World War II Aircrew Moments

Historic black-and-white images featuring military aircrew members, aircraft, and their roles during World War II, evoking a sense of duty and camaraderie.

A pilot of the 90th Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, steps into the cockpit of his Lockheed F-5 at an air base somewhere in North Africa.

Master Sgt. Robert Dalton Of Reading, Pa., Has Named His Engine Of Boeing B-17 'Denise' After His Best Girl Back Home. Sorry, But It'S True, Denise Will Never Receive From Dalton One-Half Of The Loving Care That Her Engine Namesake Does.

Lt. L.J. Johnson, pilot of the 90th Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, poses in the cockpit of his Lockheed F-5 at an air base somewhere in North Africa.

Maintaining radio contact with the control tower and aircraft on the field, these men are responsible for directing planes to takeoff runways and revetments. On the left is Corporal Larry Roth, 2279 McDonald Avenue, Brooklyn, New York with Corporal

Commander Frederick L. Ashworth, Usn, Who Flew As Bomb Commander And Weaponeer In The B-29 'Bockscar' On The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Mission. Marianas Islands.

A Pilot Of The 94Th Fighter Squadron, 1St Fighter Group Sits In The Cockpit Of His Lockheed P-38 Lightning At An Air Base Somewhere In Italy. September 21 1945.

A navigator of the 394th Bomb Squadron, 5th Bomb Group "Bomber Barons," takes a sun shot to verify the position of his plane. Borneo Netherlands East Indies, July 1945.

A pilot of the 90th Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, steps into the cockpit of his Lockheed F-5 at an air base somewhere in North Africa.

2Nd Lt. Jerry A. Doughty Of The 9Th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Poses In The Cockpit Of His Lockheed F-5 At An Air Base Somewhere In India.

Poll photo collection. Photos by willem van de poll. Willem van de Poll in the uniform of captain at a transport plane, a tropical helmet under the arm, at Schiphol on his departure to the Dutch East Indies. December 2, 1946. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

This is pilot Robert H. Smith of Lemesa, Texas, who brought his crew to a safe ditching in the North Sea where they were picked up after thirty hours afloat in their Dinghy. before Flying a B-17, Smith worked as a meter and lineman for the Texas

99Th Fighter Pilot, 1St Lt. Robert W. Deiz, Portland Oregon, Shot Down An Fw-190 On 27 Jan. 1944 And Another On The Next Day. Note: Shold Be Italy, Crews - Fighter. The 99Th Served In Italy

Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, Pilot Of B-29 Superfortress, 'Enola Gay', Standing By His Plane Which Atom-Bombed Hiroshima, Japanesean, Shown After The Mission Wearing The Distinguished Service Cross. Marianas Islands.

Cpl. Edgar W. Chapman Of Charlottesville, Virginia, Poses By An Ice Plant Which He Constructed From A Wrecked Compressor And Spare Plane Parts. It Operates At 20 Degrees Above Zero And Has A Capacity Of 500 Pounds Of Ice. 15Th Af, Italy.

Italian aviator Italo Balbo.

M/Sgt. Murdock, A Member Of The 322Nd Bomb Squadron, 91St Bomb Group, Guides A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Into The Dispersal Area At The Base In Bassingbourne, England.

Had not two pursuing German fighter pilots exhausted their patience--or gasoline suppply--two minutes too soon, 1st Lt. Henry L. Olson, a 9th AF Republic P-47 fighter-bomber pilot from Beltrami, Minn., might not have been able to pose for this

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.

Cpl. L.P. Moga Examines Damage To The Tail Section Of A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 401St Bomb Group, England, 25 August 1945.

A Pilot Of The 94Th Fighter Squadron, 1St Fighter Group, Stands Beside His Lockheed P-38 Lightning At An Air Base Somewhere In Italy.

Capt. Porter, With The 322Nd Bomb Group, Andrews Field, Essex, England, 1 Feb. 1944. He Has Been Awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross.

Two Pilots Of The 94Th Fighter Squadron, 1St Fighter Group, Pose Beside The Lockheed P-38 Lightning 'Sweet Sue' At An Airfield Somewhere In Italy.

Clark Gable serving as an officer in the US Army Air Forces during World War II

Joe Parker, One Of America's Greatest Test Pilots Was Killed 20 August 1945 In A Freak Accident While Taking Off From An Ie Shima Air Strip In A Republic P-47. He Was Born In 1909 At Atlantic City, N.J. He Served Nine Years In The Usaaf, Joining Republi

021206-M-3031H-102. Country: Unknown

Aircraft, Burma, India &CREWS,FIGHTER War

11/30/1914. The German aviator Lieutenant Caspar, who made flights over Dover and dropped some bombs. Photo: Haeckel -Approximate date.

'Off', 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton.

Nation's No. 2 Tennis Star with Coast Guard in Pacific. Coast Guard Ensign Jack Kramer, National Doubles Tennis Champion in 1940 and 1941 and ranking No. 2 Singles Player of the nation when he enlisted in the Coast Guard in October, 1942, is serving aboard a Coast Guard-manned LST in the Far Pacific. Ensign Kramer was with the amphibious forces that swept the beaches of New Guinea and later struck into the Philippines. Kramer, who entered the service as a "boot" and later took an Officer training course at the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., aims to return to amateur tennis after the war and has set his sights on winning the National Singles Championship. His home is in Browning, Montana.

Col. Robert B. Landry, of New Orleans, La., led the entire Third Air Division in its paralyzing assault on key German communications in the southeastern area of Naziland, as the 8th AF mounted its mass attack on Washington's birthday, aimed at

Captain Benjamin Oliver Davis of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, shown in the cockpit of an advances trainer, Tuskegee, Alabama, 1/23/42.

Breaks Two World Records - Jacqueline Cochran stands in front of the Canadian-built F86 Sabre jet in which she has broken two World records at Edwards Air Force Base by flying around a 12pylon course at an average 652.337 miles per hour, the army announced today. She shattered the women's jet speed record of 535 mph held by Mme. Jacqueline Auriol of France, and the all time jet record for 100-Kilometer Course, made by Col, Fred Ascani, U.S., Air force of 635 mph. May 18, 1953. (Photo by AP Wirephoto)

Lieutenant Commander Richard E. Byrd before his expedition to the Arctic, 1925

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Fighter Command Flying Officer Hugh Tamblyn of No 242 Squadron, photographed on Squadron Leader Douglas Bader's Hurricane at Duxford, late September 1940.

PAUL-RENE FONCK (1894-1953) French WW1 Aviator Date: 8 May 1918

A Member Of The 1199Th Mp Company, Photographed At A Us Base In England, 303Rd Bomb Group, England. 30 March 1944.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC School training directors and motorcyclists (S.O.B.M.) in Bandoeng. Jeep. April 1947. Bandung, Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Robert A. McDaris of the 49th fighter Group beside his plane at an air base somewhere in New Guinea.

An Officer Of The 1St Air Commando Group Holds A Projectile To Show Its Size. 7 August 1944.

A Chinese Carrying Rock For The Construction Of A Field Of The 14Th Air Force In China. In The Background Stand Curtiss P-40's That Are Ready For Action At A Minutes Notice.

A Pilot Of The 94Th Fighter Squadron, 1St Fighter Group, Stands Beside His Lockheed P-38 Lightning 'Aileen' At An Air Base Somewhere In Italy. 21 September 1945.

for the first time in seven hours, during which he participated in a heavy bomber escort mission deep into the heart of Hitler's rapidly shrinking Festung Europe, Lt. Vernon R. Richards, Feit Mills, N.Y., can loosen his flying equipment and relax.

"Niagara" - Also Salvage Scenes - Merchant Shipping. March 01, 1955.

Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell, standing by his Army airplane, in flying gear, Nov. 5, 1920. Mitchell commanded all American air combat units in France at the end of WW1. As post war Deputy Director of the Air Service, his forceful criticism of aviation policy resulted in his 1925 court martial. After a guilty verdict her resigned from the Army (BSLOC_2016_10_107)

A pilot of the 90th Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, poses in the cockpit of his Lockheed F-5 at an air base somewhere in North Africa.

Aircraft, Burma, India &CREWS,FIGHTER War

Royal Air Force- 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945. Squadron Leader K K Majumdar of No. 268 Squadron RAF sitting in the cockpit of his Hawker Typhoon FR Mark IB at B43/Fort Rouge, France.

Carlstrom

Royal Air Force- 2nd Tactical Air Force, 1943-1945. Air Vice-Marshal Harry Broadhurst, Air Officer Commanding, No 83 Group, in the cockpit of his Supermarine Spitfire, about to take off from B3/Sainte Croix-sur-Mer after a visit to No. 144 Wing.

Smashing The Strafing Record For The Eto 8Th Af North American P-51 Mustang, Pilots Of The Fighter Group Commanded By Colonel John B. Henry, Jr., Of San Antonio, Texas, Destroyed 105 Nazi Planes Northwest Of Berlin. Of This Figure, 63 Were Destroyed By T

Royal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. Wing Commander M N Crossley standing in front of a Hawker Typhoon at Gravesend, Kent. In 1940 Crossley shot down 22 enemy aircraft over France and during the Battle of Britain while flying with No. 32 Squadron RAF, latterly as its Commanding Officer. He led a wing of Supermarine Spitfires in 1941, and was then posted to the united States as a test pilot for the British Air Commission. He returned to England in 1943 to lead the proposed Detling Wing, but his operational flying career was cut short when he contracted tuberculosis.

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester preparing for a fllight. June 5, 1934. (Photo by Telephoto).

A Finnish military sits in the nostherette to a Soviet aircraft of type Iljhin DB-3 motif: A Finnish military sits in the nosther tower to a Soviet aircraft of type Iejushin DB-3 during the Finnish winter war 1940. Picture from F 19, the Swedish NGO in Finland.

Close-up of a young man kneeling near a fighter pilot on a plane, 1940s

A Pilot Of The 94Th Fighter Squadron, 1St Fighter Group, Stands Beside His Lockheed P-38 Lightning At An Air Base Somewhere In Italy.

Part of exhibition.

Sport - Fishing - Spear Fishing. August 29, 1950.

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.

Left Waist Gunner & Aerial Photographer Getting Into Position In Plane. China.

Poll photo collection. Reproduction photography. Photo of a photo taken after the landing of Prince Bernhard at the Bilserbaan at Maastricht. Prince Bernhard is greeted by Willem Baron Michiels van Kessenich, mayor of Maastricht. September 18, 1944. Limburg, Maastricht

Taken 5/22/42 at Honolulu, T.H. Copied 7/17/42 from Orginal Prints furnished by Col. John K. Cowen, PR-AAF. Released 26 June 1946.

RAF Fighter Command Flight Sergeant George 'Grumpy' Unwin of No. 19 Squadron with Flash the Squadron mascot at Fowlmere, September 1940.

ENGLAND-S/Sgt. John R. Dembecki, Detroit, Mich., upper turret gunner and S/Sgt. Howard H. Cassady, Houston, Miss., tail turret gunner, are shown here after a mission over enemy territory, beside their B-24. Both have 30 missions to their credit

Photograph of a young German boy enjoying a cup of coffee after being captured during WWII, Normandy Coast. Dated 1944

Captain Frank Hawks. June 01, 1938.

01/31/1922. The aviator captain D. Francisco Ciladini, who died at the Tablada airfield (Seville), victim of an aviation accident. (photo Portillo).

Northrop P-61 Black Widow Pilots Who Helped Clear The Skies Of North NBurma Of Japaneseanese Night Intruders Are Maj. Thomas N. Wilson, Operations Officer, Of 1819 Crescent St., Glendale, Calif. (Left) And Capt. Walter A. Storck, Flight Leader, Of 5327 - A Su

A view of a crewman on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS GUAM (LPH 9), during operations off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon. Base: USS Guam (LPH 9) Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

A flight deck crewman gives the stop signal on the aircraft carrier USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62). The INDEPENDENCE is participating in Operation Southern Watch, a multinational effort establishing a no-fly zone for Iraqi aircraft south of the 32nd parallel in Iraq. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Country: Unknown

Maj. Wm. E. Smith 485 Central Ave., Hapeville, Ga. is seen with the Norden bombsight with which he has accurately dropped 4,000 tons of bombs on enemy targets in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Maj. Smith, bombardier of a U.S. Army 9th Air

Lieutenant Arthur Fitch of the 457th Bomb Group, prepares to climb into his B-17 Flying Fortress.

1911 (CA.). The historic aviator Julio Vedrines.

Elsevier photo collection. Caption "German aviator parge crashed" on 25 February 1921 German kite A. Parge accompanied breeder D-VII Schiphol. poses - unknown person left - breeder C-1. {1920-1922}

Coast Guard Commander Battles Six U-boats. Commander James Q. Hirshfield of San Antonio, Texas, in command of the Coast Guard cutter, Campbell, which engaged six subs in twelve hours, sinking the last by ramming and shelling. Commander Hirshfield, despite wounds received in the battle, directed the towing of his disabled ship into port.

Italian aviator Alessandro Alvisi.

British Equipment at An American Airfield- Anglo-american Co-operation in Wartime Britain, 1943 Staff Sergeant A G Vailancourt uses a British-made mechanical poppit rivetter on the wing of a B17 Flying Fortress at an American airfield somewhere in Britain.

Capt. Alfred F. Eaton Of Holly Bluff, Miss., Of The 84Th Fighter Squadron, 78Th Fighter Group, Poses On His Republic P-47 'Ozark Queen' At 8Th Air Force Station F-357, In Duxford, England. 12 November 1944.

Milt - Helmets. December 7, 1940.

Anefo photo collection. Commander mine sweeper, W.H. Elink Schuurman. 1940-1945}

Commander Albert C. Read, NC 4 ca. between 1918 and 1920.

Royal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. Pilot Officer W V Crawford-Compton of No 485 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF, sitting in the cockpit of his Supermarine Spitfire Mark VB, 'Samson', at Kenley, Surrey. At the time this photograph was taken, Crawford-Compton had shot down 3 enemy aircraft. He joined No. 611 Squadron RAF as a flight commander in August 1942, and in December 1942 was given the command of No. 64 Squadron RAF, which he led until July 1943. After promotion to Wing Commander Flying at Hornchurch he lectured on tactics in the USA, returning to operations in April 1944 in command of No. 145 (Free French) Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. His final total was 21.5 victories and, having been awarded the DSO and Bar and DFC and Bar, he became the most highly-decorated New Zealand fighter pilot of the war.

This image was taken by Leo Halter, a serviceman stationed on Attu Island during WW II. Subjects: Halter Collection; WW II; World War II; World War Two; Military; Wildlife refuges; Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; Aleutians; Alaska. . 1998 - 2011.

Two Pilots Of The 352Nd Fighter Squadron, 353Rd Fighter Group - Lt. A.J. Cundy And Lt. H. Waggoner Chat In Front Of The North American P-51 "Alabama Rammer Jammer" At An Airbase In England, March 1945.

Fleet Air Arm Series, on Board HMS Victorious. September 1942. Fleet Air Arm pilot S/Lt G Warren RNVR.

Edouardina i.e. Edwardina L. Lavoie

Portrait photograph of greger falcon portrait photography of Greger Falk, head of Södermanland flying fleet in aviation suit by aircraft's 31. Framed photo. Dealer Air Force Museum's image archive.

Vintage photograph. Man in pilots head gear and bomber jacket smiling at camera

For Him Highest Honor. To Coast Guardsman Douglas A. Munro in death went the Congressional Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty." The country's highest decoration was presented by President Roosevelt to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Munro of South Cle Elum, Washington, at ceremonies Thursday in the White House. The Coast Guardsman, shown above in a treasured family snapshot, gave his life while engaged in evacuating a Marine battalion trapped by the Japanese at Guadalcanal.

British Jet Plane Sets New World Altitude Record. Over 11 Miles High -- Group Captain John Cunningham (Distinguished Service Order: Distinguished Flying Cross) climbing into the sealed cockpit of the 'Vampire' for the record flight. Owing to the pressurised cockpit, Cunningham was able to wear only with simple overall - contrasting with the elaborate pressure suit used only a few years ago.A De Havilland 'Ghost Vampire' jet fighter, piloted by war-time night fighter ace Group Captain John Cunningham set a new world altitude record of 59, 492 feet (18,133 metres). March 27, 1948.

Auxiliary Territorial Service Vehicle Maintenance Training, 1942 A member of the ATS, pliers in hand, lies on the ground next to the wheel of a lorry or truck, as she prepares to change the wheel as part of her training. It is possible that this photograph was taken at the training centre at Camberley, Surrey.

Portrait of a male pilot

Lt. Col. Henry R. Quimby, Kansas City, Mo., is recovering from injuries sustained in a crash after being shot down by enemy flak. He was hidden in a haystack for six hours by French farm people until American infantry reached the area to remove him

Lt. Irwin, pilot of the 90th Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, poses in the cockpit of his Lockheed F-5 at an air base somewhere in North Africa.

Sailors aboard their ship at the steering wheel. Sailors on board their ship posing at the steering wheel. Part of the photo album over the Kriegsmarine 1940-1943.

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.

021206-M-3031H-042. Country: Solomon Islands (SLB)

Final Preparations For Start Of King's Cup At Race - Flt. Lieut . G.H. Stainforth, the scratch man, photographed in his Comper Swift. Final preparations were made today when planes were assembled at Hatfield Aerodrome, before midday when they were sealed up in readiness for tomorrow's King's up air race. July 07, 1933. (Photo by Keystone).

George S Roberts (1918-1984) Fairmont, WV, one of the five members of the first graduating class of Tuskegee Airmen, is shown in the cockpit of an Advanced Trainer at the Basic and Advanced Flying School for Negro Air Corps Cadets, Tuskegee, AL, 1/12/1942. (Photo by US Army Air Corps/GG Vintage Images)

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