Aerial Warfare Collection

RAF bomber pilot and second pilot, 1941. Brave yet cautious, cool yet daring. From Bomber Command. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Supermarine Spitfire, c1940 (colour litho)
981878 Supermarine Spitfire, c1940 (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Supermarine Spitfire, c1940.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection

Air Raid Precautions, cigarette card, British, 1938. Testing for mustard gas contamination. The end of the instrument is coated with special paint that will change colour if mustard gas is present

F4U Corsair aircraft and Japanese Nakajima fighter planes in aerial combat
American Vought F4U Corsair aircraft and Japanese Nakajima fighter planes engaged in aerial combat over the Pacific during World War II

Wrecked "GOTHA", 1917. Creator: Bain News Service
Wrecked "GOTHA", 1917. Shows Allied forces servicemen inspecting a crashed German Gotha bomber during World War I

Lieut. Madon, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
Lieut. Madon, between c1915 and c1920. Shows aviator Georges Fe´lix Madon (1892-1924) who was the fourth ranked French ace pilot of World War I

Caproni & his plane, 1918. Creator: Bain News Service
Caproni & his plane, 1918

Adm. M.E.F. Kerr, between c1915 and c1920. Creator: Bain News Service
Adm. M.E.F. Kerr, between c1915 and c1920. Shows Admiral Mark Edward Frederic Kerr (1864-1944), a Royal Navy and Royal Air Force officer who served during World War I

The British Air Raid on Cuxhaven, Christmas Day, 1914, (c1920). Creator: Es Hodgson
The British Air Raid on Cuxhaven, Christmas Day, 1914, (c1920)....the Zeppelin Attack on the Escorting Force of Light Cruisers

RAF Spitfire on the deck of an aircraft carrier on its way to Malta
RAF Spitfire fighter on the deck of an aircraft carrier on its way to Malta, World War II, 1942 (1944). The Spitfires Come. From " The Air Battle of Malta"

Refuelling and re-arming Spitfire fighters, Malta, World War II, 1942 (1944). Each to his Station. - While the pilot waits, soldiers and airmen refuel and reammunition his Spitfire in its pen

Downed Zeppelin
A German L21 Zeppelin sinks off the coast of Yarmouth, Norfolk, after having been shot down. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

The German Air Fleet; Command post in a forward platform, during a raid. The dimensions of the platform were manifestly exaggerated, 1917

The German Air Fleet; On board a zeppelin: in the rear, under attack by Allied planes, 1917. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

Canonne, pius torpille en mer; Les survivants de l'equipage du L-7 nagent vers le sous-marin anglai Creator
Canonne, pius torpille en mer; Les survivants de l'equipage du L-7 nagent vers le sous-marin anglais qui s'efforce de les recueillir, 1916

Echoue sur la cote Norvegienne; En derivant, le zeppelin est venu a la cote; dans la chute, sa nacelle avant s'est rompue en deux troncons, 1916

Tombe a la Mer; L'equipage du zeppelin L-15, atteint d'un obus a l'arriere, au cours d'un raid sur l'Est de l'Angleterre et tombe dans l'estuaire de la Tamise, 1916

Movie poster "Combat aérien de la Première Guerre Mondiale" by Pathé frères
Movie poster "Combat aerien de la Premiere Guerre Mondiale" by Pathe freres, ca 1916-1918. Private Collection

Premieres visions de Guerre; Un zeppelin est venu bombarder Anvers sans resultats appreciables ; les bombes etaient encore peu efficaces, 1914

Le Zeppelin Abattu; Dans la banlieue Nord de Londres; Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson
Le Zeppelin Abattu; Dans la banlieue Nord de Londres; Le lieutenant-aviateur William Leefe Robinson, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

La mort de Brindejonc des Moulinais; Brindejonc photographie avant son dernier depart, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

La mort de Brindejonc des Moulinais; le monocoque de Brindejonc des Moulinais, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

La garde champetre; Derriere le front de la Somme, a Hangest-en-Santerre : lecture d'une proclamation concernant l'alarme a donner en cas d'apparition d'avions allemands, 1916

Aviateurs; L'enseigne de vaisseau Jean Roulier donnant ses derniers ordres, le matin du 15 aout, avant de partir pour le bombardement de Trieste, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV

Aviateurs; Une visite de Gabriele d'Annunzio aux aviateurs francais de Venise: le poete, ayant a sa droite le consul de France, est entoure des pilotes de l'escadrille de chasse de Nieuport

Les destructions de monuments a Venise; Coupole de l'eglise San-Pietro di Castello
Les destructions de monuments a Venise et a Reims; Coupole de l'eglise San-Pietro di Castello, qui fut atteinte par une bombe incendiaire et don't la lanterne seule fut detruite par le feu

Les destructions de monuments a Venise; Interieur de l'eglise Santa-Maria Formosa
Les destructions de monuments a Venise et a Reims; Interieur de l'eglise Santa-Maria Formosa, apres le bombardement de Venise par les avions autrichiens, le 9 aout, 1916

Nos Aviateurs; le sergent Hugues de Rochefort, 1916. Creator: Unknown
Nos Aviateurs; le sergent Hugues de Rochefort, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII. La Guerre Juillet, Aout, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Decembre 1916"

Nos Aviateurs; l'adjudant Maxime Lenoir, 1916. Creator: Unknown
Nos Aviateurs; l'adjudant Maxime Lenoir, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII. La Guerre Juillet, Aout, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Decembre 1916"

Nos Aviateurs; le sous-lieutenant Andre Chainat, 1916. Creator: Unknown
Nos Aviateurs; le sous-lieutenant Andre Chainat, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

L'Aviation Francaise sur le front Macedonien; Vue de monastir, prise d'un avion descendutres bas pour mieux viser les objectifs militaires a detruire, 1916

L'Aviation Francaise sur le front Macedonien; un des bombardements de la ville de Petritch: Pendant la periode de preparation sur le front d'Orient

Les Deux eglises venitiennes atteintes par les bombes des aviateurs autrichiens; San-Pietro di Castello, dont la coupole a ete incendiee, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV

Les Deux eglises venitiennes atteintes par les bombes des aviateurs autrichiens; Santa-Maria Formosa, qui a ete completement detruite, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV

Mort heroique d'un Aviateur; l'aviateur Macquart de Terline, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

Le sous-lieutenant aviateur Marchal, c1916. Creator: Unknown
Le sous-lieutenant aviateur Marchal, c1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII. La Guerre Juillet, Aout, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Decembre 1916"

Les Nouveaux dirigeables, de marine Anglais; La nacelle-fuselage, portant une bombe a la partie inferieure, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVII

Les Nouveaux dirigeables, de marine Anglais; Un dirigeable de marine anglais quittant le terrain de manoeuvres, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVII

L'Armature du Zeppelin abattu dans les Marais du Vardar, 1916. Creator: Unknown
L'Armature du Zeppelin abattu dans les Marais du Vardar, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVII. La Guerre Janvier, Fevrier, Mars, Avril, Mai, Juin 1916"

La guerre aerienne en Macedoine Grecque : un avion ennemi "Descendu" dans le lac amatovo; les debris de l "Albatros" ont ete rassembles a proximite d'un village macedonien

Gabriele D'Annunzio et son pilote, le capitaine Ermanno Beltramo, c1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVII

La fin du Zeppelin "L7".-- l'explosion finale, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVII. La Guerre Janvier, Fevrier, Mars, Avril, Mai, Juin 1916"

Hommes de l'equipage du Zeppelin "L7" nageant vers le sous-marin anglais qui s'attarde sous le feu allemand pour les recueillir, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV

Le Zeppelin "L7" abattu le 4 mai au large de la cote du Slesvig par les deux navires britanniques "Galatea" et "Phaeton"

Trois Zeppelins detruits en trois jours. Le "LZ85"; Le pavillon du zeppelin LZ85 que l'equipage avait emporte dans sa fuite, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV

Le Zeppelin "L-15" abattu dans l'estuaire de la Tamise; Le "L-15" photographie au petit jour, le

Le Zeppelin "L-15" abattu dans l'estuaire de la Tamise; L'equipage du L-15 se rend au chalutier-patrouilleur "Olivine" dans la nuit du 31 mars au 1eravril

Trois Zeppelins detruits en trois jours. Le "LZ85" a l'embouchure du Vardar; Le delta du Vardar et le squelette du zeppelin don't les dernieres toiles achevent de bruler, 1916

Trois Zeppelins detruits en trois jours

Trois Zeppelins detruits en trois jours. Le "L20" dans un fjord de Norvege; En derivant, le zeppelin L20 est venu a la cote : la nacelle avant est en deux troncons, 1916

Trois Zeppelins detruits en trois jours

Trois Zeppelins detruits en trois jours. Le "L20" dans un fjord de Norvege; L'epave du zeppelin L20 flottant au gre des vents au milieu du Hafsfjord, le 3 mai, 1916

Last zeppelin raid, on the night of January 29 to 30, 1916. Creator: Unknown
Last zeppelin raid, on the night of January 29 to 30, 1916

Sea Scouts Serving at a Mobile Canteen, 1944. Creator: Unknown
Sea Scouts Serving at a Mobile Canteen, 1944. From "Boy Scouts, by E. E. Reynolds. [Collins, London, 1944]

German Zeppelin L19 crashed in the North Sea on its way back from a raid on England
6000395 German Zeppelin L19 crashed in the North Sea on its way back from a raid on England, World War I, 1916 (colour litho) by Damblans

Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany taking cover beneath his car to avoid darts dropped by a French aeroplane
6000338 Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany taking cover beneath his car to avoid darts dropped by a French aeroplane, World War I, 1915 (litho) by Damblans

German Zeppelin LZ77 shot down over Brabant-le-Roi
6000390 German Zeppelin LZ77 shot down over Brabant-le-Roi, France, during the Battle of Verdun, World War I, 1916 (colour litho) by Damblans

Two peasant women killed by a German aeroplane, World War I, 1916 (colour litho)
6000378 Two peasant women killed by a German aeroplane, World War I, 1916 (colour litho) by Damblans

Lunchtime brings a few minutes of rest for these women workers of the assembly line at Douglas Aircraft Companys plant, Long Beach, Calif

Major Oliver Stewart, MC (formerly 9th Battalion Middlesex Regiment) Royal Flying Corps
5927572 Major Oliver Stewart, MC (formerly 9th Battalion Middlesex Regiment) Royal Flying Corps, 1918 circa. (w/c) by Jennings, Reginald George (fl)

War balloons. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho)
2786554 War balloons. Illustration for Le Rire (colour litho) by Camara, Leal de (1877-1948); Private Collection; (add.info.: War balloons)

Lieutenant Rhodes-Moorhouse flying over Courtrai to bomb the railway
976433 Lieutenant Rhodes-Moorhouse flying over Courtrai to bomb the railway, 26 April 1915 (colour litho) by Stewart

German Zeppelins attacking the English coast; World War I (litho)
7185941 German Zeppelins attacking the English coast; World War I (litho) by Diemer, Michael Zeno (1867-1939); Private Collection; (add.info.: German Zeppelins attacking the English coast)

German Airforce
circa 1915: A German Airman demonstrates the greater range of fire achieved by mounting his gun on a swivel upon a rotating ring. On the right, German hangars damaged after a British raid

Barons Flying Circus
Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Barons aerodrome, or Flying Circus, operating from an airfield in France. (Photo by Spencer Arnold Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

British Supermarine Spitfire fighter shooting down a German bomber over the Forth Bridge
6014675 British Supermarine Spitfire fighter shooting down a German bomber over the Forth Bridge, World War II, Scotland, October 1939 (colour litho) by English School

Children sleeping in hammocks in the London Underground during a German air raid
6014638 Children sleeping in hammocks in the London Underground during a German air raid, World War II, 1940-1941 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

German Zeppelin airship shot down in flames off the coast of Norfolk
5986739 German Zeppelin airship shot down in flames off the coast of Norfolk, World War I, 28 November 1916 (litho) by English School

Damage to the interior of St Pauls Cathedral caused by a German air raid during the Blitz
6033031 Damage to the interior of St Pauls Cathedral caused by a German air raid during the Blitz, London, World War II, 1940 (colour litho) by English School

Firemen fighting a blaze during the Blitz in London
6033022 Firemen fighting a blaze during the Blitz in London, World War II, 1940-1945 (colour litho) by English School

A British naval airship bombing a submarine (colour litho)
981892 A British naval airship bombing a submarine (colour litho) by English School

Wellington bombers attacking the German naval base at Kiel, 1939 (colour litho)
981883 Wellington bombers attacking the German naval base at Kiel, 1939 (colour litho) by English School

Wellington bombers in formation (colour litho)
981877 Wellington bombers in formation (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wellington bombers in formation.); Look and Learn / Elgar Collection

Squadron Leader Arthur Bigsworth attacks with bombs a German submarine
976436 Squadron Leader Arthur Bigsworth attacks with bombs a German submarine, which fills and sinks off Ostend, Belgium, 26 August 1915 (colour litho) by Swanwick, H. G

German pilot in the forward gondola of a Zeppelin, World War I (litho)
972711 German pilot in the forward gondola of a Zeppelin, World War I (litho) by Dadd, Philip (1880-1916); Private Collection; (add.info.: German pilot in the forward gondola of a Zeppelin)

British biplane at an airfield near Hollebeke, Belgium, World War I (litho)
972710 British biplane at an airfield near Hollebeke, Belgium, World War I (litho) by Millar

Airplane, artillery gun, and soldiers by Edward Penfield
2598911 Airplane, artillery gun, and soldiers by Edward Penfield by Penfield, Edward (1866-1925); (add.info.: World War I, illustration Airplane, artillery gun)

Patrol of British Vickers Wellesley light bombers of the RAF flying over Suez
6014689 Patrol of British Vickers Wellesley light bombers of the RAF flying over Suez, Egypt (b/w photo) by English Photographer

British Hawker Hart light bombers diving in formation (b / w photo)
6014684 British Hawker Hart light bombers diving in formation (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Wreckage of German Army Zeppelin L33 damaged and forced to land at Little Wigborough
6000103 Wreckage of German Army Zeppelin L33 damaged and forced to land at Little Wigborough, Essex, World War I, 24 September 1916 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Boarding house on Cromwell Road damaged in a Zeppelin raid on Southend
6029822 Boarding house on Cromwell Road damaged in a Zeppelin raid on Southend, Essex, 10 May 1915 (b/w photo) by English Photographer

Motor driven war airship (colour litho)
3104909 Motor driven war airship (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Motor driven war airship)

Squadron Leader Spenser Grey flying over Cologne, 8 October 1914 (litho)
976452 Squadron Leader Spenser Grey flying over Cologne, 8 October 1914 (litho) by Avis, W

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"Aerial Warfare: The Skies Become a Battlefield" In the midst of the chaos and uncertainty of war, brave men took to the skies, becoming legends in their own right. Meet an RAF bomber pilot and his second pilot, soaring through the clouds in 1941, determined to defend their homeland. As tensions rose across Europe, Air Raid Precautions became a vital part of daily life. A cigarette card from 1938 serves as a reminder of those anxious times when civilians sought refuge from enemy attacks. The iconic image of an RAF Spitfire resting on the deck of an aircraft carrier en route to Malta in 1942 showcases the crucial role these agile fighters played during World War II. Refuelling and re-arming Spitfires on Maltese soil further exemplify their unwavering commitment to victory. However, aerial warfare was not without its perils. The haunting sight of air raid damage inflicted upon Clacton-on-Sea in April 1940 stands as a stark reminder that no place was truly safe from destruction. Looking back even further into history, we find ourselves amidst World War I's early days. Witness Crown Prince Wilhelm seeking shelter beneath his car as French aeroplanes dropped darts from above in 1915. In another instance captured by lithography, a German Zeppelin crashes into the North Sea after conducting a raid on England in 1916. Yet it wasn't just combatants who suffered; innocent lives were lost too. Two peasant women tragically fell victim to German aeroplanes' relentless onslaught during World War I - another painful testament to the horrors endured by civilians caught up in this new form of warfare. Amidst all this turmoil lies moments of respite for those involved behind-the-scenes. Lunchtime at Douglas Aircraft Company's plant brings temporary relief for workers laboring tirelessly towards victory - captured beautifully by Alfred T Palmer's lens in Long Beach, California, 1942.