Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts

[Conhoon]

A wounded German prisoner is tended to by a British medic. He is being given something to drink and is resting on a stretcher with blankets and a pillow.

Ernest Brooks was the first British official war photographer to be assigned to the Western Front in 1916. Previously a 'Daily Mirror' photographer, he was given the honorary rank of Second Lieutenant. His remit was to take as many photographs as possible, with as much variety as possible. Using his inconspicuous hand-held camera Brooks was free to wander, sometimes capturing his subjects unawares. Many of the images taken by Brooks were used to fuel the propaganda machine at home and abroad. Despite this Brooks, who was very aware of composition and light, produced some very artistic and thought-provoking images.

(Colourisation and text by Julius Jääskeläinen)

 

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A Portuguese NCO of the Artillery, decorated with the War Cross, and also bearing a wound stripe, somewhere in France.

(Colorized by Noah Werner Winslow)

 

[Conhoon]

November 3, 1944
Corporal Ruth M. Oakley of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, poses in Salzburgen (today) holding a captured Sturmgewehr 44 (also known as a MP43, MP44 or StG44), the world’s first true assault rifle. The unique ammo pouch is also German. The overalls were standard issue for US tank crews but many infantry soldiers also wore them.

According to existing official records Ruth M. Oakley held the rank of Corporal, not Sergeant, as stated in the US Signal Corp's photo description. Corporal Oakley survived the war, passing away in 1993 at the age of 70.

The building behind him housed the district’s DVG administration. The Deutsche Volksgemeinschaft in Lothringen (D.V.G.) was the NSDAP (Nazi Party) equivalent responsible for the Moselle department, the border region between France and Germany, between 1940 and 1945.
Photo taken on November 3, 1944. The small town of Salzburgen had been liberated by the US Army 3 days before.
(Photo original: US Signal Corps)
(Colour and information by Rui Manuel Candeias)

 

[Conhoon]

Troops of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd US Marine Division, load magazines and clean their weapons en-route to Betio, South Tarawa on board the attack transport USS Zeilin (APA 3).

On 13 November, 'Zeilin' departed Efate and arrived off Betio on 19 November. Early the following morning, Marines from 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines were offloaded into landing craft from 'Zeilin' for their assault. During the unloading operation 'Zeilin' was under fire from Japanese shore guns. The ship did not sustain any damage from the attack. During this operation, Commander Thomas Benjamin Fitzpatrick was in command of the ship.

(Photo source - LtGen Julian C. Smith Collection)
(Color by Julius Jääskeläinen)

 

[Conhoon]

Column of Churchill Mk VII Crocodiles and Mk V CS tanks of the 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, 31st Armoured Brigade, 79th Armoured Division in Geilenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, during 'Operation Clipper' 10–22 November 1944.

"Intermittent showers were followed by a downpour on 21 November, turning the fields into mud-baths that rendered the tanks ineffective and vulnerable. The direct road to Würm was mined and an alternative side road was blocked by debris and could not be cleared until a bulldozer was used. The U.S. infantry attempted to advance but, without tanks, they were beaten back. When the British Crocodiles were able to advance and assault the defences, there was rapid progress, with defenders surrendering. The mud intervened again, however, bogging down the Crocodiles′ armoured trailers. Without their support, infantry attacks on Müllendorf failed, particularly as the German defences had been strengthened by the 15th Panzergrenadier Division.
Despite the frustrations of 21–22 November, and the failure to capture the final objectives, the purpose of the operation had, in fact, now been achieved. The Geilenkirchen salient had been substantially removed and the U.S. XIII Corps now had room to manoeuvre."

(Colorized by Nikos Hatzitsirou)

 

[Conhoon]

9 November 1944

A Sherman IIA tank of 'The Queen's Bays' (2nd Dragoon Guards), 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division crossing the River Rabbi at San Martino in Strada, Italy.

On the rear hull, behind the baggage and camouflage, the white '40' on a red square of the senior regiment. The system of Roman numerals and letters can also be seen on the tanks of the other regiments of this brigade.

In October 1944 'The Bays' were relieved by the 10th Hussars and withdrew to Montalbano for a short rest. An entry in the War Diary of 46th Division recorded: 'A satisfactory feature of the present battle had been the effectiveness of tank and infantry co-operation.' Another satisfactory feature from the Bays' point of view had been the comparative scarcity of casualties.
The Bays remained at Montalbano until 7 November, the whole regiment being under cover for the first time in Italy - even if the houses were dirty, leaking and overcrowded. By the time the Bays moved back into the line, again in support of 46th Division, the advance had moved some ten miles further forward and the fighting was now in the foothills between the Rabbi and Ronco rivers.
(Photo source - © IWM NA 20043)
Lambert (Sgt), No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit
(Colourised by Allan White)

 

[Conhoon]

A wounded marine proudly exhibits a Japanese sword, Tarawa, November 1943.

The Battle of Tarawa was a battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that was fought on 20–23 November 1943. It took place at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, and was part of Operation Galvanic, the U.S. invasion of the Gilberts. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died in the fighting, mostly on and around the small island of Betio, in the extreme southwest of Tarawa Atoll.The Battle of Tarawa was the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region. It was also the first time in the Pacific War that the United States had faced serious Japanese opposition to an amphibious landing. Previous landings met little or no initial resistance, but on Tarawa the 4,500 Japanese defenders were well-supplied and well-prepared, and they fought almost to the last man, exacting a heavy toll on the United States Marine Corps. The losses on Tarawa were incurred within 76 hours.

 

[Conhoon]

US Marines advance from the beach during the invasion of Tarawa in late November 1943.

Original description: They weren't fooling- When these Marines went over the top from the beach on Tarawa Island they knew they were going to have a fight on their hands but they Just set their jaws (as the picture shows) and charged. Sheer determination and the knowledge that they couldn’t be licked, defeated the Japs in what has been described as the toughest fight in Marine Corps history.

 

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A couple of pictures

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[Talibanhunter]

Schwimmwagen in the the Pacific ??

 

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Schwimmwagen in the the Pacific ??

Sorry my bad!!!

 

[santana]

Some pictures from the Royal Air Force


An Armstrong Whitworth A.W. 38 Whitley awaits his paratroopers for a training exercise in early British training - Raf Ringway parachute school, Manchester, 1941.

The Whitley was the largest bomber in the Raf at the start of the war. Very soon after diad's departure it became obsolete due to its speed and vulnerability. It was then handed over to the Airborne Forces, being used for parachute training until it was replaced by Albemarle and Dakota. He took the assault parts with a parachute for the raid on the Tragino aqueduct in Italy in 1941 and the Raid Bruneval in February 1942.

For skydiving, the rear turret was removed and a circular opening equipped with doors was cut on the ground. Sitting with their feet in the hole, the paratroopers will launch through the exit at the command of the Parachute Jump Instructor.

Since the hole was almost three feet deep, inexperienced paratroopers were responsible for breaking their face on the opposite side of the ground opening, an event known as "ringing the bell." The effect of ringing the bell depends on the strength of the head The strike, but includes bruises, broken noses, black eyes, and bruise as many Ringway students will testify!

The Whitley could take 10 parachute soldiers with a range of at least 500 miles. However, his ability to skydive is regularly asked and the availability of more suitable transport aircraft later in the war led him to be eliminated.

De Havilland mosquito B. XVId, including the PF563, built by Percival closest to the camera. (the visible serial numbers are PF563, 561 and 564)


W / c Hugh Godefroy DSO DFC 17-wing RCAF with its Spitfire MK 1 XC HC-G (MK 341) CA. 1944


F / LT Francis David Stephen 'Scottie' Scott-Malden in the wing of his 603 Squadron Spitfire at Raf Hornchurch, November 1941


Polish F / LT. Joseph Zbigniew Żulikowski in a Spitfire MK IXc (BS456) UZ-Z, 306 'Torunski' in the Raf Northolt.
November 16, 1942


Flight Sergeant George Unwin, Flight Lieutenant Walter Lawson and Sergeant David Edward Lloyd of ??. Squadron 19 at the Raf Fowlmere, September 1940.


F / O Brian van Mentz, second from the right, informs the intelligence officer after an exit with Squadron 222, Raf Hornchurch, September 1940. (died during an air raid in April 1941)

On the night of Saturday, April 26, 1941 Van Mentz was at the Ferry Inn with other members of Squad 222 and the commanding officer of Squad 257, S / Ldr. RRS Tuck Popular with Coltishall officers, this public house was left alone in the open countryside near the town of Horning. After a while, Tuck left the Ferry Inn, having failed to convince others to accompany him to Norwich. Shortly after, at 9.46 pm, the pub was hit by one of the three bombs that fell nearby. Twenty people were killed, including Van Mentz and two other members of Squad 222 - the Assistant, P / O HP Robertson, and the medical officer, P / O JA Atwill.


467 RAAF Squad
Here are the Lancaster Crew members of the 467 RAAF Squadron
The guy with the mustache (second from right) is the F / O Cuthbert Keith Cazaly (half Gunner), the image was colored by his great grandson Mark Cazaly. Cuthbert Keith Cazaly and the rest of the crew lost there live May 27 -1943 When his plane was shot by a night fighter during a raid on Essen.


Supermarine Spitfire MK. VB N + M (EN821) of ??. 243 Royal Air Force Squadron in flight over England in July 1942.


The original legend of this photo, taken in June 1944, says: "A German helmet captured on the muzzle of his cannon and a German motorcycle obtained on a first line visit are now owned by the flying officer HW 'Bud' Bowker [of ] Granby, Quebec. He is seen here working on the weapons of the Spitfire that flies with a Royal Squadron of the Canadian Air Force in France. " Photo: dnd files, PL30259
Sadly, the pilot Harlow Wilbur Bowker of 412 RCAF squad was lost in an air battle less than a month later on July 2, 1944.
N.B. The motorcycle is a French model of 'TERROT', supported by a Trolley Accumulator



Hawker Hurricane Mk I P3166 VY-Q, flown by the CO of No. 85 Squadron, Sqn Ldr Peter Townsend, on standby with battery cart plugged in at Castle Camps, July 1940.


Boeing Model 314 A 'Clipper', G-AGCA "Berwick", from BOAC, lands at Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria, for moorings at the West African flying ship terminal in Iquoi


Supermarine Spitfire MK I R6800 LZ-N, flown by the co of ??. Squadron 66, sqn / Ldr. Rupert H A Leigh, running his engine in Gravesend, September 1940.


Flying officer Hugh Norman Tamblyn of Squadron ?? 242, photographed in the hurricane of Squad leader Douglas Bader in Duxford, in late September 1940. He was killed in action on April 3, 1941 - shot into the sea by the return fire of a DO-17 while in service east of Felixstowe, Suffolk.
Hugh Norman Donald Tamblyn was born in Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada in 1917.


Squadron Leader James Easson Hogg, CO 438 Sqn 20 Jan to 23 March 1945 when he lost his life in a training accident. He failed to pull out of a bombing dive and crashed in the Channel.


S/L James Easson Hogg.


Members of a repair and repair unit attend the American Mark III Mustang, FZ190 'QV-A', of Raf Squadron No. 19 in the shadow of the Saint-Pierre Church in B12 / Ellon, Normandy. From left to right are: the flying officer F H Price of Hereford, the leader of the Boxted Aircraftman near Colchester, Corporal J Hughes of Crewe, Corporal N Lee of Birmingham and Sergeant W G Ward of Emsworth.
July, 1944. From 1943, the No. 19 squadron was part of the Second Tactical Air Force, preparing for the invasion of France. The squad moved to France at the end of June 1944, staying with the Allied armies to Belgium, before returning to the United Kingdom to carry out long-range escort missions with their Mustangs.



Flight Lieutenant R H A Lee and flight officer K H Blair, after being decorated by King George VI at Raf Hornchurch, Essex, June 27, 1940.
Flight Lieutenant R H A Lee, after being awarded the DSO and DFC, and flight officer K H Blair, after being awarded the DFC, by King George VI at Raf Hornchurch, Essex. The awards were given for their distinguished service as combat pilots with the ??. 85 of the Raf in France. Lee, a flight commander with the Squadron, was published missing in action on August 18, 1940, having destroyed at least 9 enemy aircraft. Blair flew with the 151 Raf Squadron during the battle of Great Britain, and later became night fighters. He ended the war commanding 613 Squadron of the Raf, having brought his victory score to 12.


12 Hawker Fury MKI's Raf 43 Tangmere Squadron, flying along the south coast of England in late 1939, just weeks after the declaration of war against Germany in Europe.

The ?? 1 Squad, the Raf Tangmere was re-equipped with the Fury in 1932, one year after the 43rd Squadron. Over the next six years, these two squadrons participated in the annual Hendon Air contest with great credit and won a good number of air defense and shooting competitions. In particular, it was the success of Squadron 1 by winning the stunt training competition at the International Aviation Meeting held in Zurich in July 1937 - the first time that the Ministry of Air had authorized participation in such an event by a unit of the Raf.

However, the Furies also saw service with the air forces of seven other countries. Three machines delivered to Spain participated in the Spanish Civil War, a squadron of the Yugoslav Air Force was carried out in April 1941 and, also in 1941, the Furies were used by the South African Air Force against Italian forces in East Africa . A total of 275 aircraft were built.


Dunsfold Airport, Surrey, circa 1944. June (from left to right) some of the crew, Gunner: Gilles Almekinders, Telegraphers: Johannes Fransen, Koenraad Vos and Observer: Joannes de Groot - are waiting for the exit signal for a New mission while pampering 'Ski', the squad's pet dog.

The squad was part of the Second Tactical Air Force, and was used to support the D-Day landings. On June 10, 1944, it participated in one of the 'set piece' attacks of the period, when it provided some of the 61 Mitchell that They carried out a low-level attack against La Caine on June 10, 1944, headquarters of the Panzer West Group of General von Schweppenburg. Eighteen staff officers were killed in the raid, including the general's chief of staff. The headquarters were forced to return to Paris to recover, greatly reducing their efficiency at a key moment in the battle in Normandy.

The squad moved to Belgium in October 1944, and to Germany in the last week of the war. The squad did not stay with the Raf for a long time after the end of the war, and on August 2, 1945 he was transferred to the Royal Navy of the Netherlands.

 

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Troops of the 8th Royal Scots advance into Moostdijk, 6 November 1944.

Photograph taken by Sgt. Laing.
© IWM (B 11756)

 

[Conhoon]

Lyudmila Pavlichenko who, by the end of World War II, was creditied with 309 kills, making her the most successful female sniper in history.

Pavlichenko was among the first to volunteer after the German invasion of the USSR, and she was assigned to the Red Army's 25th Rifle Division. She made her first kills at Belyayevka. Most of her remaining kills were made near Odessa.

Of the 2,000 female snipers in the Red Army, only 500 lived to see the war's end.

Pavlichenko died in 1974.

 

[Conhoon]

"A breeches buoy is put into service to transfer from a U.S. destroyer to a cruiser survivors of a ship, November 14, 1942 which had been sunk in naval action against the Japanese off the Santa Cruz Islands in the South pacific on October 26. The American Navy turned back the Japanese in the battle but lost an aircraft carrier and a destroyer." (AP Photo)

Research tells us that at the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands on the 26th of October 1942, the American Carrier USS Hornet was sunk in action, with the loss of 111 souls and 108 wounded, and that the Destroyer USS Mustin rescued 337 of her survivors. (the Destroyer USS Barton also rescued survivors but she does not resemble the ship in this photo).
The Heavy Cruiser USS Northampton had initially towed USS Hornet before she was eventually sunk, but there were four other Light and Heavy Cruisers in the same Task Force 17('Hornet'), so we were unable to establish which, if indeed any of these, was the Cruiser in this photo.

(Colorized by Jared Enos)

 

[Conhoon]

November 1944
Members from the 607th Tank Destroyer Battalion (attached to the 95th Infantry Division) load their 3 inch M5 anti-tank gun on one of the approaches to Metz.
(probably posed)

(Metz was part of Moselle, annexed by Germany after the French armistice.)
During the 15 day assault on the city, 9th Air Force fighter-bombers and 3rd Army Artillery pounded forts and strong points to ease the advance of the Infantry and Tanks.
The German fortress city fell before the combined American Air and Ground attack on 22 November 1944.
Although the city itself was captured by U.S. forces and hostilities formally ceased on the 22nd, the remaining isolated forts continued to hold out.
(Photo source - National Archives and Records Administration)
(Colourisation by Jecini)

 

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A French soldier and a British sergeant of the Royal Garrison Artillery toasting each other in French ration wine at Boezinge, 18th August 1917.

photograph taken by Lieutenant Ernest Brooks.

© IWM (Q 2742)

 

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American soldiers and sailors partying in Tokyo, 1945

 

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Soldiers from the Kedyw's “Kolegium A” on Stawki Street in the Wola district during the Warsaw Uprising 1944.

Kedyw, partial acronym of Kierownictwo Dywersji ("Directorate of Diversion") was a Polish Home Army unit that conducted active and passive sabotage, propaganda, and armed operations against German forces and collaborators.

Kedyw was created on January 22, 1943, from two pre-existing Armia Krajowa organizations: Związek Odwetu, and Wachlarz. Initially the units were small and town-based. Eventually, as more were formed, some moved into forested areas to begin partisan warfare. Kedyw organized weapon and munition factories, military schools, intelligence, counter-intelligence, field hospitals, and a communication network. Soldiers from the Kedyw's Kolegium A on Stawki Street in the Wola district - Warsaw Uprising 1944 Most members of Kedyw were Boy Scouts from Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego and its wartime organization, Szare Szeregi. Many of the officers were cichociemni, special agents trained in the United Kingdom and parachuted into occupied Poland.

Prior to the Warsaw Uprising, most of the Kedyw units in the Warsaw area were moved into the city and grouped into infantry battalions. Notable among them were "Zośka", "Parasol" and "Miotła". After fighting broke out, most of the Kedyw forces joined the Radosław group. Kedyw units were among the most successful in the Uprising. The boy scouts not only had more experience than many regular soldiers, they had also managed to collect more supplies and arms. Kedyw units first took part in seizing control of Warsaw's Wola district. After 10 days' heavy fighting in the Powązki Cemetery, in which all German attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties, the units withdrew overnight to the city center and Starówka (the old town), where they regrouped and defended their sectors until the capitulation of the Uprising in October 1944.

 

[Jaybe]

Soviet AT gunner by Klimbim