Photos WW2 US Forces

[BravoZulu]

Douglas B-23 Dragon aerial pick-up test over a Waco CG-3A glider on April 28, 1943

 

[BravoZulu]

840th Bomb Squadron B-17F "Whizzer II" 42-5786 just after being hit by flak over a marshalling yard at Nis in Yugoslavia on April 15th 1944.

None of the crew survived the incident:

Pilot: 2nd Lieutenant James O. Preston – O-690979 – 22 Years – Killed in Action

Copilot: 2nd Lieutenant Harry L. Johnston – O-759373 – 21 Years – Killed in Action

Navigator: 2nd Lieutenant Jesse D. Gresham – O-757938 – Killed in Action

Bombardier: 2nd Lieutenant Gordon G. Lindholm – O-698306 – 22 Years – Killed in Action

Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Staff Sergeant John C. Toutant – 11114308 – 30/31 Years – Killed in Action

Gunner/Engineer: Staff Sergeant John T. Cieslak – 36297261 – 19/20 Years – Killed in Action

Radio Operator: Sergeant James E. Cooper – 34665857 – 20 Years – Killed in Action

Gunner: Sergeant Harold J. Pierce – 18051255 – 21 Years – Killed in Action

Waist Gunner: Sergeant Albert H. Cline – 33563970 – Killed in Action

Tail Gunner: Private Jack Brown, Jr. – 6396357 – 25 Years – Killed in Action

Eyewitness statement from a crewman on another bomber:

I was flying in No. 7 ship of No. 6 Box of which ship No. 786 was flying No. 6 position. The pilot of this airplane was Lt. Preston.

As we turned to the right, apparently onto the target, the flak became very accurate, and to the best of my knowledge Lt. Preston suffered a direct hit in No. 3 tank which immediately exploded, and at that time the right wing came off and the plane immediately began a sharp diving turn to the right.

I was forced to dive to the right to avoid being struck by Lt. Preston’s plane, which at the time was burning fiercely. I saw no chutes.

 

[BravoZulu]

Operation Reckless, Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, 22 April 1944: LVTs head for the invasion beaches at Humboldt Bay, as light cruisers bombard in the background. The ship firing tracer shells in the right center is USS Boise (CL-47). Just ahead of her is USS Phoenix (CL-46).

U.S. Navy landing craft, loaded with troops, approaches the beach at Hollandia, New Guinea. In the background shell bursts from the preliminary bombardment can be seen. April 1944.

 

[BravoZulu]

Boeing B-29A Superfortress from 6 Bombardment Group, 24 BS - incendiary journey on June 1, 1945 mission to Osaka, Japan.

 

[BravoZulu]

B-24D Liberator "Betsy" from 321st BS, 90th BG, 5th AF on a mission to Wewak, New Guinea, 24 February 1944.

 

[colin traveller]

Quote -

In the US, 1944, Gunnery Sergeant (he was a Sgt in 42) John Basilone demonstrates how he fired the machine gun on 24-25 October 1942.

Basilone fired 2x M1917 heavy machine guns during his Medal of Honor actions. Situated 2 ft apart he would roll between the two, firing and loading. He kept his pistol on the ground beside him. The gun he brought over to that bunker was mounted on a 1919 machine tripod to give it a lower profile.

Unlike the Pacific HBO series he did not fire it off a sandbag and was not in the seated position.

 

[BravoZulu]

Troops with an M3 37mm anti-tank gun whilst on manoeuvres somewhere in Southern England - Early 1943
Interestingly, the breech of the M3 has been fitted with an M1903A2, for use as a sub-calibre training device. The receiver and bolt are just visible.
Each of the men carries a full set of infantry field equipment....rifle-belt, Carlisle dressing pocket, canteen, haversack, meat-can pouch and entrenching tool. Also visible beneath their left arms are their service respirators.
Much of the equipment issued at this time was of WW1 vintage. For example, their canteens feature aluminium screw-tops, a feature of WW1 production canteens.