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Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts
- Thread starter BravoZulu
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Refreshments while on patrol in a No. 2 Squadron Hudson. In flight from RNZAF Station Nelson. Ca. November 1942, New Zealand
No 2 (GR) Squadron became Operational from the 1st of January 1941, flying Vickers Vincents, and later Lockheed Hudsons and Airspeed Oxfords from this station
Today the former RNZAF Station remains open as Nelson Airport, and is the base of Air Nelson (Air New Zealand) and Origin Pacific airlines. Much of the RNZAF buildings and hangars are still in use today by commercial aviation ventures.
Colour by Colourised PIECE of JAKE
Credit: RNZAF Official Release
No 2 (GR) Squadron became Operational from the 1st of January 1941, flying Vickers Vincents, and later Lockheed Hudsons and Airspeed Oxfords from this station
Today the former RNZAF Station remains open as Nelson Airport, and is the base of Air Nelson (Air New Zealand) and Origin Pacific airlines. Much of the RNZAF buildings and hangars are still in use today by commercial aviation ventures.
Colour by Colourised PIECE of JAKE
Credit: RNZAF Official Release
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May 18, 1944
British soldiers look at the holes in the frontal armour of a knocked out German Sturmgeschütz 7,5 cm Stu.K. 40 Ausf. G self-propelled gun.
On the "Gustav Line" In the region of Aquino, Lazio in Italy.
This StuG could possibly be from the Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 907, and was knocked out by either a 17-pdr (3 inches - 76.2 mm) anti-tank gun of the 64th Anti-Tank Regiment (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) - or - two 75mm AP rounds from a Sherman tank.
(Photo source - © IWM (NA 15178)
Colourised by Royston Leonard
British soldiers look at the holes in the frontal armour of a knocked out German Sturmgeschütz 7,5 cm Stu.K. 40 Ausf. G self-propelled gun.
On the "Gustav Line" In the region of Aquino, Lazio in Italy.
This StuG could possibly be from the Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 907, and was knocked out by either a 17-pdr (3 inches - 76.2 mm) anti-tank gun of the 64th Anti-Tank Regiment (Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) - or - two 75mm AP rounds from a Sherman tank.
(Photo source - © IWM (NA 15178)
Colourised by Royston Leonard
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New Zealand fighter pilot Robert “Spud” Spurdle sitting in his personal Hawker Tempest (5 W2-S).
Spurdle was born in Wanganui, New Zealand on the 3rd of March 1918, and joined the RNZAF in 1939 and was trained as a bomber pilot.
Upon reaching England to fly with the RAF in early June 1940, he was retrained as a fighter pilot and flew the Spitfire during the later stages of the Battle of Britain with 74 squadron, under the command of Squadron Leader Sailor Malan.
Spurdle claimed 5 BF-109s shot down, 3 probables and 3 damaged while with 74 squadron.
In mid 1941, Spurdle was transferred to the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit, based at Speke. The unit operated Hawker Hurricanes, which were launched from catapults mounted on merchant vessels; these were known as CAM ships.
They provided some protection against long-range Focke Wulf Fw 200 bombers that operated against shipping convoys crossing the Atlantic.
In 1942 he was posted back to flying Spitfires, where he claimed another BF-109 and an FW-109.
The FW-190 pilot bailed out and was recovered by a British Air Sea Rescue launch. Spurdle visited the pilot, who had been hospitalised, and found that he was Horst Bennokruger, a flying ace of the Luftwaffe who had shot down a reported 17 British aircraft.
On August 11th, 1942 he was awarded the DFC.
He returned to New Zealand in December 1942 where he was posted as a flight commander in the RNZAF's No. 16 Squadron. At the time, it was operating Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks and was based at Woodbourne, preparing for service in the Solomon Islands campaign.
While flying P-40s in the Pacific theater, Sprudle shot down 2 Zeros, damaged another and shared in the destruction of 3 Japanese patrol boats and a damaged barge with his wingman.
In 1944, Spurdle returned to Europe, flying Spitfires for 80 Squadron and escorted Short Stirlings that were towing gliders on D-Day, Spurdle and his flight attacked a German tank on this mission.
Later that year his squadron upgraded to the Hawker Tempest and led the squadron during its support of the parachute landings at Arnhem, targeting the German flak guns.
He was stood down from operations in early January 1945, on account of being fatigued from his extensive war service, and was sent to serve at the headquarters of No. 83 Group. Later that month, his award of a bar to his DFC was announced. He was invested with the DFC in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace later in the year.
Tiring of his headquarters role, Spurdle volunteered for duty as an air-support controller. Having received training in radio duties, Spurdle participated in Operation Varsity, the second airborne crossing of the Rhine. Attached to the British 6th Airborne Division, he was commander of three RAF radio teams.
Landed by glider at Wesel on 24 March, his teams were tasked with handling air-support for the ground forces involved in the action.
For his work on this occasion, he was mentioned in despatches. He was later attached to the 11th Armoured Division, working in a similar role coordinating fighter
activities in support of the British forces as they advanced to the Elbe, where he finished the war in May 1945.
Spurdle, now a wing commander, flew 565 operational sorties, including his glider flight with the 6th Airborne Division, during the course of the war, and was credited with destroying ten enemy aircraft, two, and a half share in another, probably destroyed and nine damaged.
The aviation historian Mike Spick gives similar totals for Spurdle, although credits him with eleven damaged rather than nine.
He retired from the RNZAF in 1946 and later wrote his memoirs, The Blue Arena, published in 1986.
Together with his wife, Shirley, they had three children, Anne, Elizabeth and John.
Wing Commander Robert “Spud” Spurdle passed away on 5th March, 1994, in the town of Whitianga and his remains were interred at Mercury Bay cemetery.
RNZAF Museum Photo
Colourised by Daniel @Rarity Color
Spurdle was born in Wanganui, New Zealand on the 3rd of March 1918, and joined the RNZAF in 1939 and was trained as a bomber pilot.
Upon reaching England to fly with the RAF in early June 1940, he was retrained as a fighter pilot and flew the Spitfire during the later stages of the Battle of Britain with 74 squadron, under the command of Squadron Leader Sailor Malan.
Spurdle claimed 5 BF-109s shot down, 3 probables and 3 damaged while with 74 squadron.
In mid 1941, Spurdle was transferred to the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit, based at Speke. The unit operated Hawker Hurricanes, which were launched from catapults mounted on merchant vessels; these were known as CAM ships.
They provided some protection against long-range Focke Wulf Fw 200 bombers that operated against shipping convoys crossing the Atlantic.
In 1942 he was posted back to flying Spitfires, where he claimed another BF-109 and an FW-109.
The FW-190 pilot bailed out and was recovered by a British Air Sea Rescue launch. Spurdle visited the pilot, who had been hospitalised, and found that he was Horst Bennokruger, a flying ace of the Luftwaffe who had shot down a reported 17 British aircraft.
On August 11th, 1942 he was awarded the DFC.
He returned to New Zealand in December 1942 where he was posted as a flight commander in the RNZAF's No. 16 Squadron. At the time, it was operating Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks and was based at Woodbourne, preparing for service in the Solomon Islands campaign.
While flying P-40s in the Pacific theater, Sprudle shot down 2 Zeros, damaged another and shared in the destruction of 3 Japanese patrol boats and a damaged barge with his wingman.
In 1944, Spurdle returned to Europe, flying Spitfires for 80 Squadron and escorted Short Stirlings that were towing gliders on D-Day, Spurdle and his flight attacked a German tank on this mission.
Later that year his squadron upgraded to the Hawker Tempest and led the squadron during its support of the parachute landings at Arnhem, targeting the German flak guns.
He was stood down from operations in early January 1945, on account of being fatigued from his extensive war service, and was sent to serve at the headquarters of No. 83 Group. Later that month, his award of a bar to his DFC was announced. He was invested with the DFC in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace later in the year.
Tiring of his headquarters role, Spurdle volunteered for duty as an air-support controller. Having received training in radio duties, Spurdle participated in Operation Varsity, the second airborne crossing of the Rhine. Attached to the British 6th Airborne Division, he was commander of three RAF radio teams.
Landed by glider at Wesel on 24 March, his teams were tasked with handling air-support for the ground forces involved in the action.
For his work on this occasion, he was mentioned in despatches. He was later attached to the 11th Armoured Division, working in a similar role coordinating fighter
activities in support of the British forces as they advanced to the Elbe, where he finished the war in May 1945.
Spurdle, now a wing commander, flew 565 operational sorties, including his glider flight with the 6th Airborne Division, during the course of the war, and was credited with destroying ten enemy aircraft, two, and a half share in another, probably destroyed and nine damaged.
The aviation historian Mike Spick gives similar totals for Spurdle, although credits him with eleven damaged rather than nine.
He retired from the RNZAF in 1946 and later wrote his memoirs, The Blue Arena, published in 1986.
Together with his wife, Shirley, they had three children, Anne, Elizabeth and John.
Wing Commander Robert “Spud” Spurdle passed away on 5th March, 1994, in the town of Whitianga and his remains were interred at Mercury Bay cemetery.
RNZAF Museum Photo
Colourised by Daniel @Rarity Color
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The U-boat cruiser U-155 on display on the Thames in December 1918. The U-155 was handed over to the Allied authorities after the German surrender in November 1918. Its two large 150mm guns, typical of a submarine raider.
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Three 'Lost Tommies' wearing fur jackets
From the Thuillier collection of glass plate negatives. Taken by Louis and Antoinette Thuillier in Vignacourt, France during the period 1916 to 1918.
Colourised by Doug
From the Thuillier collection of glass plate negatives. Taken by Louis and Antoinette Thuillier in Vignacourt, France during the period 1916 to 1918.
Colourised by Doug
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Three mud caked German soldiers from the Reserve Infantry Regiment Nº236, 102 Reserve Inf. Brigade, 51st Reserve Division (one is carrying a Kar 98(az) rifle).
(Photo courtesy of Jürgen Schmieschek)
Colourised by Doug
(Photo courtesy of Jürgen Schmieschek)
Colourised by Doug
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May 1917
Troops of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.), 85th Brigade, 28th Division manning a trench near Bairakli Jum'a, Macedonia.
(Photo source -© IWM Q 32896)
Colourised by Doug - Colourising History
Troops of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.), 85th Brigade, 28th Division manning a trench near Bairakli Jum'a, Macedonia.
(Photo source -© IWM Q 32896)
Colourised by Doug - Colourising History
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Finnish volunteers of the 27th Jäger Battalion in Latvia, 1916/1917.
The 27th Jäger Battalionwas a light infantry unit in the German Army from 1915–1918 which consisted mainly of volunteers of the Finnish Jäger Movement.
The recruitment of the Jäger volunteers from the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland had to be secret, since they were subjects of the Russian empire. It was dominated by German-influenced circles, such as university students and the upper middle class. The recruits were transported across Finland's western border via Sweden to Germany, where the volunteers were formed into the Royal Prussian 27th Jäger Battalion.
The Jäger Battalion fought in the ranks of the German Army from 1916 in the battles on the northern flank of the eastern front. After the outbreak of the Civil War in Finland the Jägers were engaged on the "White" (non-communist) side in the war and contributed heavily for the White victory. Educated as professional soldiers they were also fit to assume command as officers over the untrained troops of the Civil War.
After the Civil War many of the Jägers continued their military careers. Most of the commanders of army corps, divisions, and regiments during the second world war were Jägers.
Photograph taken by Erkki Räikkönen and was provided by the Finnish Heritage Agency.
The 27th Jäger Battalionwas a light infantry unit in the German Army from 1915–1918 which consisted mainly of volunteers of the Finnish Jäger Movement.
The recruitment of the Jäger volunteers from the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland had to be secret, since they were subjects of the Russian empire. It was dominated by German-influenced circles, such as university students and the upper middle class. The recruits were transported across Finland's western border via Sweden to Germany, where the volunteers were formed into the Royal Prussian 27th Jäger Battalion.
The Jäger Battalion fought in the ranks of the German Army from 1916 in the battles on the northern flank of the eastern front. After the outbreak of the Civil War in Finland the Jägers were engaged on the "White" (non-communist) side in the war and contributed heavily for the White victory. Educated as professional soldiers they were also fit to assume command as officers over the untrained troops of the Civil War.
After the Civil War many of the Jägers continued their military careers. Most of the commanders of army corps, divisions, and regiments during the second world war were Jägers.
Photograph taken by Erkki Räikkönen and was provided by the Finnish Heritage Agency.
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Five German NCOs from the Field Signal Troop #229 with their signalling equipment in the Vosges Mountains, Alsace-Lorraine. May 1917.
The man in the centre is operating a Heliograph. The two men on the right side are operating a acetylene signal lamp, the so called "Spiegelsignalgerät 14" which was produced by Carl Zeiss in Jena. This device used artificial light to send messages, not the sun. Only the Heliograph in the centre used the sunlight to send messages.
All optical signal equipment (Heliograph) required a direct line of sight and as such were often limited to sending messages to rear positions.
Signals flashed towards the enemy lines could be seen by enemy signallers and/or attract the attention of Allied artillery.
(Photograph and info from the Drakegoodman collection)
Colourised by Royston Leonard
The man in the centre is operating a Heliograph. The two men on the right side are operating a acetylene signal lamp, the so called "Spiegelsignalgerät 14" which was produced by Carl Zeiss in Jena. This device used artificial light to send messages, not the sun. Only the Heliograph in the centre used the sunlight to send messages.
All optical signal equipment (Heliograph) required a direct line of sight and as such were often limited to sending messages to rear positions.
Signals flashed towards the enemy lines could be seen by enemy signallers and/or attract the attention of Allied artillery.
(Photograph and info from the Drakegoodman collection)
Colourised by Royston Leonard
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Who would be the yellow cap-banded gentleman?
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General Adolf Galland, one of Germany’s most famous fighter aces, is pictured here with Werner Mölders, another leading Luftwaffe pilot, during the early stages of the Second World War.
The aircraft is a Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4/N, Werknummer 5819, assigned to the Stab
Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) — "Schlageter".
This particular Bf 109 was a unique machine , the only known example fitted with a cigar lighter!
The aircraft is a Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4/N, Werknummer 5819, assigned to the Stab
Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) — "Schlageter".
This particular Bf 109 was a unique machine , the only known example fitted with a cigar lighter!
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The US Army 369th Infantry Regiment (Harlem Hellfighters) on the deck of the ship 'Stockholm' on the 12 February 1919 as they return to New York from Europe following the end of WW I !
Colorized by : Marina Amaral
Colorized by : Marina Amaral
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