Eindhoven, Holland.

Airman works on a B-26 aircraft at the first North Dakota Air National Guard organizational 'summer camp' at Hector Field, Fargo, N.D., June 1948.

Air Ministry Second World War Official Collection

Bombers On Line Being Checked Before Flight. Holland.

U.S. ***** Takes Off From Base In China To Bomb JapanAn ***** B-29 Superfortress bomber takes off from a recently ***** air base in central China and roars toward Japan to ***** the Imperial Steel works on the enemy home island of ***** American soldiers wave to U.S. Airmen in the B-29 large and swiftest bomber in the world. General George C Marshall Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army said: "The attack on Japan by the new Superfortress B-29 from distant bases intoduces a new type of offensive against our enemy." Gen. Marshall explained: "Because of the enormous range and heavy bomb load of these Superfortresses, far exceeding that of previous strategic bombers, they can strike from many and remote bases at a single objective." July 17, 1944. (Photo by U.S. Office of War Information Picture).

of 3