Photos Colour and Colourised Photos of WW2 & earlier conflicts
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Hot and weary after fighting on the western beaches of Saipan, Marine PFC T. E. Underwood of St. Petersburg, Fla., takes a long, cool drink of water from his canteen. Beads of perspiration glisten on the weary leatherneck’s unshaven face, July 8th, 1944 Saipan.
(Original caption by photographer Stanley Troutman)
Thomas Ellis Underwood – just “Ellis” to his family – was born in Parker, Florida on 16 May 1922.
Ellis joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942. One year later, he was a proud member of Company B, First Battalion, 24th Marines – part of the brand new Fourth Marine Division.
Underwood first saw combat on the island of Namur; his company faced a Japanese banzai attack at dawn on 2 February 1944.
Ellis was examined for promotion and re-graded with the MOS of 653 (squad leader) at Camp Maui on 1 April 1944. Although he lacked the second stripe of a corporal, Underwood could now lead a small Marine unit – probably a fire team of four – in combat.
This was his role when he landed on Saipan; by the time he encountered the photographers (Stanley Troutman and Eugene Smith) on 8 July, he led a squad. On July 24th, Corporal Underwood was making his third combat landing on the island of Tinian. Fighting for this island lasted just over a week.
Iwo Jima. Ellis had been wounded in action on Iwo Jima. As his company fought through the area around to Quarry, something dealt him a heavy blow on the head, raising a nasty contusion. He was evacuated to the battalion aid station, then to the beach, and ultimately to one of the transports offshore.
Ellis returned to duty a few days later as his company rested in reserve.
On the first day of March, First Battalion attacked Iwo’s “Meat Grinder” complex, a hellish jumble of hills, gullies, and crags with names like “Hill 382,” “Turkey Knob,” and “The Amphitheater.” Baker Company waited in supporting positions for two days before taking over the Turkey Knob front from an exhausted Charlie Company. They lost heavily on 3 March and realized the next day would be more of the same.
As Baker Company attempted to advance on D-plus-13, a fortified position manned by determined Japanese troops opened fire, stopping the forward movement. Corporal Underwood took charge of the situation, deploying his under-strength squad for an attack on the enemy. As he did, a Japanese bullet struck and shattered his carbine in his hands.
“Undaunted by this narrow escape, he picked up a Browning Automatic Rifle and continued to lead his men in a successful assault,” recalled a battalion officer. This valorous act would be his last. A shell fragment tore into his back, and Thomas Ellis Underwood’s life ended on 4 March 1945. He was twenty-two years old.
A few days after his death, Underwood was buried in Row 29, Grave 1406 of the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima. His personal effects were carefully cataloged and sent to his parents.
On 27 March 1945, a letter arrived for the Underwoods in St. Petersburg, Florida. The return address was a Marine Corps unit, but it wasn’t from their son. An unfamiliar Major was writing to inform them that Ellis had been wounded in action on Iwo Jima, but returned to duty – “which indicates that his injuries were not serious.” The major hoped that Ellis would “communicate at his earliest opportunity” and offered assurances that further reports would be forwarded without delay.
We can only guess at George and Cora’s reaction to this news. Certainly, they were relieved that Ellis hadn’t been seriously hurt and may have assumed that his lack of communication was due to his injury. They awaited the promised letter “at his earliest opportunity.”
It never came. Two days later, a Western Union telegram crushed the family’s hopes.
Cpl. Thomas Ellis Underwood's final resting place is at the Sunnyside Cemetery, Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, USA.
Underwood vs. Klonis
For decades, Thomas E. Underwood was misidentified for Angelo Klonis in this famous photo series.
The following article on this wonderful and very informative page will offer what is considered to be definitive proof that the “Weary Warrior” is, in fact, Thomas Ellis Underwood of Company B, First Battalion, 24th Marines and not Sergeant Angelo Speros Klonis.
Photograph by Stanley Troutman, Acme Newspictures.been
(Original caption by photographer Stanley Troutman)
Thomas Ellis Underwood – just “Ellis” to his family – was born in Parker, Florida on 16 May 1922.
Ellis joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942. One year later, he was a proud member of Company B, First Battalion, 24th Marines – part of the brand new Fourth Marine Division.
Underwood first saw combat on the island of Namur; his company faced a Japanese banzai attack at dawn on 2 February 1944.
Ellis was examined for promotion and re-graded with the MOS of 653 (squad leader) at Camp Maui on 1 April 1944. Although he lacked the second stripe of a corporal, Underwood could now lead a small Marine unit – probably a fire team of four – in combat.
This was his role when he landed on Saipan; by the time he encountered the photographers (Stanley Troutman and Eugene Smith) on 8 July, he led a squad. On July 24th, Corporal Underwood was making his third combat landing on the island of Tinian. Fighting for this island lasted just over a week.
Iwo Jima. Ellis had been wounded in action on Iwo Jima. As his company fought through the area around to Quarry, something dealt him a heavy blow on the head, raising a nasty contusion. He was evacuated to the battalion aid station, then to the beach, and ultimately to one of the transports offshore.
Ellis returned to duty a few days later as his company rested in reserve.
On the first day of March, First Battalion attacked Iwo’s “Meat Grinder” complex, a hellish jumble of hills, gullies, and crags with names like “Hill 382,” “Turkey Knob,” and “The Amphitheater.” Baker Company waited in supporting positions for two days before taking over the Turkey Knob front from an exhausted Charlie Company. They lost heavily on 3 March and realized the next day would be more of the same.
As Baker Company attempted to advance on D-plus-13, a fortified position manned by determined Japanese troops opened fire, stopping the forward movement. Corporal Underwood took charge of the situation, deploying his under-strength squad for an attack on the enemy. As he did, a Japanese bullet struck and shattered his carbine in his hands.
“Undaunted by this narrow escape, he picked up a Browning Automatic Rifle and continued to lead his men in a successful assault,” recalled a battalion officer. This valorous act would be his last. A shell fragment tore into his back, and Thomas Ellis Underwood’s life ended on 4 March 1945. He was twenty-two years old.
A few days after his death, Underwood was buried in Row 29, Grave 1406 of the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima. His personal effects were carefully cataloged and sent to his parents.
On 27 March 1945, a letter arrived for the Underwoods in St. Petersburg, Florida. The return address was a Marine Corps unit, but it wasn’t from their son. An unfamiliar Major was writing to inform them that Ellis had been wounded in action on Iwo Jima, but returned to duty – “which indicates that his injuries were not serious.” The major hoped that Ellis would “communicate at his earliest opportunity” and offered assurances that further reports would be forwarded without delay.
We can only guess at George and Cora’s reaction to this news. Certainly, they were relieved that Ellis hadn’t been seriously hurt and may have assumed that his lack of communication was due to his injury. They awaited the promised letter “at his earliest opportunity.”
It never came. Two days later, a Western Union telegram crushed the family’s hopes.
Cpl. Thomas Ellis Underwood's final resting place is at the Sunnyside Cemetery, Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, USA.
Underwood vs. Klonis
For decades, Thomas E. Underwood was misidentified for Angelo Klonis in this famous photo series.
The following article on this wonderful and very informative page will offer what is considered to be definitive proof that the “Weary Warrior” is, in fact, Thomas Ellis Underwood of Company B, First Battalion, 24th Marines and not Sergeant Angelo Speros Klonis.
Photograph by Stanley Troutman, Acme Newspictures.been
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The crew of 'Our Gang', a B-17(# 42-5069) of the 324th Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, posing with their two mascots, Windy and Skippy, at Bassingbourn, England, 24 June 1943.
Several captions for this image record that the photo was taken after engine problems forced the aircraft to abort a mission to Le Mans and turn back, before the rest of the planes also aborted and returned.
The crew comprised of (left to right): S/Sgt. Marion J. Spagnola (Cincinatti, OH); T/Sgt. Jack R. Carlson (Rockford, IL); S/Sgt. Jack Kevine, (East Nassau, NY); 2nd Lt. F.N. Dibble (Bronxville, NY); 1st Lt. R.F. Brubaker (Clearwater, FL); 1st Lt. James M. Smith, Pilot (Austin, TX); Sgt. Bernard Bedrock (New York, NY); 1st Lt. W.S. Sooveli (Portland, CT); S/Sgt. Edward L. Lawler (Camden, AK), and T/Sgt. Arthur L. Smith (Norwich, CT).
The plane was lost over Germany on a mission to Schweinfurt only a few months later on 17 August 1943 with a different crew piloted by William Wheeler, though all ten bailed, survived and where taken prisoner.
(The photo was taken by Pearson 8th AFHQ)
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I think this was posted a few pages back by @Conhoon - definitely seen it recently as it's a great photo
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So Sorry for the repost, I just got back from a trip and getting back for business and posts
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Kiwi pilots Flying Officers Maurice Mayston, and Royce De Tourret from 485 NZ Squadron walk away from their Spitfires after returning from a mission over Normandy, shortly after D-Day.
Taken at Advanced Landing Ground Selsey, June 1944.
On D-Day, Flying Officer ‘Johnnie’ Houlton of No. 485 Squadron shot down the first Luftwaffe plane that day, a Junkers Ju88.
During the week after D-Day, No. 485 Sqn downed nine Luftwaffe planes without losses.
The two ground crew in the photo are Flight Sergeant Bong'ard and Sergeant Parker.
RNZAF Museum photo
Colourised by Daniel Rarity
Taken at Advanced Landing Ground Selsey, June 1944.
On D-Day, Flying Officer ‘Johnnie’ Houlton of No. 485 Squadron shot down the first Luftwaffe plane that day, a Junkers Ju88.
During the week after D-Day, No. 485 Sqn downed nine Luftwaffe planes without losses.
The two ground crew in the photo are Flight Sergeant Bong'ard and Sergeant Parker.
RNZAF Museum photo
Colourised by Daniel Rarity
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Photograph from the Warsaw Uprising 1944.
Henryka Wieczorek pseudonym "Heniuta" with the VIS pistol at the gate of the Herse House on Dąbrowski Square.
The woman in the photo survived the war and died in 2003.
Author of the photo: Wiesław Chrzanowski "Wiesław"
source: MPW
Henryka Wieczorek pseudonym "Heniuta" with the VIS pistol at the gate of the Herse House on Dąbrowski Square.
The woman in the photo survived the war and died in 2003.
Author of the photo: Wiesław Chrzanowski "Wiesław"
source: MPW
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Men of the 7th Div. using flame throwers to smoke out Japs from a block house on Kwajalein Island, while others wait with rifles ready in case Japs come out. February 4, 1944. Cordray. (Army) NARA FILE #: iii-SC-212770 WAR & CONFLICT BOOK #: 1187
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Soviet soldiers inspect a destroyed German tank Panther, 1943.
The Panther is a German medium tank deployed during World War II on the Eastern and Western Fronts in Europe from mid-1943 to the war's end in 1945. It had the ordnance inventory designation of Sd.Kfz. 171. It was designated as the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther until 27 February 1944, when Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral "V" be deleted.[citation needed] Contemporary English language reports sometimes refer to it as the "Mark V".
The Panther was intended to counter the Soviet T-34 and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV. Nevertheless, it served alongside the Panzer IV and the heavier Tiger I until the end of the war. It is considered one of the best tanks of World War II for its excellent firepower and protection, although its reliability was less impressive.
The Panther was a compromise. While having essentially the same Maybach V12 petrol (690 hp) engine as the Tiger I, it had more effective frontal hull armour, better gun penetration, was lighter and faster, and could traverse rough terrain better than the Tiger I. The trade-off was weaker side armour, which made it vulnerable to flanking fire. The Panther proved to be effective in open country and long-range engagements.
The Panther was far cheaper to produce than the Tiger I, and only slightly more expensive than the Panzer IV. Key elements of the Panther design, such as its armour, transmission, and final drive, were simplifications made to improve production rates and address raw material shortages. The overall design remained described by some as "over-engineered". The Panther was rushed into combat at the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943 despite numerous unresolved technical problems, leading to high losses due to mechanical failure. Most design flaws were rectified by late 1943 and early 1944, though the bombing of production plants, increasing shortages of high-quality alloys for critical components, shortage of fuel and training space, and the declining quality of crews all impacted the tank's effectiveness.
Though officially classified as a medium tank, its weight is more like that of a heavy tank, as its weight of 44.8 tons puts it roughly in the same category as the American M26 Pershing (41.7 tons), British Churchill (40.7 tons) and the Soviet IS-2 (46 tons) heavy tanks. The tank had a very high power-to-weight ratio, making it highly mobile regardless of its tonnage. Its weight still caused logistical problems, such as an inability to cross certain bridges.
The naming of Panther production variants did not, unlike most German tanks, follow alphabetical order: the initial variant, Panther "D" (Ausf. D), was followed by "A" and "G" variants.
The Panther is a German medium tank deployed during World War II on the Eastern and Western Fronts in Europe from mid-1943 to the war's end in 1945. It had the ordnance inventory designation of Sd.Kfz. 171. It was designated as the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther until 27 February 1944, when Hitler ordered that the Roman numeral "V" be deleted.[citation needed] Contemporary English language reports sometimes refer to it as the "Mark V".
The Panther was intended to counter the Soviet T-34 and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV. Nevertheless, it served alongside the Panzer IV and the heavier Tiger I until the end of the war. It is considered one of the best tanks of World War II for its excellent firepower and protection, although its reliability was less impressive.
The Panther was a compromise. While having essentially the same Maybach V12 petrol (690 hp) engine as the Tiger I, it had more effective frontal hull armour, better gun penetration, was lighter and faster, and could traverse rough terrain better than the Tiger I. The trade-off was weaker side armour, which made it vulnerable to flanking fire. The Panther proved to be effective in open country and long-range engagements.
The Panther was far cheaper to produce than the Tiger I, and only slightly more expensive than the Panzer IV. Key elements of the Panther design, such as its armour, transmission, and final drive, were simplifications made to improve production rates and address raw material shortages. The overall design remained described by some as "over-engineered". The Panther was rushed into combat at the Battle of Kursk in the summer of 1943 despite numerous unresolved technical problems, leading to high losses due to mechanical failure. Most design flaws were rectified by late 1943 and early 1944, though the bombing of production plants, increasing shortages of high-quality alloys for critical components, shortage of fuel and training space, and the declining quality of crews all impacted the tank's effectiveness.
Though officially classified as a medium tank, its weight is more like that of a heavy tank, as its weight of 44.8 tons puts it roughly in the same category as the American M26 Pershing (41.7 tons), British Churchill (40.7 tons) and the Soviet IS-2 (46 tons) heavy tanks. The tank had a very high power-to-weight ratio, making it highly mobile regardless of its tonnage. Its weight still caused logistical problems, such as an inability to cross certain bridges.
The naming of Panther production variants did not, unlike most German tanks, follow alphabetical order: the initial variant, Panther "D" (Ausf. D), was followed by "A" and "G" variants.
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Lewis gunners of the 12th Battalion, Royal Scots, wearing box respirators as they stand in a front line trench during a gas attack, Meteren, 25 June 1918.
(Photo source - © IWM Q 6777)
Colourised by Doug
(Photo source - © IWM Q 6777)
Colourised by Doug
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Jewish soldiers from the German and Astro-Hungarian Empire celebrating Hanukkah, 1916.
A group photo of jews serving in the armies of the German and Astro-Hungarian Empire. The Menorah in the center is being held by a German Landsturm soldier and a Astro-Hungarian soldier, probably to show the unity of the two empires. It’s placed on top a pile of snow with the hebrew inscription “Hanukkah, 1916”. On the left side of the Menorah is a Astro-Hungarian nurse who has the red and white ribbon for the ‘Decoration for Services to the Red Cross’. On the right side of the Menorah is a German field rabbi, the star of David can be seen on his field cap.
An estimated 100,000 German Jewish military personnel served in the German Army during World War I, of whom 12,000 were killed in action. In the Astro-Hungarian army it’s estimated that about 300,000 served.
Photographer unknown.
A group photo of jews serving in the armies of the German and Astro-Hungarian Empire. The Menorah in the center is being held by a German Landsturm soldier and a Astro-Hungarian soldier, probably to show the unity of the two empires. It’s placed on top a pile of snow with the hebrew inscription “Hanukkah, 1916”. On the left side of the Menorah is a Astro-Hungarian nurse who has the red and white ribbon for the ‘Decoration for Services to the Red Cross’. On the right side of the Menorah is a German field rabbi, the star of David can be seen on his field cap.
An estimated 100,000 German Jewish military personnel served in the German Army during World War I, of whom 12,000 were killed in action. In the Astro-Hungarian army it’s estimated that about 300,000 served.
Photographer unknown.
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French Schneider tank ca. WW1
German airfield also WW1 - April 1917 ( I haven't further information on either)
German airfield also WW1 - April 1917 ( I haven't further information on either)
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