Destination's Journey Military Photos

11 July 1944. First flight of the third prototype Vickers Windsor (Type 461) NK136. British four-engine heavy bomber. Powered by four 1,635 horsepower Merlin 85 engines. Designed by Barnes Wallis and Rex Pierson at Vickers-Armstrong, Brooklands.

Il-2 attack aircraft from the 106th Attack Aviation Regiment, which underwent major repairs at the 217th stationary aviation workshops, before being sent to the front at the Gissar airfield in Tajikistan. 1943

12 July 1957. First flight of the McDonnell Voodoo RF-101C. Photo reconnaissance version.

German night fighter Messerschmitt Bf.110G, equipped with Lichtenstein radar, at the airfield note 20mm gun pack

86 years ago, the Battle of Britain began.

For 112 days, the skies above southern England became the frontline in what was the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces.

Credit: © Crown Copyright / Ministry of Defence. Courtesy of Air Historical Branch (RAF)

A British Grumman Martlet Mk. II fighter ( the British designation for the American Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat fighter for the Royal Air Force; serial number AJ148) assigned to the air group of the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable (R67) at La Senia air base in Oran.

A British carrier-based fighter, the American-made F4U Corsair, takes off from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious

A pilot and airfield staff during the gunnery adjustment of a Spitfire Mk I fighter from No. 602 Squadron RAF. 1940

The Mauser MK 214A, better known as the BK-5, was easily one of the most outrageous aircraft guns of #WWII. Fitted to a modified Me-262, the massive 50 mm cannon occupied almost the entire nose of the jet, with its barrel protruding nearly 10 ft ahead of the aircraft. Built to destroy Allied bombers from up to 1 km away, it looked terrifying on paper, but in practice, the cannon's heavy recoil, slow rate of fire, and the difficulty of hitting a maneuvering target made it far less effective than hoped. Only two Me-262 prototypes were ever fitted with the weapon before the idea was abandoned.

The primary user of the BK-5 was the Me-410 A-1/U4:

Mosquito FB. Mk XVIII:

"Hold my Molins"

British bomber Vickers Wellington Mk. II (serial number W5461, code R-EP) of No. 104 Squadron RAF in flight. 1941

Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket supersonic research aircraft being chased by an F-86 Sabre (circa 1953)

The impressive armament of the 1945 "Arsenal VB-10" heavy fighter, featuring four 20 mm cannons and six machine guns in the wings.

The prototype of the German long-range heavy bomber and reconnaissance aircraft Junkers Ju-390 (Ju-390) in flight

Stored or deployed configuration of the SNCAC NC-420, a French observation seaplane designed to operate from French Navy ships.

Although one prototype was completed, it never flew due to Germany's invasion of France in 1940.