If reading about what happened during World War II feels surreal, imagine how you’ll feel when you see these rarely seen pictures from one of the most dramatic, devastating, and impactful events in history.
Parachutes being prepared by members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) for the British airborne forces during the invasion of Europe.
(May, 1944)
A member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), reassuring the skies were clear in an anti-aircraft gun site.
(December, 1942)
US film actor Clark Gable serving as a gunnery instructor with the US Army Air Force.
June 1943.
Lancaster Bombers almost ready in Avro’s Assembly Plant.
Woodford, 1943.
Sergeant J. Dickinson from Canada and Sergeant F. Gilkes from Trinidad sharing a joke while waiting to board their aircraft for a raid on Hamburg.
Britain, 1943.
A 5.5-inch gun crew in action in Italy.
September 1943.
An RAF Lancaster bomber flying during a bombing raid.
Hamburg.
General Dwight D Eisenhower with his senior commanders.
London, February 1944.
A British soldier kneeling in prayer at a Service of Intercession for France.
London, June 1940
British paratroopers about to practice jumping from an RAF Dakota.
Wiltshire, April 1944.
An English soldier rescuing a little girl named Barbara James from the ruins of her home after a series of aerial bombings.
England.
An Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warden inspecting damaged buildings.
Holborn, London.
American soldiers resting in sleeping bags on the snow after hiking and skiing over rough mountain terrain during training exercises.
Somewhere in the mountains.
American soldiers gathering around a piano and singing a song in the street.
Montéglise, 1944.
Dutch civilians dancing in the streets after the liberation of Eindhoven.
September 1944.
Soldiers bowing their heads in prayer during a candlelight Holy Communion service.
December 24, 1944.
Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery presenting Allied strategy to King George VI.
Holland, October 1944.
Three post-Pearl Harbor dads saying a fond farewell to their families as they leave for training at Fort Custer after induction.
Detroit, September 1943.
American soldiers operating a Pack Howitzer M1 (M1A1) to protect the airfield at Torokina, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea.
December 1943.
A P-51D Mustang nicknamed ‘Tika IV’ piloted by Lieutenant Vernon R Richards, during a bomber escort mission
(1944)
Women of the WAAC (Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps) undergoing intense physical training at the WAAC Camp.
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
British soldiers admiring the Caryatids on the Acropolis.
October 1944.
Coast Guardsmen on the deck of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spencer watching as a depth charge explodes, stopping a Nazi U-boat from attacking a large convoy.
April 17, 1943.
Nurses and injured aircrew at Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Hospital.
Buckinghamshire, August 1943.
Some team members from the 16th/5th Lancers, cleaning the gun barrel of their Crusader tank.
Tunisia, May 1943.
Firefighters trying to control the flames of a building after it was bombed.
Manchester.
A young couple sharing a joke at the wartime dance hall.
1944.
A French civilian woman pouring cider for a British soldier.
Lisieux, 1944.
Nap time.
Darwin, Australia. December 1943.
