Historical Aviation Moments

Historical photographs of airplanes and their operations from the early to mid-20th century, capturing significant moments in aviation history with vintage styling.

Officials controlling the recent Redex 6000 mile car reliability trial were flown over the course by Whiteman in this Plane. December 2, 193.

Poll photo collection. Report Schiphol. An airplane is dragged away at Schiphol. 1933. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Anefo photo collection. Departure Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard to America. March 24, 1951

Giant Glenn Martin Bombers of the Royal Netherlands Indies Air Force, Photographed at the opening of the Singapore civil airport. Members of the crews are on the right. Few such photographs have been taken of these planes, as photography is for bidden in military zones in the Netherlands Indies.S.R. Hutchinson, Straits Times, Singapore. June 04, 1937.

Royal Air Force- Operations by the Photographic Reconnaissance Units, 1939-1945. Wing Commander J R H Merifield (pilot) and Flight Lieutenant J H Spires (navigator) in De Havilland Mosquito PR Mark 34, RG241 'K', of No. 540 Squadron RAF, taxy to the main runway at St Mawgan, Cornwall, before taking off on the fastest recorded east to west crossing of the Atlantic at that time. They landed at Gander, Newfoundland 7 hours and 2 minutes later. The return flight, on 23 October, was accomplished in 5 hours 10 minutes, a record which still stands for a twin piston-engined aircraft crossing the Atlantic.

Paris-Saigon-Wings of Mercy. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Mechanics giving Miss Jean Batten's plane a final inspection just before she left mascot for Richmond Aerodrome. January 8, 1938.

Prop Military Fixed Wing Aviat Airplanes Lockheed P38 Lightning fighter bomber formation WWII sky

Officials controlling the recent Redex 6000 mile car reliability trial were flown over the course by Whiteman in this Plane. December 2, 193.

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. The first Canadian-built Avro Lancaster B Mark X, KB700 'The Ruhr Express', taxying after landing at Northolt, Middlesex, following a delivery flight across the Atlantic. KB700 was the first of 300 aircraft built by Victory Aircraft of Malton, Ontario, and flew operationally with Nos. 405 and 419 Squadrons RCAF.

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Coastal Command Sunderland II W3984/RB-S of No 10 Squadron RAAF, October 1942.

Emergency landing of aircraft 18 on f 3, 1947 motif: emergency landing of aircraft 18 on f 3 östgöta fly fleet 1947. Bush landing.

GOING HOME--Boeing B-17's, only a few months ago plaguing Naziland, line up at Marrakech, French Morocco, on their first step home. More than 2,500 bombers have flown through Marrakech, main channel of aircraft redeployment, since V-E Day.

Anefo photo collection. New Gloster Javelin All Wetherjager England. March 25, 1955. Great Britain

Orly. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

DN-SN-85-05637. Base: Natc, Patuxent River State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Departure of the first Consolidated Pby-5A Catalina Maritime Patrol Amfibie (registration 16-214, 1951-1956) of the first Consolidated PLAYER FACTORY-5A CATALINA (registration 16-214, 1951-1956) (MLD) on Sept. 14. 1951.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Visit MP jr. G.A.M.J. Ruijs de Beerenbrouck on Medan (Sumatra). Arrival at Medan airport. The plane, a Mitchell B-25 bomber. March 28, 1948. Indonesia, Medan, Dutch East Indies, Sumatra

Aircraft Consolidated (PBY-5A) Catalina, TP 47, on the ground Framf Airplane Consolidated (PBY-5A) Catalina, TP 47, on the ground in front of Hangars at F 2 Hänernäs.

Capt. T. Neville Stack, the famous airman, inspects his new racing aeroplane, which he will pilot in the London to Melbourne air race with Mr. Turner. The machine is an Airspeed Viceroy and was on view at Portsmouth Air Port, for the first time today Sept. 28th.Capt. T. Nivelle Stack (centre) with Mr. Sydney L. Turner and Mr. J.H. Gordon MacArthur, ***** and Wireless Operator, in front of the machine. November 5, 1934. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Bristol Bombay Mark I, L5857 SH-C, of No. 216 Squadron RAF based at Heliopolis, Egypt, in flight over the Western Desert.

MiG-9, Anonymous

First B.O.A.C. Plane Leaves Heath Row -- The "Lancastrian" Aircraft taking off from Hearth Row, London, this afternoon May 28 on the "Kangaroo Service" to Sydney, Australia.A "Lancastrian" aircraft took off on the world's longest and fastest air route the first B.O.A.C. service from the London Airport at Heath Row this afternoon May 28.The Lancastrian's only stops before reaching Singapore will be at Lydda in palesting and Karachi. Qantas airways will take over for the rest of the journey to Sydney. May 07, 1947. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

RAF Bomber Command 1940 A Bristol Blenheim Mk IV of No. 110 Squadron running up its engines at Wattisham, August 1940.

Front view of the "Memphis Belle," famed Boeing B-17 Flying ofrtress.

Poll photo collection. Report Schiphol. "Arend" plane from Fokker on the platform of Schiphol airport. 1934. Noord-Holland, Schiphol

Anefo photo collection. The Dutch press on board HR. Ms. "Karel Doorman". September 24, 1947

New British Jet Interceptor -- The British de Havilland Venom, a new jet interceptor shown in flight here, is being produced of factory assembly lines for the Royal Air Force seven months after the plane's first test flight. The Venom is similar in design to the jet fighter Vampire but has a two-thirds increase in power, provided by the de Havilland Ghost engine of 5,000-lb. static thrust. The engine, in its civil form, is used to power the Comet jet airliner. May 5, 1950. (Photo by AP Wirephoto

Airplane T 2 Airplane T 2. Close-up of the aircraft anchored on the water.

Two T-33A Shooting Star aircraft from the 5021st Tactical Operations Squadron (5021st) sit on the flight line during a stopover at the base. Nine Shooting Star aircraft from the 5021st TOS are en route to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ, Where they will be placed in storage at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center. Base: Luke Air Force Base State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Photograph of Parked Military Airplane.

Visiting Meteor Mk Iii, British Jet Plane, At An Airfield In England. 4 August 1945.

Anefo photo collection. Command Marvo "Firefly IV" 97003. 28 April 1948

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Recordings military aviation. A Mitchell B-25 bomber on runway. January 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

Paris International Air Show 1953. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

First photograph to be released of the new de Havilland DH 113 Vampire night-fighter. This two-seater version of the most widely adopted jet fighter in the world fills an urgent need and lifts night fighter performance into the speeds and altitudes of tomorrow's tactical requirements. October 21, 1949. (Photo by De Havilland Photograph).;First photograph to be released of the new de Havilland DH 113 Vampire night-fighter. This two-seater version of the most widely adopted jet fighter in the worl

General Douglas Macarthur'S C-54 'Bataan'. This Picture Was Made On Yontan Airstrip When The General Was Visiting 10Th Army Hdqs. Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto. 27 July 1945.

Vintage photograph. A-20, equipped with rockets to shorten takeoff run at Wright field

American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service, 1939-1945- Beech Model 18 Expediter. Expediter Mark II, HB275, of No. 231 Group Communications Flight based at Alipore, India, in flight over Burma.

Philippine Islands-The two-year-old daughter of a pathologist, whose family was evacuated just before the Jap arrival, is lifted into a Catalina plane of the 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron which operated under the 5th Air Force.

Anefo photo collection. Brequet Atlantique (pastor of the Lockheed Orion) during flight. 27 August 1982

The U.S. Navy's Fighting Force Above The Sea -- The Curtiss "Seagull" (S03C) scouting plane is one of the latest in its field. It can be equipped with floats or wheels. November 16, 1942.

The North American P-51 "Tar Heel" Parked Beside The Taxi Strip At The 91St Bomb Group Base In Bassingbourne, England. Note The Auxiliary Fuel Tanks Under Each Wing.

Type 96 - Mitsubishi - Heavy Bomber (Naval Air Service), Span 82'-0", Length 54'-0", Height 12'-6", Serial 37. December 27, 1941.

RAF Bomber Command Vickers Wellington Mk IA, L7779, 'LF-P' of No. No. 37 Squadron in flight, June 1940.

Photograph of Airplane on Display.

Trans-Sonic Jet Trainer -- With Test Pilot Ray Morris at the controls, North American Aviation's modified trans-sonic jet trainer recently made its first successful test flight. Designed for advance pilot training in high-speed flight, gunnery and dive bombing, this swift, two-seat jet trainer is a modified version of the U.S. Air Force's Korea-famed F-86 Sabre Jet. The trainer is rated in the 650-mile-per-hour class, has a maximum service ceiling of 45,000 feet and a combat radius of more than 600 statute miles. It is powered by a General Electric J-47-GE-27 turbojet engine with thrust exceeding 5,800 pounds. August 17, 1954. (Photo by North American Aviation, Inc.).

Artwork: "Junkers 87" Artist: W. Fritz Junghans. Country: Unknown

Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Short Sunderland Mark I, T9050 Y, of No. 230 Squadron RAF based at Aboukir, Egypt, taxying to its take-off point in Aboukir Bay. T9050 was later wrecked when it crashed on landing in Aboukir Bay on 30 September 1941.

At a field near Karachi, India, Noorduyn C-64's taxi out onto the strip to take off on a flight to the field at Lalaghat, India. 1st Air Commando Force.

The Hawker FGA-50 Seahawk (beam) yacht plane with registration 67 (1958-1964) of the Marine Aviation Service (MLD) will land at the aircraft deck of the aircraft camp hr.ms. Karel Doorman (R 81, ex-venerable) in 1958. The brake hook on the tail of the hunter and the brake cables on the flight deck can be seen well.

Wingless Aeroplane, with four conical spindles instead of wings, designed by 2. C. popper, designing engineer, at Roosvelt field, & is to he tested shortly. July 12, 1932. (Photo by Keystone View Company).;Wingless Aeroplane, with four conical spindles instead of wings, designed by 2. C. popper, designing engineer, at Roosvelt field, & is to he tested shortly.

German Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 52 bombers flying over Nuremberg, Germany, 1936. Artist: Unknown

S. O. - 4050 Vautour Aircraft. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Royal Air Force Flying Training Command, 1940-1945. Miles Master Mark II, W8729 '7', of the Empire Central Flying School, coming in to land over a taxying Hawker Hurricane at Hullavington, Wiltshire, with flaps fully lowered. The instructor in the rear cockpit has raised his seat above the canopy level in order to observe his pupil's approach.

A new method of attaching experimental research aircraft to mother ships is shown here at Bell Aircraft Corp.'s Niagara Falls plant. The B-29 mother ship is raised on hydraulic hoists and, in this instance, the Bell X-1A is moved under the B-29 to be attached to the fuselage of the four-engine plane. Previous Bell X-1 airplanes were attached from a pit beneath the mother airplane. April 10, 1953. (Photo by Bell Aircraft Corporation).

The U.S. Air Force AC-47 Dragon aircraft flies missions over South Vietnam in support of allied outposts. Base: Saigon Country: Viet Nam (VNM)

Consolidated Vultees' new Liberator Liner. December 1, 1944.

Anefo photo collection. Tour of Prince Bernhard by West Netherlands. An airplane with which Prince Bernhard will leave. June 29, 1945

Paris International Air Show 1953. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

DN-ST-86-11096. Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

A Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" (A/C No.25178 Of The 91St Bomb Group Takes Off From Bassingbourne, England On Its First Mission Using The New External Bomb Racks. 16 September 1943.

Vintage Motor Cars for Industrial Fair (a Peugeot Valentigney, 1896; Gladiator, 1901; and Oldsmobile, 1901). Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

High angle view of fighter plane in flight, P-38 Lightning, c. 1944-1945

Aircraft, Burma, India & INDIA,Transportation War

American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- Douglas Dakota. Dakota Mark III, FD867, of British Overseas Airways Corporation, overflying the BOAC base at Whitchurch, Hampshire. The aircraft was given the civilian registration G-AHGJ.

Vintage photograph. F-84E built by Republic Aviation Company for the US Air Force in flight

Vintage photograph. Three Grumman Hellcats, officially known as F-6-F, in flight

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

This R.A.A.F. Sunderland Flying Boat will give flights Third Victory Loan investors of £100 or more next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Investments will be received at Rose Bay base from 1 p.m. on each of the three days. April 30, 1945.

Edinburgh to Farnbrough, Hants - 333 miles - in less than twenty-eight minutes. That was how long it took an RAF Hawker Hunter jet fighter yesterday. At the controls was Squadron Leader Roger Topp, 32, who flew at an average speed of 717 m.p.h. His time was 27m. 46s. On ***** set an unofficial record of 29m. 33s. for the trip from Farnbrough to Edinburgh.Squadron Leader ***** in the fighter in which he later made his record flight. August 09, 1955.

Republic P-47 Arrives At Meeks Field, Iceland. 2Nd Service Group, 9 August 1943. Handwritten: Poss 1St (Or Tst) Fighter Transatlantic Ferry Flight.

Air Ministry Second World War Official Collection AWM Caption: Pembroke Dock, Wales. A Short Sunderland flying-boat of Coastal Command sets out on patrol. This particular aircraft is flown by No. 10 Squadron, RAAF, operating with the coastal command. The squadron is on the 9,000 flying mark during its sixteen months operational duty in the United Kingdom.

America Putting Biggest Airliner Into Service -- This is the first flight picture of the new Lockheed Super Constellation, largest aircraft to enter commercial service. It costs over £500,000 and will be going into service this year.Although not the heaviest liner, it will carry more people than any commercial plane at present in operation. Its record 744 square feet of floor space will accommodate up to 110 passenger ***** The Super Constellation *****. A Super-Constellation similar to the one which crashed into the sea 500 miles west of Ireland on Sunday night with 76 people aboard. August 22, 1951. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

First New British (Plane of the war). -- The new Marendaz Trainer in Flight. The new Marendaz Trainer is the first new British aeroplane of the war era. The machine, a two-seater trainer has been designed for bringing up pupils on a type of machine which will represent the larger and upon to fly later. The new Marendaz Trainer in Flight. December 4, 1939. (Photo by London News Agency Photo).;First New British (Plane of the war). -- The new Marendaz Trainer in Flight. The new Marendaz Trainer is

U. S. Thunderjets Arrive at Rheims/MDAP. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

DN-SN-90-04255. Country: Unknown

F11F Airplane

DN-SN-86-00831. Country: Unknown

Servicing Grumman Widgeon N703 after patrol flight Sand Point, Alaska. Subjects: Jim King Collection; Transportation; Aircraft; Amphibious vehicles; Alaska. . 1998 - 2011.

New Beech ***** Ordered by U.S. Air Force -- The Beech designed USAF T-34A primary trainer has been ordered into sustained and quantity production in the United States and Canada fro the U.S. Air Force.Letter contracts have been issued by the Air Force to Beech Aircraft Corporation, Wichita, Kansas, and to Beechcraft's Canadian licensee, the Canadian Car and Foundry Company, Fort William, Ontario. The number of aircraft to built under each contract was not announced, nor was the annual rate of production given inasmuch as such information is classified. March 5, 1953. (Photo by Beech Aircraft Corporation).

AIRPLANES

A demonstration single-engine takeoff with Jato (jet-assisted takeoff) is shown here by an Ethiopian Air Lines Convair-Liner in San Diego, California. Ethiopian is the first airline to install Jato as standard equipment. Although the Consolidated Vultee-built transports can take off fully loaded with one engine, Ethiopian has equipped its two Convair-Liners with Jato as a safety precaution when operating from high-altitude airports. The airport at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is at an elevation of 7700 feet. One Jato bottle, weighing about 200 pounds, is normally carried. The tremendous thrust lasts for 14 seconds. December 22, 1950. (Photo by Vultee Aircraft Corporation).

Anefo photo collection. Schiphol Aircraft Mission Tail. December 10, 1950. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Westland Whirlwind. Whirlwind Mark I, P6984 HE-H, of No. 263 Squadron RAF on the ground at Exeter, Devon.

North Africa-This JU 52 carrier, used for ferrying reinforcements, was having its engines overhauled when the Allied forces recaptured Tobruk in the last offensive there. Tobruk changed hands so quickly, the Germans had no time to destroy the plane

3 Among the Navy's top carrier fighters is the: "Cutlass". March 6, 1952. (Photo by Look Magazine).;3 Among the Navy's top carrier fighters is the: "Cutlass".

The 1st thunderjet landing after dark at Williamtown piloted by Col. HM McCllelland. May 18, 1955. (Photo by Frank Albert Charles Burke/Fairfax Media).

176I - Percival Prentice Trainer. February 15, 1949. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Anefo photo collection. National Aviation Day on Soesterberg (boy in jet engine). April 1, 1959. Soesterberg

Airplane running on runway, Cessna Executive

North American P-51's in...

Hr.Ms fly camp vessel. Karel Doorman (2) (1948-1968), American Grumman Twin Sentinels A / B during Journey of Smaleel 5, consisting of Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman, Gelderland, Amsterdam and Sea Lion, to Lounyport, Key West, Tampa, Netherlands Antilles, Guantanamo and Bermuda

Jet Speed At Troops Eye Level -- First in-flight formation photograph of the U. S. Air Force's two experimental Martin XB-51 ground support bombers, pre-views the infrantryman's view of these airplanes. Both the sleek bombers are well along in testing by Air Force and Martin pilots. Details ***** and armament innovations are closely guarded secrets, ***** Air Force has revealed that top speeds of the highly advanced ***** are extremely high. Built by The Glenn L. Martin Company, ***** for the Air Force, the XB-51, first postwar airplane specifically ***** for ground support purpose, is operated by a crew of two -- pilot and radio operator-navigator. October 23, 1950. (Photo by The Glenn L. Martin Company)

New Air-Liners..- MC-20 airliners.Newly-designed all Japan made, MC-20 type-long-distance airliners have been completed by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Co. and they were on display to public this morning. September 20, 1940. (Photo by The Domie News Photos Service).

Vintage photograph. Convair RB - 36D reconnaissance bomber

Captured German Ju-88 At A 353Rd Fighter Group Base In England.

Aircraft S 18 marked number 29 Aircraft S 18 marked number 29 Related F 11 Skavsta stands on an airfield.

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Miles M.9b/m.19 Master. Master Mark III, W8825 43, of No. 5 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit based at Ternhill, Shropshire, in flight.

Vertol 76 Tilt Wing VTOL. Photographed 9/13/1960. Photograph published in Sixty Years of Aeronautical Research 1917-1977 By David A. Anderton, A NASA publication, Page 62.

American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service- Consolidated Model 32 Liberator. Liberator C Mark I, AL578 'Marco Polo', of No. 45 (Atlantic Transport) Group, on the ground at Lyneham, Wiltshire. This long-serving aircraft is seen in Transport Command's post-war finish, consisting of overall polished bare-metal surfaces, with the serial number painted under each wing and the aircraft callsign displayed on the nose.

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