World War II Bomber Operations

Black and white images of WWII bombers in flight, showcasing bombing missions over Europe and the Pacific, with formations and aerial views.

Bombing Of Oil Refinery At Merseburg, Germany, 4Th Bomb Wing, 94Th Bomb Group.

A fleet of Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers of the 9th AF is shown winging back to England after one of their series of attacks on German installations in the low countries.

Bombing Of Oil Refinery At Merseburg, Germany, 4Th Bomb Wing, 94Th Bomb Group.

Thirty-eight more Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses that outrode heavy anti-aircraft fire on November 5, 1943 and successfully attacked Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Formation Of Boeing B-29's Over Japaneseanese Coast.

With fully equipped men, C-47 troop carriers participate in big aerial delivery.

BOMBS AND FLAK: As flak burst near the lead plane, 8th AAF Flying Fortresses drop their bombs on Leipzig, in Central Germany, during Sunday's (Feb 20) All-American attack on Nazi aircraft factories.

Gliders Participating In The Invasion Of France.

Consolidated B-24's of the 8th A.F. over Germany.

"Bombs Away"-A Consolidated B-24 Liberator drops its bombs on the Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Shell Oil Depot, an oil storage dump of prime importance to the German Army in the Balkans. 3-7-44.

Consolidated B-24 Liberators encountered accurate flak over Pas de Calais, France.

Flak Bursts Around Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" Of The 15Th Air Force, En Route To Bomb Enemy Installations At Toulon, France. 29 April 1944.

"Pulling the String" over Vienna, Austria, 15th AF Consolidated B-24 Liberators encounter a rare CAVU (Celing and Visibility Unlimited) day in their winter oil campaign.

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.

B-29S Of The 497Th Bomb Group, 73Rd Bomb Wing, Based On Saipan Shower Another Load Of Incendiaries On Yokohama, Japan.

High In The Sub-Stratosphere, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 452Nd Bomb Group Etched Vapor Trails As They Drones Steadily Toward The Target At Gablingen, Germany. 16 March 1944. Taken By S/Sgt. George H. Haggerty.

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

They Are Not Clouds -- Leaving A Trail Of Smoke Behind Them, Martin B-26 Marauders Of The 1St Tac A.F. Head For Home. Below Them Is The Former Enemy Storage Area At Klein Engstingen, 28 Miles Sourtheast Of Stuttgart. This Attack Was Made In Cooperation

Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" Of The 2Nd Bomb Division, 8Th Air Force, Enroute To Bomb Enemy Installations Somewhere In Europe. 24 November 1944.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945-armstrong Whitworth Aw.38 Whitley Two Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mark Vs, N1373 'KN-J' and N1347 'KN-E', of No. 77 Squadron RAF, overfly Driffield, Yorkshire, on return from a night-reconnaissance sortie.

North American B-25 Mitchells Of The 12Th Af Drop Frag Bombs On The Gothis Line In Italy.

Formations of Consolidated B-24 Liberators, part of the record force of U.S. 8th Air Force heavy bombers which bombed targets in Germany 24 Dec 44, are seen winging over Hitler's domain. GERMANY.

Boeing B-17s take off on a mission over Europe from their base in England. 1942.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses are crossing the coast of Southern France after having released their bombs on oil refineries at Sete.

FLIGHT OF THE "600"--Is what men of the 9th Air force Marauder Group commanded by Col. Joe W. Kelly, Columbus, Ind., termed this flight as it took off in support of ground forces on the Cherbourg Peninsula. Each Marauder medium bomber

This U.S. Army 15th Air Force B-17 bomber (right) has just lost one wing over Foggia, Italy, and two of its crew can be seen bailing out. At left is an enemy fighter plane.

Bombing of Marienburg.

Formation Of Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" Of The Vii Bomber Command Over Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, 3 August 1944. This Is A Practice Formation To Test New Formation Shown By Lt. Colonel Earl R. Task Of Aaf Board, Orlando, Florida.

Allied bombers drop explosives on Nazi installations while ground troops attack from the sea. One bomber is in trouble. Note closely packed design of falling bombs in lower right.

Nazi Fighter Plane Attacking A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" During A Bombing Run Over Enemy Installations Somewhere In Europe, 10 September 1944. 100Th Bomb Group, 3Rd Bomb Division.

With Breaks In The Clouds Affording Momentary Glimpses Of The Earth, Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 381St Bomb Group Wing Their Way Toward The Target In Enemy Occupied Territory. Europe.

These Consolidated B-24 Liberators Bombers Of The 15Th Air Force Are Leaving The Smoldering Railyards At Gmund, Austria On March 23, 1945. Heavy Bombers Of The 15Th Air Force Are Slicing Rail Lines From Vienna To Berlin As The Air Offensive Against The H

Caen, France.

High Above The English Countryside, North American P-51 "Mustangs" Of The 350Th Fighter Squadron, 353Rd Fighter Group, Fly In Close Formation. February 1945.

A mushroom of smoke rises from a blazing oil refinery at Ploesti, Rumania, after pounding by Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 15th Air Force on 24 April 1944.

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

China - Led By Commanding Officer, Colonel Chester A. Coltharp, North American B-25's From The 345Th Bombardment Group Head Out For The China Sea In Search Of Reported Northbound Japanese Convoy. Squadrons Fly Formation To And From Target For Mutual Protectio

Formation of Boeing B-29 Superfortresses.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 91St Bomb Group, 8Th Air Force, Enroute Toward Cognac, France, Fly At 18,000 Altitude - High Above The Heavy Cloud Banks. 31 Dec. 1943.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Bandoeng sector. Transport plane throw goods to parachute. July 21, 1947. Bandoeng, Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies

Consolidated B-24 Liberators Of The 8Th Air force Drop Tons Of Bombs On Ordnance Depots And Marshalling Yards At Landshut, Germany During A Raid On 16 April 1945.

A heavy concentration of Japanese vessels at Rabaul, New Britain was surprised and dispersed by a squadron of U.S. Air Force bombers in January 1943. A formation of Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses," carrying a full bomb load, approach the Japanese-held island.

Continuing Their Relentless Hammering Of Enemy Positions Before The Approaches To Bologna, Italy, Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" Of The 15Th A.F. Unload Their Bombs On Military Installations Over The German Lines Before The City. The Date Of The Attack W

Rocket Burst from ME-210s starting attack from below (Dec 20, 43).

Two of a Kind--Some reflecting the sun's rays from their silver hulls, and others still wearing camouflage paint, formations of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 8th AAF made this unusual picture on their way to hit Luftwaffe plants and bases deep in

Two Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses of the U.S. 8th Air Force roar through the sky over Holland, 17 Sept 44, as they prepared to attack ground installations there.

These are the last moments of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber of the U.S. Army Air forces. It is part of a squadron engaged in a raid on an industrial target in Austria. Enemy fighters came up in force, downing all bombers except the one from

Leaving a smoke-covered enemy barracks and supply area at Lahr, Germany, 18 miles southeast of Strasburg, an American Martin B-26 Marauder of the Franco-American 1st Tactical A.F. breaks away from the target to head for home. As a result of this attack

Continuing Their Hard Attacks Against Communications And Supply Lines Behind Hun Positions In Northern Italy, North American B-25 Mitchells Of The 12Th Air Force Hit The Voghera Rail Bridge, 40 Miles South Of Milan. One Of The Mitchells Can Be Seen Comin

One formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses circles enemy installations in region of Brux, Czechoslavakia. Another is coming up as they attacked it on Sept 23, 1944.

Allied landing craft along...

North American B-25 Mitchells of the 12th Air Force fly over the Tyrrhenian Sea on their way to attack a strategic hun target in northern Italy on 3 January 1945. Medium bombers of the 12th Air Force, working with the 5th Army, help drive the enemy

Tripoli, Tripolitania, Libya Raid-during bombing-Consolidated B-24 "Liberator."

FORT FORTIFIED: During a recent raid over Bremen, Germany by the 8th AAF, a closeup of the new chin-turret Flying Fortress was picked out of a formation for study. Making the Fort a more deadly weapon of air offense, the softening up process

For as far as camera can see sixty-eight Boeing B-17s and Consolidated B-24 planes over Germany on way to the target at Bremen, Germany. This picture shows only part of the force that took part in this raid.

Royal Air Force Fighter Command, 1939-1945. An Avro Anson Mark I, air-sea rescue aircraft of No 276 Squadron RAF, based at Harrowbeer, Devon, dropping a dinghy container over the English Channel.

The target: Enemy oil in the Hamburg area, railroads in the Duisburg area and vital military objectives in western Germany. Prelude to the thunderous attack of 11/6/44 (3rd consecutive day that 8th AF heavies struck terrific blows at Reich targets).

"Bombs Away" over Brunswick--U.S. 8th AAF heavy bombers, flying deep into Germany again 20 Jan 44 attack vital war industries at Brunswick and Hanover despite heavy clouds which made formation flying difficult. The great air battle-attack was

Aircraft B 4 in formation flight . 15 aircraft B 4 in formation flight in the air. View from.

Despite a smoking engine, the pilot of this 15th AAF Consolidated B-24 Liberator chose to stay and make the bomb run over Bucharest. Another engine was damaged over the target by flak and the crew ditched guns, ammunition, and anything loose to

Flying High Above The Clouds, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 91St Bomb Group Wing Their Way To Bomb Enemy Installations In Frankfurt, Germany. 29 January 1944.

Two Strings Of 500 Pounders Are Photographed In The Bomb Bay Of A North American B-25 Mitchell Medium Bomber From The Nose Of Another Billy Mitchell As They Pass Each Other On Their Huried Mission To Meet The Nazi Bridge Below. The Picture Was Taken Over

Bombs From The Consolidated B-24 Liberators Fall On Nazi Installations Somewhere In Europe, 24 November 1944.

With A Background Of Vapor Trails, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses Of The 452Nd Bomb Group Wing Their Way Over Nazi-Occupied Territory Enroute To Their Target For The Day - German Airfield At Chateaudun, France, 28 March 1944. 8Th Air Force Attacks On Vita

A barracks area in the big Japaneseanese airbase of Jesselton, Borneo, burns fiercely as 13th AAF Consolidated B-24 Liberators open a 65-ton bombing attack. The bombers, striking over 1,000 miles from their base, knocked out the Jesselton strip

Consolidated B-24S Of 458Th Bomb Group Fly In Formation As They Approach Air Base Somewhere In England After Mission. 18 August 1944.

Consolidated B-24 Liberators Of The 8Th Air force Drop Their Lethal Load Of Bombs On The Vomag Tank Works At Plauen, Germany During A Raid On 4 May 1945.

Martin B-26 "Marauder" raid on Ghent, Belgium, 5 Sept 1943: Underneath v. of six "Marauders" heading away from their field (Andrews Field, Air Support Command) after take-off.

Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 15th Air Force rang the bell when these bombs, and many more like them, hit their mark on the marshalling yards at Forli, Italy, during an attack on 19 May 1944. Heavy bombers of the 15th Air Force dropped more

Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. A formation of Martin Baltimores of No. 232 Wing RAF flying to attack enemy positions during the Battle of El Alamein, seen through the lower gun hatch of another aircraft.

FORTRESS ON FIRE OVER BERLIN--A Flying Fortress with smoke pouring from a fire in one of its engines continues on in formation during large-scale attack on Berlin by US 8th Air Force heavies on 22 March. Intense flak was encountered over the target

A Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" of the 15th Air Force flies over a towering column of black smoke that rises through the heavy smoke screen over the Ploesti oil refinery area in Rumania during an attack on 18 August 1944.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Inspectorate General H.J. Curls by Indonesia. Arrival Batavia Under the supervision of an escort of three Mustangs, the plane of General Curls on Kemajoran lands in Batavia. May 1, 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

North American B-25 Mitchells Of The 12Th Af In Formation Just Off The Cost Of Italy.

North American B-25's of the 9th Air Force fly over North Africa. 1943.

Beaufighters strafe enemy "M" Class minesweepers in North Sea off Holland on 25 Aug 44. Twelve airplanes can be counted in the melee. Object that appears to right of photo plane's vertical fin is a barrage balloon.

The Boeing B-17 'Hell's Angels' Attached To The 303Rd Bomb Group At Molesworth, England, Wings Her Way Towards The United States After Her Missions Are Completed. 22 January 1944.

Consolidated B-24 "Liberators" of the 494th Bomb Group release their bombs over Japanese installations just south-east of the village of Bunawan on Mindanao in the Philippine Islands. The object of the raid was to weaken and destroy as many Japanese

Consolidated B-24 Liberators Of The 15Th Air Force Leave The Smoke Covered Railyards At Gmund, Austria On March 23, 1945. The Hun's Railyards Are Repeatedly Being Hit As The Air Offensive Against The Transportation Facilities Reaches An All Time High.

One Smoking Consolidated B-24 Liberator Of The 15Th Air Force Peels Off Prior To Crashing And Another Stays In Level Flight With Smoking Engine As They Were Hit By Flak Over Enemy Target In The Vienna Area, On Sept. 10, 1944.

Formation Of Boeing B-29's Flying Over U.S. Fleet Units Off Coast Of Tokyo Bay.

On The Bomb Run Over Avord, France, A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 381St Bomb Group Has Opened Its Bomb Bay Doors And Soon Will Be Over The Target To Drop Another Load Of Bombs On Enemy Installations.

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Five Hawker Hurricane Mark Is of No. 274 Squadron RAF clear the airfield boundary in formation, after taking off from Amriya Egypt.

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.

A Douglas A-20 Of The 410Th Bomb Group, Wings Its Way Over Rugged Terrain Toward An Enemy Target Somewhere In Europe.

North American B-26 bombers over the Mediterranean, headed for Tripoli, November 1942. North Africa.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Aerial photos Djokja. Recording from plane. North American P-51 Mustang with shark joint. July 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

A Consolidated B-24 Liberator Of The 15Th Air Force Flies Over The Smoke-Covered Target At Budapest, Hungary.

A Consoliated B-24 Liberator Of The 44Th Bomb Group Going Down Over Enemy Territory Somewhere In Europe. 31 December 1944.

A flight of U.S. A.A.F.-B-26 Marauders passes over Rome on the way to bomb Ciampino airdrome, just south of the city. Smoke resulting from an attack by Flying fortresses on the Lorenzo marshalling yards may be seen in the center of the picture.

Against A Background Of Vapor Trails Etched By Proceding Heavy Bombers, The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Bacta Th' Sac' Of The 381St Bomb Group Heads Toward Its Objective, Somewhere In Europe.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Aviation day military aviation at Kemajoran airport. Fly show. Parachutists jump out of a Dakota. March 9, 1947. Batavia, Indonesia, Jakarta, Kemajoran, Dutch East Indies

Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers roar through the skies over France, as they head towards the 'target for today'--enemy-held fighter airdrome near Lille. Above and around them, Spitfire fighters sweep and play, escorting the "Marauders" and

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