Vintage Aviation

Discover the beauty of vintage aviation with SuperStock's gallery of stock images. Our collection of vintage aviation photos captures the spirit and grandeur of a bygone era. From classic propeller planes to iconic airliners, our selection of vintage aircraft images will take you back in time. Whether you're looking for a nostal...Read more

Engraving depicting Henry Bell's design for an aerial machine, which had a rudder and two screw propellers. Henry Bell (1767-1830) a Scottish engineer. Dated 19th Century

Photograph of Thomas Sopwith (1888-1989) an English aviation pioneer and yachtsman, in the cockpit of a plane. Dated 20th Century

1920s FEMALE AVIATOR AVIATRIX LEATHER COAT CAP WITH GOGGLES AND LACE UP BOOTS PREPARING TO BOARD SEAPLANE

The Eight-Gun Burst of a Hurricane -- This spectacular picture showing a Hawker "Hurricane" giving a full burst of fire from the eight guns mounted on the wings gives an excellent impression of the reception given by our night fighters to the raider 'planes as ***** break through our defence. The course of the tracer bullets runs straight and true. April 1, 1942. (Photo by Fox Photos).

96B - Commander Byrd's Plane For The South Pole. December 12, 1953. (Photo by Wide World Photos).

96B - Commander Byrd's Plane For The South Pole. April 30, 1928. (Photo by International Newsreel).

Duke of Gloucester ***** ready for take-off for Tamworth, watched by guard formed from RAAF unit stationed at Mascot. April 11, 1946. (Photo by Hood)

Mr. Matthews adjusting his engine at Croydon this afternoon.Mr. F.R. Matthews, an instructor at the London Flying Club, is leaving Croydon at dawn to-morrow in an attempt to break Bert Hinkckler's records flight to Australia. There are also four other pilots making the attempt and they will compete in a friendly race to Australia. Mr. Matthews taught Army Johnson to fly. October 21, 1930.

Daring young Australian Airman, Mr. Guy Menzies, meets with a mishap on landing after completing the first solo flight across the Tasman Sea. The Aeroplane with her nose buried in the swamp. February 17, 1931. (Photo by The Auckland Weekly News).

America's first turboprop seaplane transport -- the Convair R3Y Tradewind -- races down San Diego Bay for its maiden flight. Built by Convair's San Diego Division for the U. S. Navy, the 80-ton seaplane took off in less than 30 seconds and was flown during a shakedown test program for more than two hours on its first flight. Upon completion of the flight, Convair Test Pilot Don Germeraad said: "I have flown many types of seaplanes, but the R3Y is the best I've ever handled." February 25, 1954.

The Building's Big, But Not Big Enough - The tail structures of these early-modes B-36B air-planes are too big for the Consolidated Vultee aircraft plant here where they are being modernized into jet-augmented B-36D bombers. So the company cut circular holes in huge sliding doors for this porthole-like effect, while work proceeds on forward portions of the planes inside. October 13, 1950. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Test Pilot Bill Scott, in inflated pressure suit, only one in Australia, used for testing high altitude flying in our new jet machines. March 9, 1955. (Photo by Gordon F. De'lisle).

Police - Plane N.S.W. Police. May 8, 1946.

132.A. - Ambulance Planes - British. January 07, 1953. (Photo by Paul Popper Ltd.).

Bombers For Britain -- More than thirty Lockheed Hudson ***** consigned to England are pictured at ***** Bennett Field, April 1, part of the steady of planes being sent to Great Britain. At right are ships partly dismantled which will taken to England on Boats. The balance, it reported, will also be dismantled. April 1, 1941. (Photo by ACME).

Kiingsford Smith plane Oxford to Australia. May 17, 1931.

Lancaster Takes Off On Cape Flight -- Captain Lancaster in the cockpit of the Southern star junior at Lympne just before the take off at Dawn today. Flying a Southern star junior plane, Captain Lancaster left Lympne Aerodrome this morning April 11 on Hi bid to smash the Cape flight record held by Mrs. Amy Mollison. He hopes to make Oran in Algeria in one hop. His mother was present on the airfield to bid him farewell. April 11, 1933. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Preparing For London-Sydney Hop -- Re-assembling the trans-pacific 'Southern Cross' for a 11,300 mile hop from London to Sydney, as they await the arrival of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, noted Australian flyer, are, top, Robert Bolton, Chief Engineer, Thomas Pethybridge, left, co-pilot on the proposed flight and P.G.B. Morriss, the pilot's personal representative. September 2, 1935. (Photo by Associated Press Wirephoto).

97D - 97D US Aircraft Factories. March 12, 1951. (Photo by Pictorial Press).

Record Breaker -- Pictured as it started a run over a measure 18-kilometer course over the California desert Aug. 20, 1955, a North American F-100C Super Sabre jet plane piloted by Air Force Col. Horace A. Hanes levels off for the flight which set a new world's mark of 822.135 m.p.h. Photos, made during the record breaking flight were released today at the same time the new mark was announced during the National Aircraft Show at Philadelphia where Colonel Hanes was scheduled to make a taken flig

"Prone Flying" Experiments In The R.A.F. -- The "prone position" Meteor in flight - a close-up from another aircraft. The pilot can be seen lying prone in the nose of the Meteor. A new "prone flying" Meter jet aircraft built to investigate the possibilities of flying the aircraft from the prone position, is now being used at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough under the direction of the R.A.F, Institute of Aviation Medicine. Among the problems being studied are the cutting down of th

The Spruce Goose during trails. "Spruce Goose" the huge seaplane. June 28, 1948. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Passengers view a DC3 of ***** BAT fleet through the windows of the terminal at Mascot. November 30, 1955.

This Superfortress, flight leader in 29 combat missions over Tokio, and other important Japanese cities, arrived in Sydney yesterday on its way to Melbourne. Lent by General MacArthur to aid Australia's Fourth Victory Loan, this plane, which has been re-named Waltzing Matilda, will visit all Australian airfields that can accommodate it to give bond buyers special flights. It will return to Sydney later in the month. October 2, 1945.

The ample freight area of the planes admirably suits Powell. In it he can pack cars or tons of cased produce for speedy and safe delivery. March 25, 1953.

One of Powell's Bristol machines the airline is named after Broken Hill in flight. Eventually he plans to use two-deck helicopters. March 25, 1953. (Photo by Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd.).

The Brabazon's 'Props' Turn -- The engines of the 'Brabazon' being 'tuned-up' outside its hangar at Filton, Bristol. Shortly after half-past seven this (Saturday) morning, the 'Brabazon', largest civil landplane in the world, was on its mile-and-a-half long runway at Filton, Bristol. ready to start taxi-in tests. It left its hangar yesterday for a final check-up, technicians using mobile scaffolding to inspect the wingh, rudder and the eight 2,500 h.p. engines. After its tests today the 130-ton

New British Trainer Aircraft In Service -- "Balliol" trainer planes from a flying training school practice formation flying.The new British "Balliol" T.2 trainer plane is now superceding the Harvard as the advance single pistoned engined trainer of the Royal Air Force. The machine is fitted with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and instructor and pupil sit side by side. January 26, 1953. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

Britain's Flying Luxury Hotel -- The "Sandringham" flying beat taxi-ing before taking off on its maiden flight.Britain's latest luxury hotel of the air was christened today by Lord Minister, Minister of civil Aviation at Short Bros. works, Rochester, Kent. The Short "Sandringham" flying beat offers a standard of comfort for its passengers never before displayed on British planes plus the maximum safety and reliability, which have been ***** by past experience from Shorts flying beats in operation during the war years. December 19, 1945. (Photo by Fox Photos).

Pick-A-Back Plane Nearly Wrecked - Mercury being placed on the back of the parent craft, Maia, by crane in Dundee Harbour yesterday.Mercury, the upper component of the Short-Mayo composite aircraft, which is expected to start from the River Tay today on a non-stop flight to Capetown, came perilously near being wrecked in Dundee harbour yesterday. As the Mercury was being united to the parent craft, Maia, by a crane she was caught by a gust of wind and one wing swung very close to the crane before the mechanics hauling on ropes, regained control. September 23, 1938. (Photo by Topical Press).

Captain Sir Hubert Wilkins stirring camera record of the second Hearst-Wilkins Antarctic Expedition. These exclusive pictures taken by Captain Sir Hubert Wilkins from an inspiring photographic record of the second Hearst-Wilkins Antarctic Expedition, revealing more of the icy secrets of that vast, mysterious and almost inaccessible polar continent. The base for the expedition was established at deception Island, an old whaling observations and taking pictures. The other members of the expedition

New Plane Takes the Air - Pictured here for the first time as it takes off on a test flight is the new experimental aircraft, the Supermarine 525, a development of the Supermarine 508. It is powered by two Rolls Royce Avon engines and was flown for the first time, from Boscombe Downs, Wiltshire, by Lt. Cmdr M.J. Lithgow, who described the 20-minute flight as 'completely successful.'The aircraft is said to be the fastest ever designed for carrier use and the twin jet fighter ordered in quantity by the Admiralty a year ago will be directly developed from it. May 05, 1954. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

British Aircraft on Show to the World - The Tudor VIII, the first plane with four jet engines, is seen landing beside the assembled aircraft at Farnborough.The annual exhibition of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors, which opened yesterday at Farnborough Hampshire, introduced some of the latest British aircraft to the public and the world. September 08, 1948. (Photo by Fox Photos).

9 Smoke Screens (See Also Hendon Air Pageants 24 B). July 10, 1944. (Photo by U.S. Office of War Information Picture).

Warana - Douglas Airliner. August 14, 1939.

The Wright Cyclone Engine -- Four Wright Cyclone engines power the Qantas Constellation. The Wright Cyclone (Model 749 U 18 BDI) has a maximum power of 2,500 h.p. It is an air-cooled, 18-cylinder, twin-row, radial engine largest and most powerful ever to be used by an Australian airline. Built to function satisfactorily at 35,000 ft., the Wright Cyclone features Scintilla low-tension ignition, Bendix-Stromberg fuel injection, two-speed supercharger and torque meter. Maximum overall length is 78

Fleet in the air but humbled on the ***** have to be towed by a tractor into the hangar. The Loonagana, of A.N.A., being put away ***** Airport, after flying the Melbourne run. December 12, 1938.

Lates DC6-B skychief airliner of the A.N.A. fleet, Kwinana, which flew into Brisbane airport yesterday with 58 passengers on a "show the flag" flight. The Kwinana is five feet longer than the normal DC-6. April 01, 1955.

Four trips from Darwin to Calcutta and back before Christmas is the schedule of the big Douglas DC3 airliner, Kurana, which has been chartered from Australian national airways by imperial airways to help cope with the huge bulk of Christmas mails from overseas. Today's picture at Essendon is of the interior of the airliner stripped of its seats and other fitting in preparation for the mail transport. This year will mark the first occasion on which all first class Christmas mails from Great Brita

When Wings Weren't Wanted -- The big Dragon Rapide 'plane, Tainui, found its wheels more useful than its to-day. Its tail was fastened to a lorry outside a wharf at Daring Harbour, and it was towed through the streets to Mascot Aerodrome. The 'plane, which was used in the Centenary Air Race, arrived from New Zealand yesterday. It is here for the consideration of persons who may want to buy it. June 03, 1935.

Stan Francis (left) Gordon Marsh & Howard Craven. August 31, 1950.

Dragon Rapide. January 18, 1943.

The first aircraft of its type to come to Australia, this unusually designed Leo 453 photographic survey plane designed and built in France in 1937 flew from Indo China to Brisbane on its built in France in 1937 flew from Indo China to Brisbane on its way to New Caledonia, where it will make high-altitude survey flights during the next two to three months for the National Geographical Institute of France. Note the unusual dihedral tail assembly and the low-slung fuselage. It is fitted with special cameras for its oil and mineral survey role. May 6, 1954. (Photo by The Telegraph Feature Service).

Round-Tripper for The World -- The Army Air forces said today that its new Six-engine B-36 bomber, shown on one of its test flights, "could carry an atomic bomb to any inhabited region in the World and return home without refueling in the event of an enemy attack." The AAF said production had started on the bomber which has been described as the Worlds largest. November 06, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

A model of the Boeing Jet, transport. Mr. John T. Trippe, President of Pan American World Airways announced to-day (Thursday) that the company has ordered 45 American-built jet transports. It is the first purchase of U.S. made jetliners and represents an Investment of £96, 000, 000. Contracts have been placed with the Boeing Airplane Company of Seattle, Douglas Airplane Company of Santa Monica, and the Pratt and ***** division of United Aircraft Corporation of East hartford, Connecticut, makers of the Jet turbine engines to be used. October 1, 1955. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Radar-General Scenes - Science (See Also: Australia Army: Navy R.A.F. & General Merchant Shipping & Aviation Science). September 10, 1945.

A Couple of Big Birds -- The new Boeing prototype Stratotanker, foreground, is hauled into place alongside a U.S. Air Force tanker-transport, the Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter, at Renton, Wash. The Stratotanker jet will carry from 80 to 130 passengers in its airline version. The new aircraft will be used in tests to demonstrate its capabilities as a military tanker transport each developing more than 10,000 pounds of thrust, will power the aircraft. Its cruising speed is 550 miles per hour. May 18, 1954. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

"Kavana" Douglas - Airliner. November 08, 1938.

Soon To Start Production - Production at the new Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory at Fisherman's Bend, Melbourne, will soon start. To make easier access to the factory, a concrete road a mile long, is being laid down. Men are shown at work on the road. September 14, 1937.

New Jet Transport Unveiled--The Nation's first big Jet transport plane, a 95-ton, swept-wing plane in the 550-miles-an-hour class, is rolled out of Boeing Airplane Company's nearby Renton plant to day after christening by Mrs. William E. Boeing. New jet "Stratoliner" is described as "tanker-transport prototype, "first of a line that may be used to refuel jet bombers in flight and eventually as commercial airliners that will carry 80 to 130 passengers. May 14, 1954. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Commemorating battle of Britain. 35 Squad of RAF Lancaster Bombers fly past St. Paul's. September 23, 1946. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

A bunch of the boys eat an Al Fresco lunch under the nose of a Lockheed Bomber they helped to build. They're kidding Palmer, (third from left) about his build. "Hey Superman!" one of them chortles between bites," when are you Gonna fly one o' these bombers to England.... on your back, I mean". July 18, 1941. (Photo by ACME).

On February 19, at 5:30 p.m. the drifting "North Pole" station finished its work. The herole Papanin quartet was removed from the drifting ice-floe in the Greenland Sea by the crews of the two ice breakers, "Taimir" and "Murman". May 14, 1938.

89C - Loading Bombs And Ammunition - Bombing Crew At Work, Gunners Etc. January 15, 1945. (Photo by Commonwealth Of Australia Department Of Air).

New U.S. Planes Arrive In Australia -- A P-38 "Lightning" is unloaded on a pier somewhere in Australia, one of a recent large shipment to arrive there from the U.S. The P-38's are rated with the best high altitude interceptor and fighter planes in the world, attaining a speed in excess of 400 miles per hour. It is a twin-motored plane with the main armament mounted in the center fuselage section. February 08, 1943. (Photo by Interphoto News Pictures, Inc.).

Andree Expedition Discovery: The plane which is bringing photographs from Tromso to England. October 15, 1930. (Photo by The Times).

A Human Bird - Mme. Helene Albert wearing the bat like wings with which she demonstrating her theory of "Cosmic Motion", said to be based upon a long for gotten Greek law of motion. She is shown taking off from a slight rise in the ground on the Anderson Estate, where she made several brief swoops over the ground. April 06, 1931. (Photo by International Newsreel Photo).

World's Most Powerful Jet Engine Will be Flown at Farnborogh - Being flight tested in this Short S.A. 4 Sperrin bomber prototype is the de Havilland Gyron, the most powerful jet engine in the world.It is fitted in the lower port nacelle of the plane, which will fly with it at the Farnborough air show.The engine has been designed specifically for aircraft which will operate at speeds above the speed of sound and more than five years have been spent in its development. September 02, 1955. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Lilienthal descending with his glides after an unsuccessful attempt to fly like a bird. March 14, 1939.

The First Four-Jet ***** - The Tudor VIII" arrived ***** for the display. The aircraft has been ordered to the Ministry of supply for research and development work. September 07, 1948. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency Limited).

Nine and half days his aim. - Captain Matthews (left) tested his plane at Mascot today for an attempt on Australia - England record. December 19, 1930.

Zooming Over The Aerodrome -- Apparently its crash in Siam has not affected Captain Matthews' machine. Its is here shown zooming over the crowd at the Eagle Farm aerodrome. January 20, 1931. (Photo by Brisbane Daily Mail Ltd.).

Attracted Attention -- Painted a brilliant yellow, Captain Matthews' Puss Moth was a centre of interest after the aviator landed at Eagle Far yesterday.January 20, 1931. (Photo by Brisbane Daily Mail Ltd.).

Duke leaves. January 22, 1947.

Superforts Shower Bombs on Tamashima -- Five hundred pound bombs fall from B-29s onto the aircraft plant at Tamashima, 90 miles west of Kobe, on the Japanese island of Honshu. June 28, 1945. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Duke Of Gloucester *****. February 23, 1945.

Duke of Gloucester aero York at Mascot, with small Procter management in foreground. July 10, 1945.

Av.-97. January 4, 1951. (Photo by International News Photos).

Aircraft Constructions. May 2, 1947. (Photo by Boeing Aircraft Company).

Clyde Pangborn trains - Pacific their to Japan. November 12, 1931. (Photo by International Newsreel).

On Your Mark--Get Set --Hugh Herndon, left, and Clyde Pangborn in the Cockpit of their plane all set for their contemplated hop across the Atlantic ocean. They will most likely be the newest members to the exclusive "Ocean-Crossers" club whose ranks have swollen this year in unprecendented fashion. They will try to Gridle the Entire Globe. June 26, 1931. (Photo by International Newsreel Photo).

Rain Makers.. CSIRO Radio Physic Rain Physic Group -- The New Avro Anson of the Rain Group working with a RAAF Dakota. On the wing of the Anson can be seen the silver Iodide smoke generator that sprays the clouds with the mixture.The usual process is to spray from the bottom it being lighten Pierces the clouds and causes the Rain to falls. The Anson will work from Wagga. August 18, 1955. (Photo by Gordon Herbert Short/Fairfax Media).

Wants To Advance -- Kenneth McMahon, (Right) talks over a detail of the manufacture of airlines at the Lockheed plant, Burbank, Cal., with Todd Oviatt, his superior. He hopes by successive "Upgradings" eventually to step into a supervisor's shoes. That's why he has been spending a couple of nights a week in study. Scene inside one of the great construction hangars of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation at Burbank, California. July 20, 1941. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

And Still They Grow -- How transport aircraft have grown in 18 years is illustrated in this "family portrait" released by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation today showing six models, ranging from old to new, of principal Lockheed airlines when all were in reunion at their home airport at Burbank, Calif. Since days of 1934 Electra, 1937 Model 14 and 1939 Lodestar (small planes, left to right), capacities have increased from 12 passengers to about 50 to 100 in modern Constellation types (two front ship

Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith with the Lady Southern Cross before his last flight. Kingsford-Smith . . . and the missing Aeroplane. August 27, 1934. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Building A Bomber -- In another picture you saw Palmer working on a plane motor. Thoroughly conversant with plane construction, He's shown above (left) working on the Windshield of a Lockheed Hudson Bomber. Note that some wag has scribbled "sold" on the fuselage, near the nose. July 18, 1941. (Photo by ACME).

Amana - Ana's Skymaster. September 02, 1947.

Egyptian Paratroopers In Training. Paratroopers of the newly-formed Egyptian parachute Brigade, lining up inside a training plane just before making a practice jump. June 16, 1952.

Kurana Douglas Airliner (Crashed Nov. 8, 1948). November 12, 1948.

Royal Couple Off To Canada -- The Floodlights playing on the huge Canopus. In their glare the Queen, Followed by Princess Margaret, is seen walking down the Gangway. The goodbyes have been said. and a few minutes after this picture was taken the Royal Plane Took off. Scenes at London Airport last night when Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were boarding the Strato-Cruiser Canopus for their 3,400-mile flight to Canada. October 08, 1951. (Photo by Paul Popper).

Skilled mechanics at Wheeler Field, U.S. Army airport, working on the "Lady Southern Cross" just as enthusiastically and willingly as they would have if she had been flown by American fliers. December 24, 1934.

New 21-Passenger Plane Arrives -- New Giant Airliner for Australian National Airway being landed from the freighter Clydebank in Melbourne today. She is a 21-passenger Douglas DC3. When assembly and tests are completed the plane will be christened Kanana ("Silent") and put into commission. A sister machine, to be known as the Warana ("Blue Sky") is on the way here. October 18, 1938.

Southern Cross Jr. Guy Menzies (right) & Albert James. March 4, 1931.

Airplanes En Masse -- Photo taken from overhead crane bay at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation's final assembly line in Burbank, Calif., shows big new transports and radar airplanes marching to completion in close ranks. Note comparative size of workman on floor below 50-foot horizontal stabilizer of the first transport and men on the tail of the second. Multimillion dollar array of airplanes above include big new Super-G transports for Eastern Air Lines and TWA (foreground) and early warning radar

Sir Daniel Aarons - Federal Legacy Council. December 19 1946.

An Unusual Formation -- Formation flying of aircraft of widely different performances such as this is a difficult feat. These aircraft all belong to the central Flying School at Upavon. All the aeroplanes in this photograph are different. Reading from the camera they are the Avro "Anson" (coastal reconnaissance aircraft), "Oxford", twin-engined trainer, "Hart", bomber and training aircraft, Avro "Tutor" and "Fury," single-seater fighter. July 27, 1938. (Photo by Paul Popper).

Radar-General Scenes - Science (See Also: Australia Army: Navy R.A.F. & General Merchant Shipping & Aviation Science). September 10, 1945.

New Jetliner Damaged-Boeing's new 15-million-dollar Jet transport squats on runway after the left landing gear buckled during taxi tests late yesterday. A portion of the damaged wing flap can be seen above wing next to fuselage. The accident will delay first flight several weeks. Boeing engineers estimated. May 22, 1954. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

The Lancaster bomber "Aries" on a world navigational flight, drawn up beside another Lancaster "G for George," at Laverton aerodrome, Victoria. "G. for George" is to be exhibited in the National War Museum, Canberra. November 17, 1944.

The giant £41,000 Douglas airliner Kyilla and most powerful plane Australia, was surrounded by a crowd of air-minded when it reaches Kingsford Smith Airport today Melbourne. November 12, 1937.

New Guided Missile Readied for Test -- A new Air Force guided missile, the NATIV built by North American Aviation, is lowered into position for a test firing on the Holloman Air Force base near Alamogordo, N.M. The missile is fired from a metal launching tower. January 14, 1949. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Lockheed Lightning Sword fish "flying wind tunnel". February 05, 1946.

Farnborough 1955 -- the Fairey Ultra Light.. one of the smallest helicopters.. will be used by the army. The Farnborough air show opens today. Organised by the society of British aircraft constructors it includes many new planes and overall continues to show the world what Britain can do in the air. September 5, 1955. (Photo by Paul Popper Ltd.).

Ja Dickson on wing of Lockheed Orion. November 21, 1932.

U. S. Army's McDonnell XV-1 Convertiplane. - This revolutionary aircraft, shown as it made the world's first helicopter-to-airplane conversion, combines the vertical flight characteristics of the helicopter with the speed and range of a conventional fixed-wing airplane. For forward flight, the forn-place aircraft uses a pusher propeller in the rear plus 20 percent forward lift from the overhead rotor. December 22, 1955. (Photo by United States Information Center).

The head of the Polar air expedition, academician Otto J. Schmidt. Photo taken at the North Pole. June 1, 1937. (Photo by Soyuzphoto).

Lockheed Workers Hear Halifax -- Lockheed Aircraft ***** workers listen to Viscount Halifax, British ambassador to the United States, as he talked to them July 18 at Burbank, Calif.,on the completion of the 1000th Lockheed Hudson Bomber. This plane is used by the R.A.F. Coastal command. July 18, 1941. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

New U.S. Planes Arrive In Australia -- American fighter pilots inspect a newly arrived P-38 "Lightning", one of a large shipment of the U.S. fighter-interceptors which arrived recently in Australia. The P-38's, which had already seen service against the Axis in Europe and Africa, base their offensive strength on (1) high altitude performance, (2) speed in excess of 400 miles per hour and (3) strong firepower, including heavy machine guns and automatic cannon. February 22, 1943. (Photo by Interph

Largest Bomber at Greatest Airport -- People throng around the U.S. Air Force's B-36, the World's largest land-based bomber, at the dedication of 5,000 - Acre New York International Airport, N.Y.-- the greatest in the World. The mammoth comber took part in the air show, July 31, which was the nation's mightiest peacetime display of airpower. July 31, 1948. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Fastest 'Plane In Australia -- Unloading a Lockheed Orion, capable of 220 m.p.h. from the liner "Monterey" at midnight last night. This machine, flown by Captain J.P. Dickson, accompanied by Mr. Arthur M. Loew, First Vice President Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Pictures, and Mr. Rosthal, will fly to Melbourne Saturday, Adelaide Monday, Wyndham Tuesday, thence depart on the biggest commercial world flight yet undertaken. Vacuum Oil Company have arranged supplies. Lights of Sydney harbour bridge can be seen

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