World War II Fighter Pilots

Black and white images of WWII pilots posing with fighter planes, showcasing aircraft like the P-51 and P-47, alongside maintenance crews and combat preparations.

Major Walter G. Beckham, De Funiak Springs, standing by his Republic P-47 "Thunderbolt." Major Beckham shot down his 18th Nazi plane in the European Theatre of Operations, making him the leading U.S. ace in that area.

Major Gravette Of The 339Th Fighter Group, Poses On The Wing Of His North American P-51 'Ollie' At The 8Th Air Force Station F-378 In England. 1 June 1944.

Major Walter G. Beckham, De Funiak Springs, standing by his Republic P-47 "Thunderbolt." Major Beckham shot down his 18th Nazi plane in the European Theatre of Operations, making him the leading U.S. ace in that area.

ENGLAND-Left to right: Sgt. Frank G. O'Dierno, Sgt John R. Donovan and Sgt Eugene Hochmuth have just installed "Flying Crusader's" 13th engine, since the grueling tasks she takes on have worn out the original four and several replacements for each.

Colonel Lacy Of The 364Th Fighter Group, 67Th Fighter Wing, Poses By The North American P-51 'Jackie Jr.' At 8Th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England. 15 April 1945.

No Sad Sack, this--but a sack of morale-boosting mail for the front-line troops, mail delivery is the primary function of the squadron. Starting a routine mission is T/Sgt. Comma O. Smith, Jr., 2705 Joplin St., Joplin, Missouri. BELGIUM

Capt. Clark Gable Peers Out Of A Waist Gunner'S Window On A Boeing B-17 To Answer Questions During An Interview, 6 June 1943. 351St Bomb Group, England.

Colonel Early E. Bates, 695 Hill Rd., Winnetka, Ill., Led His Group Of Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Bombers Into The Shores Of Southern France To Hit Their Target Of Coastal Guns With Good Effect. Italy.

Wounded Members Of 9Th Troop Carrier Command Are Placed Aboard A Douglas C-47 Air Evacuation Plane, At An Air Base Somewhere In Germany. 21 April 1945.

Colonel Harris Edward Rogner At His Air Force Base In England After His Return From A Bombing Mission To Berlin With The 457Th Bombardment Group Of The 8Th Air Force. 3 February 1945.

2nd Lt. Jorge E.P. Taborda, from Rio de Janeiro, a pilot with the First Brazilian Fighter Squadron serving in Italy. He has been in the Air Forces for four years, and has a high regard for the Republic P-47 he flies.

M/Sgt. G.E. Bankert And Ground Crew Members Of The 613Th Bomb Squadron, 401St Bomb Group, Check Engine Of A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" At An 8Th Air Force Base In England, 25 March 1945.

Men Repairing Radio Compass Antenna On A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Of The 401St Bomb Group At An 8Th Air Force Base In England. 15 August 1944.

FLAK DAMAGED ENGINES come off in a hurry as three crewmen tackle the heavy and complicated job. Here, after scores of fittings have been disconnected behind flat firewall of engine mount, the 1200 horsepower giant is lifted clear and swung by means

North Africa, April 1943-A crew of a Martin B-26 "Marauder" looks thankfully at the left engine that recovered from a severe coughing case after being attacked by German Messerschmitts in a raid over Sardinia. Standing, left to right, are: Phelps F.

England-Technical Sgt. Clarence H. Koskela, 1145 Glenwood North, Minneapolis, Minn., paints on the 6th swastika for 1st Lt. Warren M. Wesson, 441 Bay Ridge Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Sgt. Koskela is crew chief on Lt. Wesson's Thunderbolt "Jeannie"

Aircraft, Burma, India & Training

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.

Lt. Colonel Francis E. Gabreski Tests His Oxygen Mask Before Take-Off On A Bomber Escort Mission. England, 4 July 1944.

Capt. D. Michel Talks With Crew Chief T/Sgt. L.A. Martens And Other Members Of The Ground Crew Of The North American P-51 "Li'L Eva" Of The 20Th Fighter Group In England.

Lt. Colonel David C. Schilling, Squadron Leader Of The 56Th Fighter Group At Norfolk, England, Has A Last Workd With His Crew Chief, S/Sgt. Jack Hollznan Of Houston, Texas, Before Taking Off On An Escort Mission With Bombers On A Raid Over Enemy Territory

1St Lt. John W. Berry Of Bowling Green, Ohio, A Martin B-26 Pilot, Is A Transferee From The Royal Air Force. Because Of His Size, Lt. Berry Needs Three Cushions Behind Him And Two Underneath To Prop Himself Up Behind The Controls Of His Plane. Here He P

Flak Cut The Main Oil Line Of The 12Th Af Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Flown By 1St Lt. Edwin L. King Of New Lebanon, Ohio, While He Was Strafing Enemy Gun Positions Near Brescia, Italy, In The Po Valley And Engine Oil Completely Blacked Out The Canopy, And

Lt. Hatch ? Of The 94Th Fs, 1St Fg, Leaves His Lockheed P-38 Lightning After A Mission. Italy.

Lt. Sitzer and the crew of the 410th Bomb Group pose beside the Douglas A-20 "LITTLE MISS FORTUNE" at a 9th Air Force base in England.

Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz, Alights From A Plane For A Visit At An 8Th Air Force Liberator Station In England.

Philippine Islands-Most welcome cargo the Vultee L-5s carry, according to the men in the 13th AAF jungle squadrons, are USO entertainers. Joe E. Brown chats with his pilot S/Sgt. E.E. Berland, as they prepare to start on a trip to an isolaged "Jungle

Two Members Of Crew 12 Of The 615Th Bomb Squadron, 401St Bomb Group, In The Nose Of A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. England, 25 March 1945.

China-Ready for take-off, is Major G.H. Fulcher, ofrmer operations office, and now Commanding Officer of Squadron (21 Photo Sqd.). This particular mission was flown over Canton, and Hongkong.

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.

2nd Lt. Lewis D. Raines, Louisville, Georgia by his Bell P-39 at a base somewhere in New Guinea.

A Pilot Of The 90Th Photographic Reconnaissance Wing, Poses On The Wing Of His Lockheed F-5 At An Air Base Somewhere In North Africa.

Sgt. J.E. Nation Of Atlanta, Ga., And Pfc. G.T. Lombard Of Whitham, Mass., Mount A K-24 Aerial Camera In The Nose Of A Lockheed P-38 Of The 7Th Photo Group Prior To A Reconnaissance Mission Over Enemy Territory From Their Base At Mount Farm, England. 1 J

Typical Co-Pilot of 8th Air force, England.

Ignoring the howls of a...

Troops in Glider - The Army Air Forces new 15-place troop-carrying glider, the CG-4A, loaded with fully equipped troops, is ready to be towed into the air. The large transport gliders, designed for invasion operations, are now in quantity production for the Army Air Forces. August 28, 1942. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

2Nd Lt. Martin Fetherolf, Navigator From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Nearest Camera) And Lt. Baxter F. Harris, Bombarider From Los Angeles, California, Check Their Instruments Before Take-Off On A Flight From Their Base At Bovington, England. 22 July 194

Myitkyina Strip Invasion - The Airborne Engineers Prepare The Myitkyina Air Base In Burma, Which Was Captured By Merrill'S Marauders And Chinese Troops, For The Landing Of The 1St Troop Carrier Squadron. The Cooperation Of These Troops With The Fighter-P

A Ground Crew Member Of The 94Th Fighter Squadron, 1St Fighter Group, Seated On The Nose Of His Lockheed P-38 Lightning 'Pride Of Billings Jean' At An Airfield Somewhere In Italy.

The bazooka gun, heretoofre strictly a ground weapon, converts this Piper Cub Artillery Liaison plane into a rocket-firing craft. Three 9th Air force Service Command armament specialists are pictured installing the bazookas under a wing of the plane

Lt. Col. Robert B. Westbrook of Hollywood, California, in the cockpit of his Lockheed P-38 Lightning. DUTCH NEW GUINEA.

DF-SD-07-26046. Base: Hector Air Field State: North Dakota (ND) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Lt. Osgood Stands Beside His Lockheed P-38 Lightning 'Co-Pilot' Of The 94Th Fs, 1St Fg, Italy.

Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" Rests On The Finest Concrete Hardstands, While The Crew Throws Up A Bit Of Canvas For Themselves. Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands.

Major Routt Standing Beside His North American P-51 Mustang, The 'Fabasca-V'. England. 9 July 1944.

T/Sgt. Robert M. Dawson, ball turret gunner on a Flying ofrtress, takes barrel out after flight.

Flak Vests-1st Lt. J.T. Lundy of Cedar Rapids wears bombardier-navigator suit with broad apron, while skipper 1st Cos is snapping-on umpire-type apron on his pilots' flak-vest, which has no armored back, since pilot and co-pilot have armor plate

Flight Nurses Being Trained On Bivouac Area At Oahu, Hawaii, For Work In The Jungles. 21 May 1944.

S/Sgt. Lawrence D. Sand, Boeing B-29 Superfortress gunner from Emerado, North Dakota, loads his .50 cal., tail machine guns prior to a 20th Bomber Command mission against Japanesean. CHINA. 444th Bomb Group.

A Wounded Man Being Loaded Into Vultee L-5 On Airstrip In Burma. 1945.

Lt. M. Morrison, Pilot Of The 352Nd Fighter Squadron, 353Rd Fighter Group, Poses On The Wing Of His Republic P-47 "Hi-Lander" At A Figher Base In England.

Cleaning the barrel of one of the four .50 cal guns arming the 8th AAF P-51 Mustang fighter is Cpl. Robert P. Stauffer of Dayton, Ohio. Cpl. Stauffer, an armorer, worked in Dayton plant of the Frigidaire division as a tool grinder helping to turn out

From an Advance North African Air Base (July 13). Shown discussing the operation of his 50 calibres with his armorer is (right) 2nd Lt. Ward A. Kuentzel, Delano, California, pilot of a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, who knocked down a JU-88 and FW-190

When a drill combining high torque output at slow speed while utilizing an aircraft's 24-volt current was needed at a 5th Bombardment Group base in the Philippines, S/Sgt. Aimsey Reed, Clarkston, Wash., (left) and Sgt. Charles Mosley, Princeton, Ky.

The commander of a training school for pilots gives instructions for training flight to a group of pilots who will fly Dewotine 520s-French fighters. France.

2nd Lt. Eugene C. DeBoer, Hammond, Ind. By a Bell P-39 at an air base somewhere in New Guinea.

Armorers Removing Ammunition From Wing Guns Of A Republic P-47 'Thunderbolt' Of The 318Th Fighter Group Upon Completion Of Long Flight From Saipan, Marianas Islands, To Ie Shima, Ryukyu Retto.

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

The 13Th Day Of The Month Is Considered An Unlucky One By The 8Th Air Force Flyers At Ridgewell, Essex, England, But These Members Of The 381St Bomb Group, Who Participated In A Successful Raid Over Northwestern Germany On The 13Th, Say It Isn'T So. They

A Pilot Of The 94Th Fs, 1St Fg, Seated In The Cockpit Of A Lockheed P-38 Lightning At An Airfield Somewhere In Italy.

Gunner firing from plane (EV003469_H)

Sgt. Calvin Brown, Kimball, Minn., Covering Tail Guns Of A Boeing B-29 Of The 40Th Bomb Group, Xx Bomber Command, To Keep Them Clean Preparatory For Mission 9 To Anshan, Manchuria. The Cover Is Removed Just Before The Take-Off. China.

Pfc. Samuel Sanchez Of El Paso, Texas An Armorer With A Bomb Group In Italy, Loads A Rocket Into The Rocket Launcher Of A Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.

Still shaken and with one arm crudely bandaged, a slightly wounded 8th U.S. Air force waist gunner is lead from his plane by flight surgeon Capt. Leonard G. Morely, Portland, Ore., after his return from the daylight attack on German airfields in the

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

W/Cdr D.R. Cuming, C.O. A.R.D.U. RAAF Laverton leaving Avon-SABRE jet after braking sound ***** at Laverton today. August 30, 1954.

Litter Patient From Vultee L-5 'Sentinel' Of The 163Rd Liaison Squadron, 10Th Army, Awaiting Ambulance. Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto.

Cameras Are Guns. Coast Guard Combat Photographer, Eldon C. Ashcroft, of Auburn, Nebraska, shoots a reconnaissance photo from the blister of a PBY while serving on the Greenland Patrol. Coast Guardsmen are serving all over the globe.

Typical of the courageous spirit shown by the wounded men during the days of waiting is the broad smile flashed by Lt. Joseph R. Alexander when leaving the scene of the tragedy. Capt. John Weston, first surgeon to parachute to the crash scene of the

Lt. Duane W. Beeson, Boise, Idaho, An Ace Fighter Pilot, In The Cockpit Of His Republic P-47 At An Air Base In England, Discusses His Latest Mission Over Europe With A Crew Member. See 3A-12148 For Photo Of His Hands On The Stick (50476Ac).

1st Lt. Wilbur W. Raffensperger, pilot from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, fills out his log after landing at his base in North Africa from a mission over Italy. 29 July 1943.

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

Aircraft, Burma, India &CREWS,FIGHTER War

Pilot in cabin on airplane B17 Pilot in cabin on airplane S 17

Soviet-German Front -- ***** heroic medical service of the Red Air Force evacuates ***** from the front line. Senior Lieutenant V. Bolivian, *****, had twice been decorated with military orders. November 1, 1942. (Photo by Vdovenko, SIB Photo Service).

Operator In Radio Jeep Brings A North American P-51 In For A Landing Somewhere In The Pacific.

Aircraft, Burma, India &Operations War

Colonel Henry Standing Beside His Plane, The 'San-Antone Rose'. England - 15 June 1944.

07/31/1937. An Italo-German Troops Plane, fallen into the hands of the Republicans, on the Extremadura front.

Waist Gunner On The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Hell'S Angels As He Would Appear To Enemy Fighter Opposition. 303Rd Bomb Group, England. 6 June 1943.

As his Boeing B-29 nears target area at Anshan, Manchuria, S/Sgt. Everett W. Cords, senior gunner from Rochester, Minn., scans the sky for enemy fighters from his top gunner's position. He is key man of his plane's intricate defense system of central

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

A pilot of the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, poses in the cockpit of his Lockheed P-38 at an air base somewhere in Italy.

THE MAN AND HIS SHIP. Captured in this striking silhouette is the story of the ground crewmen who, without all the fanfare, toil endlessly on the ships which are re-writing modern history from the skies. On him rest the responsibilities of "keepin

Lieutenant Sundin in aircraft P1, 1940 Flygörare in the seat on airplane P 1 SPARMANN. Herman Sundin, head of F 2 Roslagens flying fleet.

Combat Master -- Col. Francis S. Gabreski, son and Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Gabreski, Grandview Rd., Oil City, Pa., veteran U.S. Air forces pilot and present Deputy Commander, 4th Fighter Interceptor wing, took part in the gigantic aerial engagement Sept. 25 when 37 F-86 Sabrejets of the veteran 4th FI wing battled 100 MIGs over North Korea. Col. Gabreski inflicted heavy damage on one MIG, while other Sabre pilots destroyed or damaged nine others. He has previous credit for two of the speedy MIG-15s destroyed. He is shown checking the results of the battle with his crew chief, M/Sgt. Charles R. Wilkinson,, 758 48th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Col. Gabreski's wife, Catherine, lives at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan. September 26, 1951. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Photo)

Aviation Machinist's Mate, Violet Falkum, turns over the propeller of a SNJ at NAS Jacksonville, FL - WAVES

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

Major Gilbert F. Talbot, left, Clackamas, Oregon, a pilot in the 354th fighter-bomber group, and M/Sgt. Joseph Scruggs, Odessa, Texas, an armorer, examine the 500 pound bomb slung under a wing of the Major's Republic P-47 Thunderbolt at a 9th

F/O John P Grieves Of The 9Th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Poses In The Cockpit Of His Lockheed F-5 At An Air Base Somewhere In India.

Disease Control - Montana. Photographs Relating to National Forests, Resource Management Practices, Personnel, and Cultural and Economic History

Photographs depicting military activities in France, May - June 1940. Included photographs of Rommel, Guderian, Dreuz, Bottcher, Italian General Garaboldi, Lucie Rommel, shots of Rommel with Hitler. Photographs of equipment and troops arriving and in action, from the personal collection of Rommel.

Veronica Volkersz.

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

A Pilot Of The 94Th Fs, 1St Fg, Poses By The Tail Of His Lockheed P-38 Lightning At An Airfield Somewhere In Italy.

Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. The crew of a Lockheed Hudson Mark I, N7318, of No. 206 Squadron RAF which rescued the Commander in Chief of Free Polish Forces, General Wadysaw Sikorski and his staff from Bordeaux, France, in June 1940, gather by the door of their aircraft at Bircham Newton, Norfolk. They are (left to right): Leading Aircraftman Garrity (from USA), navigator Flight-Lieutenant W Biddle, pilot unknown Leading Aircraftman W D 'Spike' Caulfield, wireless operator/air gunner, who holds a wicker carrier containing a homing pigeon.

W.L. Rogers, Pilot Of The 364Th Fighter Group, 67Th Fighter Wing, Poses In The Cockpit Of His North American P-51 At 8Th Air Force Station F-375, Honnington, England. 20 February 1945.

Royal Air Force- Italy, the Balkans and South East Europe, 1942-1945. Groundcrew of No. 223 Squadron RAF paint the 105th bomb symbol on the nose of Martin Baltimore Mark IV, 'V' for Vera, at Celone, Italy, to signify the number of successful operations carried out by the aircraft. 'V' for Vera's fitter, Leading Aircraftman P Cowell of Kettering, Northamptonshire holds the paint can, while the rigger, LAC T Newton of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, wields the brush.

A steel helmet worn by an 8th AAF Flying ofrtress bombardier on a combat mission over Nazi war-making targets in Germany recently. The helmet was pierced by a sizeable piece of flak, but only a deep scalp wound was inflicted on the lieutenant, due

Colonel Witzenfeld, Commanding Officer Of The 324Nd Bomb Squadron, 91St Bomb Group, Standing By A The Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" Prior To Take-Off On A Mission From A Base At Bassingbourne, England, On 10 March 1943.

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

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