Stunning Aerial Combat Photos

Hi Dave,

The B-17 photo the plane took a direct hit from an 88 crash landed at a RAF base.

The B-24 with the Waist Position a flame. Their is a seroius of this plane taken by the plane next to it. You will be happy to know all the crew manage to get out of her before she blew up.

The over flight shot is in Japan, I’ve seen another version of this photo else were.

Dave. I didn’t realise I had used the euphemism “lost”. I mean’t “killed or missing in action”. Missing being especially hard on the relatives. Where do you go to mourn? As I can see from the thread, this is a mature forum, that clearly has devoted much of their historical research to honour the brave (and very young!)aircrews of the second World War. Many of whome paid the highest price.

In fact there was a huge problem with “lost” (navigation-wise) aircraft. Twenty years ago I found a small book in the Danish Air Force library written by a Canadian? controller that helped set up a Rescue and Recovery Organisation in the UK in WWII: They could see wandering bombers returning – but lost. A system with searchlights through the fog/low clouds pointing to airfields were set up. (And Master diversion airfields?) Later Mosquitos as you mentioned? The FIDO system must also be mentioned. I wonder if I could find that book again?

Best regards

Wow, Dave…after seeing these pictures…it left me speechless.

The thought that there were real people about to die makes me respect the people that gave their lives to ensure our ongoing freedom just all that much more.

As said before,we see a lot of the “glamorous” side of warbirds and too often this side is overlooked and ignored but a very real part of the whole equation that was day to day for these brave souls.

As Dave said, I also will be going to the dawn ANZAC parade to remember those gallant soldiers who allowed to live our comfortable lives that we often take for granted.

We will not forget.

Chris

Originally posted by atc pal
Also give a thought to the many, many aircrew lost in the darkness – hardly ever photographed.

Best regards

Yes, many became lost in the darkness, but the RAF had a brilliant scheme for when this happened. I interviewed Ron Watts, former Commander of the secretive 488 (NZ) Sqn who flew Mossie night fighters. If a plane became lost,the standard thing to do was fly one mile north, one mile east, one mile south, one mile west, and continue this box. The RAF radar operators would pick it up, and they’d vector in a Mossie from 488 or another nf unit. They would then guide them back. Apparently the bomber crews were always jubilant to see the Mossie arrive on their wing. You can imagine it.

As for the other comments here, I agree with you all. I’m glad that everyone has seen these awful images as i see them. Very moving.

As for few combat photos of RAF bombers, I don’t think flashlights were that good in those days. They were usually in pitch black, not even a moon if they could help it.

Ditto.
The photographs say it all.
Der

Very confronting and humbling photos, Dave. They definately made me think for a moment or two.

Thanks for posting them.

There is a “fliers grave” just south of here, we help maintain.

One moving part was the Australian twin brother of one of the crew, who wished to be buried next to his brother. This happened in 1991.

http://www.skarrild.dk/foreninger/lokalarkiv/flyvergrav/flyvergraven_eng.html

Best regards

Also give a thought to the many, many aircrew lost in the darkness – hardly ever photographed.

Best regards

Thanks Dave.

The photos are moving. But as they are part of history, it is sometimes necessary to be reminded to those few. We should learn from the history.

To those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

It seems that there are more USAAF aerial pictures than RAF out there. What was the reason for that? Did the RAF crews not take cameras? Part of it has to be that they did a lot of night bombing but is that the only reason? Just curious.

I feel that photos such as those shown earlier in this thread are important – Too often photos such as these are not shown as people feel that they are too terrible to be shown. I feel the opposite, it is important to show them to demonstrate just how awful war can be.

Yes, they do typically show the last few terrified moments of life of those in the aircraft in question, but to ignore them, or to pretend that they don’t exist would be wrong in my opinion.

I agree also that we must be careful where images such as these are used.

Trying to imagine what must have been going through the minds of those aboard the aircraft in the photos has brought a lump to my throat and has made me feel ill. I’m happier feeling that though than feeling nothing.

Andy

Very moving photos

the Havoc photo:- A-20J 43-10129, 416th bomb group based at weathersfield, Essex. Hit by flack in the fuel tanks over France 12th May 1944.

The B-24 i belive was hit by bombs from the aircraft that took the photo although i hope im wrong on that one.

I’ve seen the Havoc one before… Could be fuel burning from a split tank…?

Are they all authentic? The Havoc and the Marauder both seem ‘wrong’. What’s burning in the Havoc fuselage for example?

As far as I’m aware they are genuine. I cannot say for sure but I would think they are all untampered with.

Its certainly worth reflecting on the loss of young lives – many of the planes here were designed to kill or destroy. Inspite of that…

Are they all authentic? The Havoc and the Marauder both seem ‘wrong’. What’s burning in the Havoc fuselage for example?

I recall reading that some of the crew of nose-less B17 survived.

Well said, Dave.

I totally agree with you guys, most of these photos are macabre, poignant, fascinating, devastating and frightening.

I hope that none of you come away from this forum thinking I posted these as a joke or a bit of a laugh. Not at all. I did not mean any disrespect to the brave airman who were involved, and I hoped that these photos might make us all stop and think about the sacrifices made by the many thousands who died, whatever nation they were from.

I could have posted more, but honestly when I began to look at them all together and quite large on this thread, I began to feel a bit ill. Hence my last post, which says Lest We Forget.

I will be thinking about these photos and many other sacrifices made by our veterans in both wars on Friday when I’m selling red poppies for the Returned Services Association, which is an annual fundraiser for veterans done on the Friday before ANZAC Day – NZ’s day of remembrance.

Originally posted by Robbo
These would be fascinating, but for the fact that they represent someone’s last, terrified moments.

I do agree, but at the same time these shots are part of the historical record. I think we cannot ignore them, or try to airbrush them out but one has to be very careful how they are used – it’s all too easy to get into the sleazy, voyeuristic, “World’s Worst..” cast of mind that seems to permate our TV channels constantly these days.

If anything good can come from them, then at least they remind us of the futility that is war and the respect that is due to those that served.

I quite agree they do represent someone’s last few moments but they are here and I think they have been posted with respect and not gratuity.

They are a mere snapshot in time and what’s to say that some of the photos of the soldiers fighting on the ground or sailors on deck aren’t their last moment before they were killed. Its just we can see these moments and as we know that they were in the aircraft with very little or no chance of surviving?

We will remember them.

OAW

These have a very macabre air about them, I’m not sure that I like them. As Robbo says they do represent someones last moments on this earth and the terror that they are experiencing is beyond comprehension.
So whilst they are historically a very accurate and graphic record of what really happened they should not be viewed lightly and without real respect.
I depends how adult and respectful we can all be I suppose.