Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts

[Jaguar]

The Brazilian Army in World War II - Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB, acronym in Portuguese)

The Brazilian participation in World War II occurred after national merchant ships were attacked and sunk by German submarines in 1942. World War II was the largest conflict in human history. In 1944, Brazil fought alongside the Allies by sending approximately 25,000 soldiers to the north front of Italy.

In November 1943, Brazil established an expeditionary force, known as the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB, acronym in Portuguese). Soldiers from different regions of the country were mobilized and formed a group of about 25,000 troops.

On 5 August 1944, the Advanced Echelon of the 1st Expeditionary Infantry Division (1st EID) stationed in Tarquinia where troops received weapons and equipment. Henceforth, the Brazilian Expeditionary Force formally joined the war allies in Italy.

FEB’s first successful victories occurred in September 1944 with the conquest of Massarosa, the fight in Camaiore and the defeat of Monte Prano.

From 24 November 1944 to 21 February 1945, the Battle of Monte Castello marked the first Brazilian victory during the conflict between the Allied troops and the German Army forces. That was one of the greatest Brazilian Expeditionary Force’s achievements of all World War II combats.

 

[Jaguar]

1st Sergeant Max Wolf Filho led more than 30 patrols in the campaign. His last task in Italy was on 12 April 1945: the 11th Infantry Regiment had to undertake a reconnaissance mission in Monteforte and Riva di Biscia, regions so-called “no man’s land” and located in Montese. SGT Wolf volunteered to command the reconnaissance patrol, which consisted of 19 military personnel who had distinguished themselves for their professionalism and bravery in other combats. While conducting the mission, he was fatally shot on the chest by a burst-fire of a German machine gun. His body could not be retrieved on that day due to enemy fire. It remained on the battlefield for three days until the Conquest of Montese, when it was finally recovered.

 

[Jaguar]

The nurses of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force:

Major ELZA Cansanção Medeiros is one of the first Brazilian Army military female nurses. She is the most decorated Brazilian woman who has received more medals in Brazil (at about 200 ones).

The dead bodies of FEB soldiers killed in action in World War II were buried in the cemetery of Pistoia in Italy. Until 20 July 1962, the cemetery contained the remains of 462 soldiers, which were later moved to Brazil. Nowadays, the place only houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Return of the FEB:

 

[uktabber]

Wow, great story, which I did not know anything about from WWII, Thanks for posting mate!! ??

 

[Conhoon]

Posing in front of a F4U Corsair of the Fighter Leaders School at RNZAF Station Ardmore, New Zealand, these pilots are believed to be of No. 4 Course, June/July 1945.

Of note is the practice bomb rack under the port inner wing section as well as the TBF Avenger in the background painted in yellow and black stripes indicating it was used as a target tug.
Of real interest to any Corsair fan is that markings appear to have been applied to the starboard canopy denoting dive angle (no doubt a training aid) which, so far as I'm aware, hasn't been seen on any other Corsair.
Source: Air Force Museum of New Zealand, file PR6870.

 

[BravoZulu]

Heinkel He.111 1G+FS of 8./KG27 crash landed at Border House Farm, near Chester, Cheshire, England 14/8/40 Intercepted by Hurricanes of No.213 Squadron during sortie, also engaged by Spitfires of No.7 OTU and shot down by W/C J. Hallings-Pott, S/L J. McLean and P/O P. Ayerst.

 

[Conhoon]

Battle of Flers–Courcelette. "C" Company Mark I tank, C.19 'Clan Leslie', in the Chimpanzee Valley on 15 September 1916, the day tanks first went into action.

In mid-August 1916, C and D Companies set off for France with their tanks. Known as Operation Alpaca, it was a great success and the tanks arrived safely.
After further secret training behind the lines, it was decided that the tank would make its debut in support of the Fourth Army. Forty-nine tanks of the Heavy Section would join the attack on the village of Flers-Courcellette on 15 September 1916.
Amid great secrecy, the tanks were moved up to the line. But their presence could not be hidden from everyone. On 13 September, Gunner A Roads of the Royal Garrison Artillery noted: ‘Another “Big Do” being prepared. Saw armoured caterpillars going up to frontline.’
(Photo source - © IWM Q 5575)
Brooke, John Warwick (Lieutenant) (Photographer)
Colourised by Doug

 

[Conhoon]

The Polish Navy light cruiser ORP Conrad, October 1944

 

[BravoZulu]

A column of French soldiers passes by their British allies, WW1

 

[BravoZulu]

Finnish Jäger company of light detachment 5 (nicknamed "Company of Death") in Summa during Winter War, 1939.

 

[Conhoon]

Flight Sergeant James Joseph Hyde, a fighter pilot serving with No.132 Squadron RAF, pictured with a Supermarine Spitfire and 'Dingo', the squadron commander's dog, at Detling, Kent, England.

James was from San Juan, Trinidad and arrived in Britain during WWII to commence his training.
On September 25, 1944, Warrant Officer Hyde was tasked with providing aerial cover during the battle of Arnhem and was killed when his Spitfire IX was shot down in combat crashed in Elst down, near Nijmegen, Holland. His remains were interred in the Jonkerbos military cemetery, he was 27.

(Photo source - © IWM CH 11978)
(Colourised by Simon Fletcher)

 

[Conhoon]

German machine gunners with camouflaged M16 Stahlhelm and MG08/15, summer of 1918.
In July of 1918 a directive came down from Chief of General Staff Ludendorff which called for helmets to be painted with a camouflage pattern.

The directive reads as follows:
Chief of the General Staff of the Field Army
II. No. 91 366
7 July 1918
Through a purposeful, variegated surface paint on cannons, mortars, machine guns, steel helmets, etc., these devices may be much more easily hidden from view than before.
The authorized trials have produced the following results:
1. Steel helmets:
A painted surface with one color (e.g. green or light brown) or with small splotches of a variety of colors is superior to a standard single color helmet, although it still allows the recognition of the characteristic form and silhouette.
In this regard, a three-colored surface which has had the borders blended, simulating a shadow effect is not recognizable beyond a distance of 60 meters.
The choice of colors is to be purposely changed according to the time of year. One of the three colors must match the basic color found in the region of fighting.
Suitable at this time: green, yellow ochre, rust brown
Separation of the surface of the helmet into equal-sized portions, consisting of large, sharp-cornered patches.
Support – On the front side of the helmet, no more than four colored fields must be visible. Light and dark colors are to be placed next to each other. The colored segments are to be sharply separated from each other by a finger-wide black stripe.
Necessary coloring materials for 1000 helmets: 5 kilograms each of ochre, green and brown; 2 kilograms of black.
(Photograph from the Bruce Jarvis collection)
Colourised by Doug

 

[Conhoon]

Aircrews of No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron RAF walking past a Vickers Wellington Mark I at Feltwell, Norfolk, before a night raid to Hamburg, Germany.

During WWII, 75 Squadron served with No.3 Group.
The squadron carried out 584 bombing, 149 minelaying and 1 leaflet dropping raid, the fourth highest number of raids of any Bomber Command heavy squadron, and 8,017 sorties, the highest in Bomber Command.
It also suffered the second highest casualty rate, with 193 aircraft lost and 1,139 casualties. It dropped around 21,600 tons of bombs, probably the third highest in Bomber COmmand, and 2,344 mines, the second highest.
Sergeant J. A. Ward was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on a raid to Munster on 7/8 July 1941. Sadly he was killed on 15/16 September during a raid on Hamburg.
After the end of the war in Europe the squadron helped fly POWs back to Germany. In July 1945 it moved to Spilsby and to No.5 Group, where it began to train to join Tiger Force, the RAF's contribution to the upcoming invasion of Japan. After the Japanese surrender this force was no longer needed, and the squadron was disbanded on 15 October 1945. Its personnel were then shipped home over the course of the next year.
Colour by Daniel Rarity Color
© IWM CH 2671

 

[Conhoon]

Sherman Ic Firefly and other vehicles in the village of Putanges, Normandy. 19/20 August 1944.

Despite the best efforts of the censor to obscure the markings on the rear of the hull, we reckon this Sherman (T 232524) is with 'C' Squadron, 23rd Hussars, 29th Armoured Brigade, 11th Armoured Division,
(Photo source - © IWM B 9477)
No 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit
Gee (Sgt)
Color by Irootoko jr.

 

[BravoZulu]

Survivors from the French destroyer Bourrasque try to climb to safety, aboard the French destroyer Branlebas, 1940.

 

[Conhoon]

Close up of the partisan Stefano Candela known as 'Eolo', in a village of Piedmont (Piemonte), a region of Italy bordering France and Switzerland, sits at the foot of the Alps. Italy, October 1944.

Photographer unknown.

 

[BravoZulu]

August 1941 Radio operator/gunner in the cockpit of an aircraft Messerschmitt Me 110.

 

[Conhoon]

Greek soldiers firing a 65 mm Mle 1906 mountain gun (Canon de Montagne 65mm,modele 1906,L/18.5,Schneider-Ducrest) against Italian positions in the Pindus mountain range during the Greco-Italian War, winter 1940.

The 65 mm Mle 1906 was a French mountain gun that entered service with the "regiments d'artillerie de montagne" in 1906 being one of the first soft-recoil guns to see active service.
The carriage of the Mle 1906 was hinged and could be broken down into four mule loads for transport. By 1939 it was generally used as an infantry support gun.
After the Great War, France donated Mle 1906 guns to Greece, some of which were sent to support Greek forces in Turkey during the Asia Minor Campaign of 1919-22.
At the outbreak of WW2 there were 110 Mle 1906 guns still in service with the Greek Army in an infantry support role. These guns proved to be very effective in mountainous terrain and difficult ground conditions. The same gun was used by the French army when the Italian forces attacked the French Alps in June 1940.
Photo source unknown
Color by Nikos Hatzitsirou

 

[Conhoon]

RAF personnel and soldiers inspect Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 (W.Nr. 1988) 'RED 7' of 5./JG54, which belly-landed at Broom Hill, near Lydd, Kent at 9.30am on 25 October 1940. Oberleutnant Schypek was captured.

Colour by RJM

 

[Conhoon]

Infantry Lieutenant, awarded the medal "For Courage". Voronezh front. 1943


Photo by D.A. Minsker