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AIR FORCE PHOTOS

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Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

1940's -- P-47 Thunderbolt flies its first combat mission--a sweep over Western Europe. Used as both a high-altitude escort fighter and a low-level fighter-bomber, the P-47 quickly gained a reputation for ruggedness. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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C-47

1940's -- Douglas C-47 "Skytrains", 12th Air Force Troop Carrier Wing, loaded with paratroopers on their way for the invasion of southern France, 15 August 1944. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Nagasaki

1940's -- Smoke billows up over Nagasaki, Japan after bombing by atomic bomb on 9 August 1945. Two planes of the 509th Composite Group, part of the 313th Wing of the 20th Air Force, participated in this mission; one to carry the bomb, the other to act as escort. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Hiroshima

1940's -- ATOMIC BURST. At the time this photo was made, smoke billowed 20,000 feet above Hiroshima while smoke from the burst of the first atomic bomb had spread over 10,000 feet on the target at the base of the rising column. August 5, 1945. Two planes of the 509th Composite Group, part of the 313th Wing of the 20th Air Force, participated in this mission; one to carry the bomb, and the other to act as escort. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Crew of the B-29

1940's -- The ground crew of the B-29 "Enola Gay" which atom-bombed Hiroshima, Japan. Col. Paul W. Tibbets, the pilot is the center. Marianas Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Memphis Belle

1940s -- The crew of the B-17 "Memphis Belle" back from its 25th operational mission. All of the crew hold the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. It all started with this Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. In all of its missions, there was only one casualty, a leg wound to the tail gunner, June 1943. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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P-51and "My Girl"

1940's -- A North American P-51 takes off from Iwo Jima, in the Bonin Islands. From this hard-won base our fighters escorted the B-29s on bombing missions to Japan, and also attacked the Empire on their own. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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OPERATION VITTLES, and children

"OPERATION VITTLES" (Berlin Airlift) -- Berlin youngsters who live near the Tempelhof Air Force Base, where the U.S. Air Force transport planes unload their airlift supplies, play at a game called "Luftbrucke" (air bridge). They use model American planes which are sold in German toy shops throughout the western sector of Berlin. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Vittles flight, C-7

Rhein Main Air Force Base, Frankfurt, Germany -- The last Vittles flight left Rhein Main Air Base on September 30, 1949 at 1845 hours as sister planes of the airlift flew overhead in formation, marking the end of a dramatic chapter in air history. High-ranking USAFE officials, an Air Force Band, several airlift squadrons, Rhein Main civilians, wives and military personnel and a large scattering of the press were on hand to wave off this significant flight. C-7 (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Helen W. Snapp

1940's -- Helen W. Snapp (WASP), Washington, D.C., low-target Squadron, Camp Stewart, Georgia, June 1944. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Chuck Yeager

1940's -- Chuck Yeager standing in front of the Bell X-1, nicknamed "Glamorous Glennis," 1947. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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P-51D Mustang

The P-51 Mustang provided high-altitude escort to B-17s and B-24s. They scored heavily over German interceptors and by war's end, P-51s had destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft in the air, more than any other fighter.
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P-51D Mustangs

The P-51 Mustang began as the NA-73 in 1940 at Britain's request. The design showed promise and the Army Air Forces purchase of Allison-powered Mustangs began in 1941 primarily for photo reconnaissance and ground support use due to its limited high-altitude performance.
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AT-10

In 1940-41 the Beech Aircraft Company designed an advanced multi-engine trainer for ease and speed of manufacture on a large scale and named it the "Wichita."
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P-51D Mustang

The P-51 Mustang destroyed more enemy aircraft than any other fighter in Europe. In December 1943, Merlin-powered P-51Bs first entered combat over Europe. Providing high-altitude escort to B-17s and B-24s, they scored heavily over German interceptors.
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P-51

The P-51 Mustang began as the NA-73 in 1940 at Britain's request. The design showed promise and the Army Air Forces purchase of Allison-powered Mustangs began in 1941 primarily for photo reconnaissance and ground support use due to its limited high-altitude performance.
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Jacqueline Cochran

Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran held more speed, altitude and distance records than any other male or female pilot in aviation history at the time of her death Aug. 10, 1980.
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Major Bong

Maj. Richard Bong was the highest-scoring U.S. ace of any war — the “Ace of Aces.”
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Major Bong

Maj. Richard Bong is the highest-scoring U.S. ace of any war — the “Ace of Aces.”
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X-1

1940's -- X-1
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