World War II Combat Scenes

Dramatic scenes of battles and military equipment during WWII, illustrating intense action and destruction.

Armored vehicle firing a projectile across a field

War album 89, Figure 25968A-D-2.

U.S. Army M777 howitzers assigned to the 119th Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, await the command to fire during a live fire portion of Summer Shield exercise at Forward Operating Site Adazi, Latvia, May 20, 2022. Summer Shield is one of U.S. Army Europe and Africas multinational training exercises in Eastern Europe that make up Defender Europe 22. Defender demonstrates U.S. Army Europe and Africas ability to conduct large-scale ground combat operations across multiple theaters supporting NATO.

DM-ST-88-06892. Base: Quantico State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

010410-F-4728F-005. Base: Aviano State: Pordenone Country: Italy (ITA)

000408-A-0030T-004. Base: Fort Stewart State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Debris covers the shores and low-lying ground around Sendai Airport, Japan, March 16, 2011. Members of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan, deployed to Sendai Airport to help clear the runway and make it ready for fixed-wing aircraft traffic.

DF-ST-87-12710. Subject Operation/Series: COPE THUNDER '86-3 Country: Philippines (PHL)

Pandur II 8x8 of the Czech Army, taken during an exercise of the German Armed Forces with forces from Norway and the Czech Republic during the 'Wettiner Schwert' exercise as part of Quadriga 2024 in the training town of Schnoeggersburg, 8 April 2024

Aircrafts - Sand Baggers - 26-HK-57-67. HH-60 with sand bag flying over personnel and other sand bags on waterfront -- 050929. Hurricane Katrina

Aviation Training Center - Mobile Aircrew - Aftermath and Rescue - 26-HK-279-42. Hurricane Katrina

Russian support personnel start to depart the Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft landing site shortly after it landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan with Expedition 64 crew members Mark Vande Hei of NASA, and cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, and Anton Shkaplerov of Roscosmos, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Vande Hei and Dubrov are returning to Earth after logging 355 days in space as members of Expeditions 64-66 aboard the International Space Station. For Vande Hei, his mission is the longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut in history. Shkaplerov is returning after 176 days in space, serving as a Flight Engineer for Expedition 65 and commander of Expedition 66.

A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, of the New York National Guard, sends up a flare during a company live-fire exercise at Fort Drum, Jul. 4. Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment are conducting pre-mobilization training in preparation of an upcoming deployment to Africa.

Photos from Aviation Training Center, Mobile - 26-HK-422-1. Hurricane Katrina

DN-ST-87-00176. Base: Naval Station, Mayport State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marines detonate an explosive charge during a demolition range as a part of Reconnaissance Certification Exercise at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, Feb 8, 2024. At the demolition range, Marines practiced clearing, removing, and breaching obstacles within a combat scenario to facilitate the movement of maneuver forces. RCERT is a battalion level exercise that evaluates Marines on all ground reconnaissance warfighting skills and tactics. The Marines are with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division. Marine Corps

U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawks, with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Three Seven, fly overhead during a 3d Marine Littoral Regiment Joint Terminal Attack Controller event at Pōhakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, Jan. 10, 2023. 3d MLR partnered with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Three Seven MH-60R Seahawks to increase joint-lethality and JTAC proficiency.

An explosive effect erupts in the ocean a few feet from the shore line just before an Amphibious landing at Jongsa-dong beach in Republic of Korea, Oct. 31, 1998. The Republic of Korea Marines are landing on the beach via Light Armored Amphibious Vehicles (LAV) in support of Foal Eagle '98. Foal Eagle '98 is a deployment exercise that takes place once a year in Korea. Subject Operation/Series: FOAL EAGLE '98KOREA CD Base: Jongsa-Dong Beach Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

The 833rd Engineer Company, out of Ottumwa, Iowa, creates a large explosion using cratering charges on a demolition range at Orchard Combat Training Center, in Idaho, on June 10, 2022. Cratering charges are placed below ground and detonated to create large craters which can be used to destroy enemy tunnels, roads and runways.

A Task Force Phoenix UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flies over Iraq during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in the Middle East.

Cannon fire, Civil War reenactment, Clements, California

A large cloud of smoke from an explosion on a training range. Central Asian Peacekeeping Battalion (CENTRASBAT) 2000 starts with a hostage scenario demonstration. CENTRASBAT 2000 is a multi-national peacekeeping and humanitarian relief exercise sponsored by United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) and hosted by former Soviet Republic Kazakhstan in Central Asia, 11-20 September2000. Exercise participants includeapproximately 300 US troops including personnel from US CENTCOM, the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and 5th Special Forces Group, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and 300 Kazakhstan soldiers. Other participating nations include: Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan, The .... Complete Scene Caption: A large cloud of smoke from an explosion on a training range. Central Asian Peacekeeping Battalion (CENTRASBAT) 2000 starts with a hostage scenario demonstration. CENTRASBAT 2000 is a multi-national peacekeeping and humanitarian relief exercise sponsored by United States Cen

Night fire flashes across the sky and range during combined Army-Air Force live fire exercises (CALFEX IV) at the Yukon Command Training Site. Subject Operation/Series: CALFEX IV Base: Eielson Air Force Base State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An AH-1Z Viper assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 167 performs close-air support near Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, Aug. 12, 2022. HMLA-167 trained with U.S. Army National Guard and U.S. Air National Guard units during joint exercise Northern Strike 22-2. HMLA-167 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

An oil field burns outside of Kuwait City after being set ablaze by retreating Iraqi troops during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Kuwait (KWT)

Two armed soldiers, photographed as part of a Bundeswehr exercise with forces from Norway and the Czech Republic during the 'Wettiner Schwert' exercise as part of Quadriga 2024 in the training town of Schnoeggersburg, 8 April 2024

DF-ST-86-09693. Subject Operation/Series: SOLID SHIELD 85 Base: Fort Stewart State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Mines are exploded on the Grenadillo Explosive Ordnance Disposal Range. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is clearing it's minefields of outdated mines in accordance with President William Jefferson Clinton's directive. Base: Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay Country: Cuba (CUB)

A Wyoming Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter equipped with a 540-gallon bucket drops water on a fire at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center's impact area. The North 27 Fire grew to just over 300 acres and was contained within the first of several firebreaks in the military training area's firebreak network system. The blaze, started during an Air Force training exercise, was the second Camp Guernsey fire personnel responded to August 23. A fire, of unknown origin was reported around 9 a.m. on the side of South Guernsey Road near the South Training Area. Camp Guernsey Fire Department as well as Guernsey Fire and the state's HeliTack helicopter equipped with a 108-gallon bucket held the blaze to 10 acres. The fire crew that was monitoring the training exercise at the impact area, was among those who responded to the south fire and was on that scene when the second fire started at approximately 10:40 a.m. Fifteen Camp Guernsey firefighting personnel, including full-time r

An air-to-air left rear view of an MC-130 Hercules aircraft from the 8th Special Operations Squadron (8th SOS) demonstrating the Fulton Aerial Recovery System. State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 12th Marines, 3d Marine Division, fire rockets from an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during exercise Resolute Dragon 22 at Yausubetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 14, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.

A 21-gun salute is fired during the ceremony honoring the prisoners of war from the Vietnam era. Base: Arlington State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Army M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles assigned to the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, maneuver during a Defender Europe 22 multinational dry fire exercise at Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, May 16, 2022. Defender Europe 22 is a series of U.S. Army Europe and Africa multinational training exercises taking place in Eastern Europe. The exercise demonstrates U.S. Army Europe and Africas ability to conduct large-scale ground combat operations across multiple theaters in support of NATO.

Bölkow BO-105C helicopter. Exercise together with the Royal Netherlands Army.

A Battery, 1-147th Field Artillery Regiment, South Dakota Army National Guard launches reduced-range practice rockets during a live-fire exercise at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, July 19, 2022. The Multiple Launch Rocket System, used by field artillery batteries, is a tracked combat vehicle with a long-range, precision strike weapon system.

DA-SC-87-05440. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT '86 Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

DF-ST-88-05289. Subject Operation/Series: CALFEX Base: Fort Greely State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)

980527-F-4116M-006. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH 1998 Base: Udairi Range Country: Kuwait (KWT)

A U.S. Army M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle assigned to Apache Troop, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fires an M242 Bushmaster chain gun during a qualification gunnery at Trzebień, Poland, July 27, 2022. The 3/4 ABCT is among other units assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, proudly working alongside NATO allies and regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America's forward-deployed corps in Europe.

An explosion from a munition dropped by a Marine AV-8A Harrier aircraft during an exercise. Base: Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams tank fires down range during the table VI night fire portion of Sullivan Cup at Fort Benning, Georgia, May 4, 2022. The Sullivan Cup highlights and validates training and education required to employ the latest advancements of Armor modernization in support of Armored Brigade Combat Teams and Cavalry formations.

A Texas Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk out of the Austin Army Aviation Facility helps fight wild fires threatening homes and property near Bastrop, Texas, Oct. 14, 2015.

010404-A-7788K-002. Base: Fort Carson State: Colorado (CO) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: FORSCOM

A group of YPR 765 PRI (armor caterpillar infantry vehicles), armed with a 25 mm Oerlikon Snelfuurbanon, drives into line over a training ground.

A view of a foam covered simulated aircraft after a fire truck from the 601st Civil Engineering Squadron was used to extinguished a fire aboard it, during Exercise UREX '82. Subject Operation/Series: UREX '82 Base: Sembach Air Base Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge - MSO St. Louis Operations - 26-HK-389-33. Hurricane Katrina

DF-ST-85-09866. Subject Operation/Series: OCEAN VENTURE '84 State: Puerto Rico (PR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Journalists watch as U.S. Marines and their Ecuadoran counterparts form up on the beach after coming ashore in several AAVP-7A1 amphibious assault vehicles during Unitas XXXII, a combined exercise involving the naval forces of the United States and nine South American nations. Subject Operation/Series: UNITAS XXXII Base: Manta Country: Ecuador(ECU)

The air cushion landing craft LCAC-9 moves across the beach during exercise Ocean Venture '88. Subject Operation/Series: OCEAN VENTURE '88 Base: Nas, Roosevelt Roads State: Puerto Rico (PR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 109th Field Artillery Regiment, 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, performed 36 fire missions, using approximately 400 rounds, while training in Lithuania in support of Defender Europe 22 and NATO exercise Flaming Thunder in May.

070105-M-9389C-008. Base: Camp Lejeune State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache with 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division flies over a German army armored personnel carrier during a multinational force-on-force exercise as part of Defender Europe 22, Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland, May 14, 2022. Defender Europe 22 is a series of U.S. Army Europe and Africa multinational training exercises taking place in Eastern Europe. The exercise demonstrates U.S. Army Europe and Africas ability to conduct large-scale ground combat operations across multiple theaters in support of NATO.

Concrete slabs and rubble constitute the remains of the U.S. Marine Barracks at Beirut International Airport. Two hundred and forty-one Marines lost their lives when the building was bombed by terrorists. The Marines have been deployed in Lebanon as part of the multi-national peacekeeping force following confrontation between Israeli forces and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Base: Beirut Country: Lebanon (LBN)

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, participate in Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming, July 25, 2022. in 1953, the Thunderbirds performed their first civilian air show at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Since then, the team has returned nearly every year to interact with and perform for the community.

Horror flying on the wings of night

Soldiers from the 4-118th Infantry of the S.C. National Guard and the 2nd Batallion 9th Infantry of the Thai Army make their way to the woodline at the begining of the Battalion Live Fire at the end of Exercise Cobra Gold '10 at Fort Surasee, Thailand.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members fire an Light Anti-Tank Missile Launcher during Orient Shield 22 at Oyanohara Training Area, Kumamoto, Japan, Aug. 28, 2022. Orient Shield 22 is the largest U.S. Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force bilateral training exercise being executed in various locations throughout Japan to enhance interoperability and test and refine multi-domain and cross-domain operations.

Napoleonic infantry, Battle of Waterloo

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