Bf 109 of JG 54 on the Eastern Front

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 Werknummer 16xxx or 18xxx "Schwarze 4" ("N?+??") of 2.Staffel / I.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54) "Grünherz" on the Eastern Front, Summer 1943. The picture was taken by Kriegsberichter Michael Sobotta.

Source :
https://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2009/12/luftwaffe-colour.html
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=8996094540477279&set=gm.2345884138930329&idorvanity=237076659811098

Panzergrenadier in Action

The mechanization of war gave rise to a new branch of troops: the Panzergrenadiers. Initially traveling on trucks or the main battle tanks and later equipped with their own half-track vehicles, they secured the conquered terrain and supported the main battle tanks: grenadiers and tanks complemented each other, and one was never happy to be in battle without the other.

Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html

Luftwaffe Generals after Captured (Video)

Original color World War II footage about high ranking Germans in captivity, including: Generalleutnant Adolf Galland (00:05), General der Flieger Hans-Georg von Seidel and Generalingenieur Dipl.-Ing. Rudolf Spies (02:53), General der Flieger Karl-Heinrich Bodenschatz (04:30), Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring (06:10), and Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring (07:00).

Source :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmaH77bGS4I

Canadian Soldiers with M1928 Thompson

The propaganda photograph above dates from the summer of 1943 and shows a pair of Canadian troops from the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps training in the UK. A private and a sergeant both have M1928 Thompsons, their weapons are unloaded and both have been equipped with webbing slings. The Thompson in the foreground has lost its forward sling swivel and the sling has been looped around the submachine gun’s barrel near the end of the cooling fins. Both soldiers are wearing battledress and have the 1937 Pattern webbing gear, and a matching pair of excellent pencil moustaches. The M1928 Thompson was adopted by the British Army in 1940, with over 300,000 being ordered via the British Purchasing Commission in the US. Only approximately 100,000 of those orders arrived, however, and the British adopted the indigenously made Sten in March 1941. The Thompson remained in service, however, and was extensively used by British and Commonwealth troops in North Africa, Italy, France and the Far East. They were especially well liked by Commando units, who refused to give them up when it was planned to issue Sten guns. The Thompson became a prominent feature in Britain’s propaganda with the first guns to arrive often moved between units which appeared in newsreels and print articles to give the impression of widespread issue.

Source :
https://www.historicalfirearms.info/post/158684164594/in-action-thompson-m1928-the-propaganda

British Soldier with a M1928 Thompson

British soldier aiming machine gun, possibly during training. The MG is a M1928 Thompson with a drum mag, quite rare sight for the Brits! During World War Two (1939-1945), the Thompson was favored by British soldiers for its reliabilty, compactness, large .45 ACP bullet, and high volume of automatic fire. This M1928A1 is fitted with a 50-round drum magazine, but these were rarely used in combat situations because of their tendency to rattle. Most Thompson's were fitted with box magazines during the war. The drum magazine Thompson became infamous during the Prohibition era in America (1920-1933) as the gun most favoured by gangsters!

Source :
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1965-10-89-1
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=9162613050492093&set=gm.2363679020484174&idorvanity=237076659811098

Bio of U-Boat Captain Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann (1917-2010)

U-boat commander Oberleutnant zur See Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann with his submarine U 137 of the type II-D, which served as a training boat, in the spring/summer of 1941 in Danzig harbor. Born on June 25, 1917 in Kiel, he was taken prisoner of war after his boat U 409 was sunk in the Mediterranean in July 1943, from which he was released on February 27, 1948. Massmann died on October 2, 2010 in Bremen. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger.

Hanns-Ferdinand Massmann

Date of Birth: 25.06.1917 - Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein (German Empire)
Date of Death: 02.12.2010 - Bremen (Germany)

Promotions:
03.04.1936 Offiziersanwärter
10.09.1936 Seekadett
01.05.1937 Fähnrich zur See
01.07.1938 Oberfähnrich zur See
01.10.1938 Leutnant zur See
01.10.1940 Oberleutnant zur See
01.08.1943 Kapitänleutnant

Career:
03.04.1936 Entered the Kriegsmarine as Offiziersanwärter (Crew 36)
03.04.1936 - 13.06.1936 Basic training at the II. Schiffsstammabteilung der Ostsee in Stralsund
14.06.1936 - 21.09.1936 On-board training at the sailing training ship GORCH FOCK.
22.09.1936 - 29.04.1937  On-board training at the training ship SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.
30.04.1937 - 27.11.1937 Main course for ensigns with subsequent officer main examination at the Marineschule Flensburg-Mürwik
28.11.1937 - 02.04.1938 Fähnrichslehrgänge (Ensign courses)
03.04.1938 - 02.04.1939 Not determined
03.04.1939 - 00.01.1940 Zugoffizier (Platoon Officer) in the 7. Schiffsstammabteilung in Stralsund
00.01.1940 - 00.01.1940 Adjutant beim Befehlshaber der U-Boote in Kiel
00.01.1940 - 00.05.1940 Wachoffizier in U 17
05.06.1940 - 14.06.1940 Construction instructions for U 137 at the U-Boote Ostsee in Kiel
15.06.1940 - 14.12.1940 I. Wachoffizier in U 137
15.12.1940 - 07.12.1941 Kommandant U 137
08.12.1941 - 20.01.1942 Construction instruction for U 409 at 7. Kriegsschiffbaulehrabteilung Danzig
21.01.1942 - 12.07.1943 Kommandant U 409
12.07.1943 - 27.02.1948 After the loss of U 409 in the Mediterranean sea northeast of Algiers, he was taken prisoner of war
12.07.1943 - 27.02.1948 POW in England

Awards and Decorations:
08.03.1940 U-Bootskriegsabzeichen 1939
00.04.1940 Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse
00.09.1940 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
00.04.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse

Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Ferdinand Massmann

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/hitler-jaeger-file/5AGL8Mq8csRg6A?hl=en&ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A8.694963005207958%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A2.976126926214648%2C%22height%22%3A1.2375%7D%7D
https://uboat.net/men/commanders/791.html
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/Hanns-Ferdinand_Massmann
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html

Bio of Ritterkreuzträger Rudolf Krüger

Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Krüger (Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 32 / 24.Infanterie-Division) during home leave in Germany, a couple of days after he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, October 1941.

Rudolf Krüger (4 November 1911 - 28 October 1972) received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 5 October 1941 as Oberfeldwebel and Zugführer in 6.Kompanie / II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 32 / 24.Infanterie-Division. The following newspaper excerpt (dated 11 October 1941) describes why Krüger received the Ritterkreuz:

“On 18 August 1941 the Bataillon of Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Krüger was among the units involved in the attack against the enemy bridgehead at Cherkassy. On this day it crossed the Irdyn river/swampland at a point north of the Budki brickyard (located west of Smela) in order to establish a bridgehead. Meanwhile the right neighbouring Bataillon was tasked with carrying out a similar objective 1.5 km to the east.

Oberfeldwebel Rudolf Krüger’s mission for this day was to establish contact with the right neighbouring Bataillon with his Zug. Such an objective was an unenviable one, as fulfilling it required moving through a 1.5 km stretch of forest adjacent to the swamp, all while contending with both an unclear enemy situation and an open left flank.

While advancing through this forest Oberfeldwebel Krüger encountered strong enemy forces that had the support of both heavy weapons and built-up field positions. From these positions they had already successfully prevented the right neighbouring Bataillon from crossing the river/swamp at this location. Oberfeldwebel Krüger swiftly resolved to attack these Bolshevik positions, and he skillfully employed his Zug for a surprise strike into the flank and rear of these defenses. Within a short time he and his troops had eliminated 18 enemy resistance nests in close combat (including 1 anti-tank gun and 1 mortar position).

This bold deed by Oberfeldwebel Krüger spared his Bataillon many potential casualties that would otherwise have been incurred whilst expanding its own bridgehead, and by clearing the way for the right-neighbouring Bataillon it also paved the way for the Regiment to carry on with its general attack.”

Source :
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1970-018-54,_Rudolf_Kr%C3%BCger.jpg
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/79866/Kr%C3%BCger-Rudolf-Infanterie-Regiment-32.htm

Wehrmacht Light Field Howitzer

Large parts of the Wehrmacht were not motorized, but mounted. This was also the case for this artillery unit with a 10.5 cm leFH 18 leichte Feldhaubitze (10.5 cm light field howitzer 18). The gun was pulled by six horses, and the operating crew rode along on the Protze. The gun remained in use throughout the war, was continually improved and partly motorized. From 1935 to the end of the war, 11,848 were produced, along with 10,265 of the leFH 18/40 variant.

Source :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10.5_cm_leFH_18
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html

Luftwaffe Soldiers Inspecting T-34 Tank

Members of the Luftwaffe inspects a captured Russian T-34/76 medium tank. The enemy's vehicles were always of great interest. This tank in particular was a nasty surprise, as it was initially superior to the German combat vehicles. However, the open commander's hatch shown in the picture was a disadvantage because it was difficult to open and close and therefore did not have a good overview of the battle.

Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html

Wounded Japanese POWs in Guam

Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) resting in a quonset hut infirmary in a stockade, Guam, 1945. Except for one, they all appear to be turning away from camera or hiding their face. A Navy corpsman is tending to one POW in the right background.

Source :
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=9124816540938411&set=gm.2359832834202126&idorvanity=237076659811098

Wehrmacht MG Team

The Wehrmacht crew of a dug in MG nests secure the flank next to the advance route. It was only with a field mount that it possible to use the MG 34 as a heavy machine gun use and set the combat distance up to 1,200 meters to increase. The soldier in the middle shoot the targets according to the instructions of the Gruppenführer at right, while the soldier on the left takes care of the Ammunition feed. However, the withered camouflage should soon be renewed.

Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html

German Paratroopers Jump Out of a Junkers Ju-52 during Exercise

"Aus der Luft ins Gefecht" (From the air into combat). This is the principle of the Fallschirmjägertruppen. From a Junkers Ju 52 - nicknamed "Tante Ju" (Aunt Ju) - the men jump into action. The parachutes are deployed automatically, which can be seen by the pulling lines blowing backwards. It is also important when taking off that men jump off one after the other in order to land close to each other on the ground.

Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html

Bio of Panzer Commander Johannes Kümmel (1909-1944)

Johannes Kümmel was born in Coswig, Saxony on July 21st of 1909. He joined the Reichswehr in 1928 and quickly obtained a rank of Unteroffizer (Junior NCO). Kümmel remained in the military as the Reichswehr became the new Wehrmacht and in 1938 was transferred to the newly formed 8th Panzer Regiment of the 10th Panzer Division at Boblingen near Stuttgart, southwestern Germany. In 1939, he was promoted to the rank of Oberfeldwebel (First Sergeant) and received the command of panzer platoon in the 1st Company. He commanded the unit during the Polish Campaign and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on September 27th of 1939. Johannes Kümmel received the award as a recognition for taking part in numerous operation including knocking out three Polish light tanks (or probably tankettes). On October 20th of 1939, after the conclusion of the Polish Campaign, Kümmel was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class for knocking out four more enemy tanks during the campaign. Soon after, he was promoted to the rank of Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant).

On April 1st of 1940, Johannes Kümmel was promoted to the rank of Hauptmann (Captain) and received the command of the 1st Company of 8th Panzer Regiment. During the German offensive in the West of 1940, 10th Panzer Division was part of Guderian's XIX Panzer Corps, which broke through at Sedan, fought in the Low Countries and France, finally reaching the English Channel. Kümmel as the commander of the company remained at the frontlines and on June 5th of 1940, was slightly wounded when a mine blew up his tank.

After the defeat of France on June 25th of 1940, Germany was forced to help Italian ally in their unsuccessful struggle against the British in North Africa. On January 18th of 1941, 8th Panzer Regiment was transferred to the 15th Panzer Division (formed on February 1st of 1940). The division along with 5th Leichte (Panzer) Division formed new Deutsches Afrika Korps (German Africa Corps) commanded by Erwin Rommel, destined for Tripoli. On February 14th of 1941, leading elements 5th Leichte (Panzer) Division along with their commander Erwin Rommel landed in Tripoli and were joined in early May by 15th Panzer Division. Germans found Italians to be demoralized by the defeats inflicted upon them by British from May of 1940 during fighting in Cyrenaica (Operation Compass). The 8th Panzer Regiment had 20 Panzerkampfwagen IV, 71 Panzerkampfwagen III and 55 Panzerkampfwagen I, Panzerkampfwagen II and command tanks.

On June 15th of 1941, British under General Wavell launched Operation Battleaxe and again fighting took place in Cyrenaica. At Halfaya Pass, which has been converted to defensive strongpoint, Hauptmann Wilhelm Bach and his group held his position, while Italian Division Trento held area Sollum-Capuzzo-Bardia under the command of 15th Panzer Division. Johannes Kümmel and 8th Panzer Regiment with some 80 tanks were in reserve between Bardia and Capuzzo. British moved towards Capuzzo and Sollum, while attacking Bardia with 50 tanks from 7th Armored Division. The attack was temporarily halted by a single 88mm gun, which destroyed three leading enemy tanks. The rest of British tanks halted their attack to regroup and attack again under cover of smoke. This delay allowed the 8th Panzer Regiment to reach the area of Capuzzo and attack the enemy with the 1st Panzer Battalion including Kümmel's company with two short-barrel Panzerkampfwagen IV tanks. They soon knocked-out one British Matilda II and reinforced by company's Panzerkampfwagen III tanks continued to fire at the enemy armor. Fierce tank battle resulted and Johannes Kümmel found himself in the center of it all. During the battle, panzer commanded by Oberleutnant Peters was hit and he called Kümmel to ask for covering fire, while leaving their panzer. Johannes Kümmel soon found himself firing at two enemy tanks, which kept firing to finish off Peters' panzer. He soon knocked them out and regrouped his company to attack British anti-tank positions. German panzer destroyed the enemy positions and the battle soon involved the entire 8th Panzer Regiment. Then, another group of 20 British Matilda IIs were spotted on the flank and regiment's commander Hans Cramer ordered Johannes Kümmel to attack the enemy and protect the flank. With half of his company including two Panzerkampfwagen IV tanks, Kümmel soon knocked out eight enemy tanks, putting an end to the British attack. British advance was halted but both sides suffered heavy losses. Following the action, on June 18th, Kümmel received his nickname: "Der Löwe von Capuzzo" (The Lion of Capuzzo) and his tank was decorated with the "roaring lion" by his fellow soldiers. On July 9th of 1941, Kümmel was awarded the Knight's Cross following the recommendation by the commander of the 15th Panzer Division Generalleutnant Neumann-Silkow himself for his heroic action.

In May of 1942, Johannes Kümmel was given the command of 1st Panzer Battalion in time of the German offensive in Cyrenaica and into Egypt - Operation Theseus, which was launched on May 26th of 1942. On June 15th, Kümmel tanks reached the coast and by the evening took Port Piastrino. On June 21st of 1942, Tobruk garrison surrenders to Rommel's forces. Following the fall of Tobruk, three more offensive took place, two launched by the British to drive the Axis out of Egypt and Cyrenaica and one by the Germans to drive into Egypt. Before the last British offensive, on October 11th of 1942, Kümmel was awarded the Oakleaves to his Knight's Cross. In November of 1942, he was given the command of Panzer Battalion and on December 1st, received a promotion to the rank of Major. Following his promotion, Kümmel was transferred to Southern Italy.

Back, in Europe, Kümmel was promoted to the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) and was assigned at the Headquarters of XIV Panzer Corps under General Hans Valentin Hube in Southern Italy. In October of 1943, he received command of 26th Panzer Regiment of the 26th Panzer Division, which fought at Salerno and Cassino areas. On January 30th, Kümmel's regiment was part of the attacking force, which was to destroy the enemy landing at Anzio-Nettuno but failed. Second attack on the enemy forces was to take place on February 27th of 1944, but Kümmel didn't take part in as the day earlier he was killed in a road accident near Cisterna. On May 20th of 1944, Johannes Kümmel was posthumously promoted to the rank of Oberst (Colonel). In his memory, there was a plate erected in his hometown of Boblingen on April 7th of 1943, honoring Johannes Kümmel as the holder of Knight's Cross with Oakleaves.

 


Source :
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/gen13.htm

German Exchange POWs in Stuttgart

German exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) during welcoming ceremony in Stuttgart, summer of 1944. The Geneva Convention makes provision for the repatriation of all Prisoners of War, even during hostilities. During 1939-1945 it was only possible for the British and Germans to reach agreement over the seriously ill and disabled. For the majority of the 40,000 British servicemen who were taken prisoner in 1939 and 1940, the war was to be a very long and dispiriting experience. Negotiations, conducted through the Red Cross, over the repatriation of seriously wounded men, had begun in late 1940. They did not progress very far because there were far fewer German men in this category than British. It was only after substantial numbers of Germans were taken prisoner in the Desert campaign of 1942 that the talks resumed. The actual exchange of prisoners did not take place until October 1943. Other pictures from this series can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/history-research-third-reich-ww2/you-war-over-period-photos-german-pows-686919-76/

Afrikakorps Exchange POWs

Two German soldiers smiles to the camera. They were part of exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) who just returned from England. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger in Stuttgart, summer of 1944. Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en

Ritterkreuzträger Josef Stigler

Ritterkreuzträger Josef Stigler as a Major der Reserve. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 10 July 1942 as Oberleutnant d.R. and Führer II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 42 / 46.Infanterie-Division. He is one of the few Ritterkreuz recipients who was also the holder of the Blutorden (Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 9. November 1923). Stigler would ended the war as Gaustabsführer of the Volkssturm in Bayreuth, his birthplace.

Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html

SS Nord with Tent and White Camo in the Snow

The winter war in the far north brought many additional stresses to the fighting troops: cold, wet and months of darkness. However, these soldiers of the SS-Division "Nord" are equipped with good winter clothing and are therefore better protected from the weather. The tent in the background is constructed from several tent panels tied together, of which each soldiers carried one with them.

Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Zweiter-Weltkrieg-in-Farbe-2023.html

Ritterkreuzträger Josef Dörfel and Hitlerjugend Member

Ritterkreuzträger Oberfeldwebel Josef Dörfel (2 March 1915 - 3 April 2002) chats with the youth member of Hitlerjugend. Dörfel received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 4 March 1942 as a Zugführer in Infanterie-Regiment 439 / 134.Infanterie-Division, but later transferred to Großdeutschland Division.

Source :
https://www.zinnfigur.com/en/Books-Media/Others/Calendars/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html

German Exchange POWs after Returning from England

Welcoming ceremony in Stuttgart for the German exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) who just returned from England. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger in the summer of 1944. Other pictures from this series can be seen HERE.

 

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en

General Rudolf Veiel Inspecting Exchange POWs

General der Panzertruppe Rudolf Veiel (Kommandierenden General vom Stellvertretenden Generalkommando V. Armeekorps in Stuttgart und Befehlshaber vom Wehrkreis V) inspecting German exchange POWs in Stuttgart who just returning from England, summer of 1944. His right pocket breast star should be the Bulgarian Military Merit Order 1. Class with War Decoration (which he received on 15 August 1941). Behind him is SA-Obergruppenführer Dr.jur. Jonathan Schmid (württembergischer Innenminister). Many of these prisoners are member of the Afrikakorps. They were exchanged with some British POWs. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger. Other pictures from the same series can be seen HERE.

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en
https://www.zinnfigur.com/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html#&gid=1&pid=5

German Exchange POWs in 1944

General der Panzertruppe Rudolf Veiel (Kommandierenden General vom Stellvertretenden Generalkommando V. Armeekorps in Stuttgart und Befehlshaber vom Wehrkreis V) inspecting German exchange POWs in Stuttgart who just returning from England, summer of 1944. His right pocket breast star should be the Bulgarian Military Merit Order 1. Class with War Decoration (which he received on 15 August 1941). Behind him is SA-Obergruppenführer Dr.jur. Jonathan Schmid (württembergischer Innenminister). Many of these prisoners are member of the Afrikakorps. They were exchanged with some British POWs. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger.

The Geneva Convention makes provision for the repatriation of all Prisoners of War, even during hostilities. During 1939-1945 it was only possible for the British and Germans to reach agreement over the seriously ill and disabled. For the majority of the 40,000 British servicemen who were taken prisoner in 1939 and 1940, the war was to be a very long and dispiriting experience. Negotiations, conducted through the Red Cross, over the repatriation of seriously wounded men, had begun in late 1940. They did not progress very far because there were far fewer German men in this category than British. It was only after substantial numbers of Germans were taken prisoner in the Desert campaign of 1942 that the talks resumed. The actual exchange of prisoners did not take place until October 1943

Welcoming ceremony in Stuttgart for the German exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) who just returned from England. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger in the summer of 1944.



Two German soldiers smiles to the camera. They were part of exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) who just returned from England. The picture was taken by Hugo Jaeger in Stuttgart, summer of 1944.



German exchange POWs (mostly Afrikakorps) during welcoming ceremony in Stuttgart, summer of 1944.

Source :
https://artsandculture.google.com/search?q=hugo%20jaeger&hl=en
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/history-research-third-reich-ww2/you-war-over-period-photos-german-pows-686919-76/#post1825154
https://www.zinnfigur.com/Ritterkreuztraeger-in-Farbe-2023.html#&gid=1&pid=5

Spanish Pilot of Escuadrilla Azul

Oberleutnant Andrés Robles Cebrián of Escuadrilla Azul. He is the veteran of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), served in Escuadrilla 3-E-3 (Robles ended the war with 1 biplane victory).

Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-era-militaria/photos-and-paper-items-forum/13994058-escuadrilla-azul-color-slide

Erwin Niebling receives a Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star

Lieutenant Erwin W. Niebling receives a Distinguished Flying Cross with gold star from Rear Admiral Osborne B. Hardison ( Chief of Naval Air Primary Training) on May 17, 1945, at Naval Air Station New Orleans for his actions as a pilot in the Philippines.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration, 80-G-K-5302
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936
https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/80-G-K-05000/80-G-K-5302.html

A U.S. Army cavalry squadron trots past a Piper Cub

A mounted U.S. Army cavalry squadron trots past a fuels up J-3 Piper Cub and civilian onlookers being evaluated for aerial observation during the 1941 "Louisiana Maneuvers", the war game that were designed to evaluate the U.S. Army for World War II. The success of this demonstration led to the Army acquiring civilian lightplanes to be flown by Army artillery officers. These planes were known as “grasshoppers” – as can be seen with the yellow insignia – for their ability to get in and out of tight landing areas. Photo by Hans Groenhoff.

Source :
From the collection of the National Air and Space Museum Archives, Hans Groenhoff Photographic Collection, NASM 2004-51346
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936
https://twitter.com/Erikhistorian/status/1300554071091425280

Mustang Pilot William R. Groseclose

Portrait of Lt William R Groseclose from Pierre, South Dakota. Pilot of a P-51D Mustang of the 8th Air Force in England.  Assigned to 335FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Lt Groseclose was apparently shot down while flying his P-51D Mustang 44-14432 on 11 September 1944 when the 4th Fighter Group was bounced by 30+ Messerschmitt Bf109's. His aircraft crashed 2 miles south of Erkeln, Germany. POW. MACR 8990. Awards: AM (OLC), POW, WWII Victory. Post War: Retired as a Major having served in Korea and Vietnam.

Source :
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A49666-K2431
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/person/william-r-groseclose

Group Photo of Mustang Pilots

Pilots of a North American P-51 group in flying togs and Mae West jackets at a base in England. In the background is an interesting writing on the wall: "Narvik. Hell' Sapoppin Here!". They are, front row, from left to right: Lieutenant Nicholas W.J. Rosenson (Monessen, Pennsylvania); Lieutenant Charles L. Brock (Lockhart, Texas); Captain Robert J. Mabie; and Lieutenant William R. Groseclose (Pierre, South Dakota). Second Row, from left to right: Lieutenant George D. Green (Whittier, California); Lieutenant Robert J. Cooper (Chicago, Illinois); Lieutenant Hugh W. Lindsay (Paoli, Pennsylvania); and Lieutenant Zack S. Sensibaugh (Decatur, Texas). The Captain, Bob Mabie, flew with the 4th Fighter Group from July 13, 1944 to May 4, 1945. In January 1945 he was designated Flight Commander of D Flight. He flew a P-51D, serial number 5-NA 44-14221, coded WD-I. In February of that same year he was designated Assistant Squadron Operations and Gunnery Officer for the 335th. Mabie flew 80 missions and claimed 3 damaged aircraft.

Source :
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A49647-K2426.
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/media/media-21452jpeg

Lieutenant Groseclose Prepares to Depart for a Mission in His Mustang

USAAF Lt. William Groseclose prepares to depart for a mission from an English base in his North American P-51D Mustang of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group. He was captured when shot down over Germany on September 11, 1944.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration, 342-C-K-3914
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

Air Traffic Control Trainees Practice on Model Aircraft

U.S. Air traffic control trainees practice on model aircraft before working with the real thing. Despite prior close air support experiences beginning in World War I, the United States had no forward air control capability when World War II began. Although forward air control techniques were perfected by such US units as the 1st Air Commando Group in the China Burma India Theater, they would be ignored in the war's aftermath. When the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was founded on 20 June 1941, it included provisions for Air Ground Control Parties to serve with the United States Army at the division, corps, and Army headquarters. The Air Ground Control Parties functions were to regulate bombing and artillery in close conjunction with the ground troops, as well as assess bomb damage. They were thus the first of similar units to try to fulfill the functions of the forward air controller (FAC) without being airborne. However, these units were often plagued by interservice rivalry and cumbersome communications between the respective armies and air forces involved. As a result, it could take hours for an air strike requested by ground troops to actually show up. However, the advent of World War II did not lead to a functional US air control system; the 1942 edition of the American Field Manual 31-35 did not even mention a forward air controller. Forward air control during World War II came into existence as a result of exigency, and was used in several theaters of World War II. Its reincarnation in action was a result of field expedience rather than planned operations.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration, 342-C-K-1721
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_air_control_operations_during_World_War_II
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936

“Five Grand” - the 5,000th B-17 off the Production Line

“Five Grand” (Boeing B-17G-70-BO Flying Fortress, Serial number 43-37716) is seen here before deploying to England where it survived 78 combat missions with the 338th Bomb Squadron, 96 Bomb Group.

The B-17G, named, 5 Grand, was constructed at the Boeing Plant 5 in Seattle, WA, in 1944. It was named, 5 Grand, because it was the 5,000th B-17 to come off the Boeing production line in Seattle, since Pearl Harbor. It was the only B-17 that was ever individually signed by all of the Plant 5 workers before leaving the Seattle factory. The largest signature on the airplane, which disappeared in later photos of the plane, was made by Boeing assembler/installer, Frank Novito, on the upper surface of one of it's wings, with large block letters that he made in black paint on the upper wing skin with a large push broom. He, apparently, wanted the German pilots, to think of him and the fine work he did building the plane, as they surely must have done so, while they were trying to shoot, 5 Grand, down !

To boost morale on the home front during the Second World War, aircraft manufacturers began to celebrate production aircraft milestones. Lockheed, for example, painted their 5,000th P-38 Lightning, red, and named it, Yipee. But Boeing wanted to do something different, as it approached delivering the 5,000th B-17 Flying Fortress to be built since the attack on Pearl Harbor, when the U.S. entered the war against the Axis powers. Aircraft number, 40-37716, a B-17G, was that aircraft, and, early on, it was marked with a notice on the fuselage that it was the 5,000th Flying Fortress to be built since the U.S. entered the war. Every worker, who played a part in the construction of this particular aircraft, was invited to sign the part of the aircraft they produced, as it advanced down the production lines in Seattle.

So, these signatures celebrated the efforts of the thousands of workers, who immigrated to Seattle to escape the effects of the Great Depression, in order to work in Boeing's massive production facilities. The enthusiasm that workers applied to their signatures, surprised even the Boeing management, as even parts from the subcontractors' bound for, 40-37716, arrived signed, even though they would be hidden away deep inside the aircraft. Appropriately, the B-17G was named, 5 Grand, and before leaving the Renton plant, it was already being celebrated in newsreels and war bond drives. Instead of towing the B-17G out of Plant 5's front doors, as had always been done for the protocols of the day, upon completion, the workers, themselves, pushed, 5 Grand, out the factory doors to band music, cheers and great fanfare.

In May 1944, 5 Grand, was officially delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces, at Boeing Field, and a bottle of champagne was ceremonially broken over the aircraft's nose. The USAAF even made sure that the crew assigned to, 5 Grand, were made up of local flyers from the Puget Sound area, with Edward C. Unger of Seattle selected as the aircraft's command pilot. 5 Grand, was, then, flown to Kearney AAF Depot in Nebraska for further modifications to make her combat ready. When she left the United States for the Eighth Air Force's bomber bases in Britain, over 35,000 signatures adorned the bare metal finish of, 5 Grand. Some thought that the plane should be stripped of it's signatures, as they figured, rightfully so, that the Luftwaffe would make special efforts to shoot it down, which they dutifully did just so ! But, it was finally decided the signatures would stay.

On it's trans Atlantic flight to England, the air crew found the B-17G was about 7 mph slower in cruise than a stock B-17G due to the extra weight of the paint used on the signatures and, also, the extra drag of the surface roughness from the thousands of colorful signature applications ! Both of these factors increased fuel consumption, which was also higher than normal, with the lower speeds of the plane, also less than normally forecast for a trip across the Atlantic, resulting in one of, 5 Grand's, engines cutting out upon landing in the U.K. due to low fuel.

Once in the U.K., 5 Grand, was assigned to the 333rd Bomber Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group at Snetterton Heath in Norfolk, U.K. One of it's first local test flights, before any combat missions were flown, also ended in near disaster when, 5 Grand's, electrical system failed, preventing it's main landing gear from extending, causing, 5 Grand, to make a gear up landing after ejecting it's ball turret.

Finally, when ready for combat, 5 Grand, was assigned to the 338th Bomb Squadron, and the 96th Bomb Group, at BX-H, Snetterton, U.K. Once in combat, the plane quickly received a reputation with the American B-17 pilots for being a German fighter plane magnet, because, flying high, above the clouds, on it's many missions over Europe and Germany, the famous B-17, was an unusual looking sight in the air, glowing in the sun, with a sort of bright orange color on it's bare aluminum skin, peppered with yellow, white, red, and black speckled spots, which were the workers' painted signatures, with many of the workers having signed their names on, 5 Grand's, fuselage and wings. Appropriately, the German pilots certainly did take notice of this unique and unusually strange looking and brightly glowing B-17! And, possibly, figuring it for some kind of lead ship, they honored it with unusually fierce attention, by trying very hard, and repeatedly, to shoot it down, damaging it on several occasions with their cannons, so seriously, that it had to be taken out of service and sent back to repair stations for major repairs.

The plane was pulled from combat and delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming, 15 May 44; Kearney 30/6/44; Dow Field 13 Jul 44; Assigned to the 338th Bomb Squadron, and the 96th Bomb Group, at (BX-H) Snetterton, U.K. 14 Jul 44. During training, the plane's command pilot, Lt. Jack Bimemiller had an electrical failure and was unable to lower the landing gear. He was ordered to Honington, U.K. to land, wheels up. The airplane flew 78 missions after repairs were completed. Then, it was transferred to the 388th Bomb Group. May 1945. It returned to the USA Bradley Repair Depot, 14 Jun 45. After an overhaul, the plane left for Seattle and further refurbishment for a war bond tour in the U.S. from 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas, 29 Jul 45. After completion of the bond tour, 5 Grand, was sent to Lubbock, Texas, for refitting.

After one major repair, 5 Grand, was returned to service (RTS) and reassigned to the 388th Bomber Group kin Britain. It would fly a total of 78 missions over the German Reich adorned with her signatures and her gunners claiming two Luftwaffe fighters destroyed.

On 14 June 1945, 5 Grand, again returned home to the United States, first landing at Bradley Field in Connecticut before continuing on to Boeing Field in Seattle for refurbishment for a war bond tour. While in Seattle, many employees happily found most of their signatures still in place. Local officials wanted to preserve, 5 Grand, as a memorial to the city's home front war effort, but, while the Seattle politicians debated the cost, 5 Grand, was flown to Lubbock AAF Base in Texas for further repairs and refurbishment before being flown to storage at Kingman AAF Base in Arizona to be held in storage while Seattle officials decided how to proceed on the planned memorial, incorporating, 5 Grand. The U.S. Army Air Forces were willing to donate, 5 Grand, to Seattle for the memorial planned by the Seattle Historical Society, but on 3 January 1946, Seattle city officials declined the donation of, 5 Grand, on the grounds that building a memorial with the aircraft, represented too costly an endeavor.

Despite the efforts of Boeing employees who had signed, 5 Grand, and all of those wanting to preserve this piece of history, no one in the local government wished to take responsibility for the aircraft. So, still resplendent, with it's thousands of signatures, the plane was sold off by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and sent to Kingman, AZ, to the airplane scrappers, where, 5 Grand, was unceremoniously broken up and scrapped, forever lost to history. 22 Nov 1945

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration, 342-C-K-2442
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/43-37716
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/4127692270

U.S. Navy Officers Review a Line of Brazilian PBY-5A Amphibians

U.S. Navy officers review a line of Brazilian PBY-5A amphibians with Brazilian naval aviators at Galeão International, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 1944. In the background is PBY-5A "Bettye Jayne". The PBY-5A was handed over by VP-94. A second batch of PBY-5As was delivered to Brazil in late 1944. One of the earlier batch, FAB 02, sank a German U-boat on 31 July 1943. Ex BuNo 46524, FAB 14 shows a painted-out US roundel underwing. Later FAB 6513. Redesignated as a PA-10 in 1945. Converted to CA-10A transport aircraft in 1958, but retired in 1959. Brazil, as the United States’ principal South American ally during World War II, engaged in active combat operations against Germany, including deploying forces to the Italian campaign. During the Battle of the Atlantic, Brazilian Consolidated PBYs, like these, participated in anti-submarine operations, and in the case of U-199, one successfully sunk the U-boat off the coast of Rio de Janeiro on July 31, 1943. Here, U.S. Navy officers review a line of Brazilian PBY-5A amphibians with senior Brazilian naval aviators.

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration, 80-G-K-5258
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936
https://laststandonzombieisland.com/2021/04/08/catalinas-of-rio/u-s-navy-officers-review-a-line-of-brazilian-pby-5a-amphibians-handed-over-by-vp-94-oct-1944-at-rio/