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Bombers of WW2


Close Call by Roy Grinnell
 

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A glimpse at World War Two through the eyes of the Bombers

1939

Stuka by Robert Taylor
"Stuka" by Robert Taylor


September 1st, 1939. At 0426 hours Stukas like these took off toward poland to fly the bombing mission that would mark the beginning of WW2.

 

Henschel hs123 by JJ Boucher
Hs123 by Jerry Boucher

 

Dutch Fokker CX
Fokker CX

Dutch Fokker CX Fighter / Dive Bomber. Built under licence by Finland


Blenheim 1
Blenheim 1

Check out this Blenheim with skis. This was used by the fins during the 'Winter War' against the Russians. The facts surrounding Finland's roll in WWII make for some great reading to say the least. If  you're into this sort of thing I recommend you check it out.

 

Bristol Blenheim
Blenheim 1

The Bristol Blenheim Bomber was used heavily at the beginning of the war but fell out of favor and was practically phased out by the end of it

 

Junkers Ju88 A-4 by Shigeo Koike
Junkers Ju-88 A-4 by Shigeo Koike

 

"It is May 1940: We take off every morning with fighter escort. Regular bombing missions - Rotterdam, Metz, Brussels, and a dozen other targets. Every time I work the bomb release, I silently say a little phrase to those below "greetings from the fatherland" It amuses me greatly. I doubt that those below are amused. But surely interested."- Hans Prenger

 

Avro Anson
Avro Anson

The Avro Anson was pretty much outdated by the time the war really got going but continued to perform various duties. This is a picture of an Anson in the service of the Finnish Air force about 1940

 

ARADO AR 196
Arado Ar-196

The Arado AR 196. A 2 seat maritime patrol aircraft. Is this a bomber? Well, it had a rack under each wing for one 110lb (50kg) bomb. It was used throughout the war

 

"Late May 1940: Today, Amsterdam. Very low-level bombing. People running around with baby carriages in the streets. Many pedal bicycles. We strafe after dropping our bombs. It is very exhilarating. They learn they cannot escape from us. This will teach them what it means to attack the German people." - Hans Prenger

 

Swordfish Attack by Robert Taylor
"Swordfish Attack" by Robert Taylor


On November 11th 1940, a group of 21 slow and outdated Swordfish biplanes of the FFA (Fleet Air Arm) pulled off a daring attack that crippled the Italian fleet in the heavily defended port of Taranto. The success of this mission may have encouraged the Japanese to attempt a similar attack on Pearl Harbor a year later.

 

Bf-110 by Jerry Boucher
Bf-110 by Jerry Boucher

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The Battle of Britain

"What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad sunlit uplands. But, if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and it's Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say "This was their finest hour".             ...   Winston Churchill

 

Assault on the Capitol by Robert Taylor
"Assault on the Capitol" by Robert Taylor


From July 10th to October 31st 1940 the fate of Britain, Europe and quite possibly the entire free world, rested in the hands of the men who fought for control of the English skies. The Germans who outnumbered the British (et al) in everything at the time, needed air supremacy to launch their invasion of England. The British, of course, were fighting for their lives, and in many people's point of view, the life of the free world, because without England secure, would the Allies be able to stop the Nazi machine?
After the Battle, Winston Churchill gave a speech in the House of Commons. The end of which was: "...The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire, and indeed, throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen, who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"  Hear it here

 

Hurricane on my Tail by Stan Stokes
"Hurricane On My Tail" by Stan Stokes

It's not looking good for this He111 over the Cliffs of Dover during the Battle of Britain

On October 25th 1940, in the last week of the BoB a Beaufighter recorded its first night victory


"Double Trouble" by Stan Stokes
"Double Trouble" by Stan Stokes


An RAF Beaufighter piloted by Group Captain John "Cats-Eyes" Cunningham (left) downs a Ju-88 bomber. Cunningham was the RAF's top night fighter ace. He and his radar operator Jimmy Rawnsley, were credited with 20 victories, 19 of them at night.

They served with No. 604 Squadron which had both a day and night fighter capability. The squadron's night fighting proficiency rose dramatically from late 1940 through mid 1941. By 1943 the Beaufighters were replaced with the faster Mosquitoes. Although built primarily as a long range fighter using as many Beaufort torpedo bomber parts as possible, the Beaufighter served with distinction in many air and sea bombing roles

 

"The Brits Get Burned" by Stan Stokes
"The Brits Get Burned" by Stan Stokes

 


"Bismarck Into Battle" by Mark Postlethwaite

1945 hours May 21st 1941. Bismarck leaves Grimstadfjord in Norway, she is escorted by Messerschmitt Bf-110's of II/ZG 76 based at nearby Herdla

 

"Sink the Bismarck" by Stan Stokes
"Sink the Bismarck" by Stan Stokes

The next week would prove very eventful for the crew of the Bismarck engaging in several sea battles, one in which she sunk HMS Hood. In this scene Swordfishes from H.M.S. Ark Royal deliver torpedoes with little effect. One of more than 1000 direct hits the Bismarck would eventually take before finally going down after a long fighting chase that ended with a fierce battle on the morning of May 27th

 

"Most Memorable Day" by Robert Taylor
"Most Memorable Day" by Robert Taylor


Galland Blowing Away Blenheims

June 21st 1941, Adolf Galland’s ‘Most Memorable Day.’ Galland has just powering his Me109 through the leading formation of Blenheims, raking the lead aircraft with cannon fire. In the background a dogfight is developing between the 109s of  JG-26 and the Spitfires of 303 Squadron.

"My most memorable combat occurred on June 21, 1941, with JG-26 in Northern France. At about noon I took off from Audembert with my ‘Staff’ Squadron to intercept a formation of Blenheim bombers with about 50 escort fighters heading for the Luftwaffe airfield at St.Omer-Wizernes. Intercepting the formation near Dunkirk, in a single pass I shot first at a Spitfire without seeing the result, and then a Blenheim which was quickly finished. After diving steeply I shot down a second Blenheim in flames, and saw two crew escape by parachute. This was my 69th victory. I was then set upon by several Spitfires, receiving severe hits in the engine, which began to smoke, and I switched off immediately. Luckily, Calais-Merk was within gliding distance and I belly-landed there. My number two, Bruno Hegenauer, had been shot down in the combat, and bailed out without injury. In the afternoon I foolishly took off alone to intercept a second incursion north of Boulogne. Before joining up with my squadrons I sighted a Spitfire formation below and attacked a single aircraft, shooting at very close range. It promptly exploded. Unprotected from the rear, my Me109 received hits from a second Spitfire. I got splinters in my head and arm, and with fuel burning in the cockpit, was forced to bail out. I was unable to jettison the canopy and, trying to climb out with it hanging open, my parachute became caught in the rear section. Flames were now blowing over me and just as I was about to take off my chute, somehow the radio mast saved me and I was out. After some treatment, relaxing over a glass of brandy and a cigar, I learned I had been awarded Swords to the Knight’s Cross – and an order directly from Hitler forbidding me to fly any more combat missions for the time being."
                              -- Written by General Adolf Galland in 1991 for the publishers of  ‘Most Memorable Day’

 

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 by Jerry Boucher
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 by Jerry Boucher

"The most important Italian bomber of WW2"

 

Potez 631 by Marrii Chernev
Potez 631by Marii Chernev

Potez 631 of the Armee de l'Air flies over the Channel, Summer 1941

 

Hans Rudel in Action on the Russian Front late 1941
"Sirens of Death" by Stan Stokes

In this scene German Super Soldier Hans Rudel is depicted attacking an armored column on the Russian front in the later half of 1941. Stuka pilots could turn on a siren that would ad a psychological weapon to the already heavily armed machine. Can you imagine what it must have been like, dive bombing in a stuka? Screaming straight down towards earth at hundreds of miles an hour. Think of the fastest, scariest roller-coaster you've ever been on, and know, it doesn't even come close.

 

Hadley-Page Hampden bombers by Marii Chernev
Hampden Bombers by Marii Chernev

Hadley-Page Hampden Bombers on a strike against a German shipping convoy off the coast of Norway, Fall 1941

 


"They Fought With What They Had" by John Shaw

Late November 1941, Clark Field, Philippine Islands. Poorly equipped crews of the 19th Bomb Group prepare their B-17s for the day's practice missions, unaware that in a few days, Clark Field and other nearby U.S. bases would be savaged by enemy surprise attacks ...


December 7th 1941

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----- Group Captain John "Cats-Eyes" Cunningham -----

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