Imperial War Museum - photo library

[gareth herts]

Hello all
During a clear out I have unearthed a collection of photos I have from the IWM photo library. I seem to remember that these prints were given to my Dad by a guy who had flown with the RAF in WWII and he passed them on to me.
I have never had the time to find out too much about them. Some have some notes on the back and many have negative numbers and copywright stamps. There are pics of Hurricanes, Spitfires, Lancasters, Manchesters (I think!) Beaufighters etc plus quite a few that I don't recognise.
I thought I would post a couple of scans of the latter in order to:
A/ Find out what they are when they might have been taken and.....
B/ See if anyone has any thoughts about the collection - maybe some of you guys and gals have something similar.
If anyone's is that interested I can warm the scanner up and post a few more - but here are two for starters.
Thanks
Gareth
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/IWM1.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/IWM2.jpg

[ICT_SLB]

Gareth,
Please do! Not often you see photos of an Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley & Baltimore (if my WW2 recognition is correct).

[stevef]

Look forward to seeing more!

[alvin-sfc]

Fantastic.Would love to see as many as you can Gareth. Thanks for sharing.:ok:

[PPRuNe Pop]

Gareth, yes please.

Let me know if you require any assistance in posting them. An advantage would be to change the pixels to 800 x 600. It's a larger picture that sits nicely in the page and produces a better resolution.

Thanks very much for taking the time to put them on here. This forum is what your pics and many others is about

PPP

[MReyn24050]

As ICT_SLB states:-

The first photograph is of a Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mark V, N1463 'GE-L', of No. 58 Squadron RAF.

The aircraft in the second photograph is a Martin Baltimore Mark IV, FA591 ‘H’, of No. 454 Squadron RAAF.
Mel

[gareth herts]

Thanks folks - much appreciated! It will be fascinating to learn some more about them. More to follow shortly!

Gareth

[gareth herts]

Afternoon all
Here are four more photos from the collection - look forward to hearing your thoughts and any information that can be added. One thing that I have no knowledge of at all is where any of them may been taken.
I do of course recognise some of the aircraft, although by no means all, but locations and potential dates are beyond me!
I've been a little less rigorous with re-sizing these and think they look much better now (thanks for the tip PPP).
Regards
Gareth
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00009.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00008.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00007.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00006.jpg

[Molesworth Hold]

It's probably worth mentioning that the IWM has a searchable database of its photos:
http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/qryPhotoImg.asp
Most of the photos have some sort of caption, date, location etc.

[gareth herts]

Hi Molesworth

I have tried a quick search but none of the numbers on the prints seem to generate any results. Much more fun seeing what you guys can tell me anyway!

Thanks

Gareth

[zarniwoop]

The first picture in the second set looks very much like a Westland Whirlwind.

[gareth herts]

These two caught my eye so I quickly scanned them in.
Thanks for all the feedback thus far.
Gareth
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00010.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00011.jpg

[MReyn24050]

First photograph is as zarniwoop says a Westland Whirlwind in fact Whirlwind Mk I, P7102 SF-P 'Comrades In Arms',
137 Squadron, Pilot possibly Plt.Off. Eddie Musgrave, RAF Manston, 1942.

Second Photograph Supermarine Spitfire MkVB

Third Photograph. Interior view of the cockpit of an Avro Manchester Mark I of No. 207 Squadron RAF at Waddington, Lincolnshire, showing the pilot seated at the controls, and the bomb aimer leaving his seat in the nose section.

Fourth Photograph. Pilots of No. 615 Squadron RAF gathered together in front of their Gloster Gladiator Mark IIs at Vitry.

[MReyn24050]

First photograph: Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 of 1 Sqn RAF in France 1939/40.
Second photograph : Short Stirling B Mark I possibly of No. 7 Squadron RAF, at Oakington, Cambridge,

[PPRuNe Pop]

Well there ya go then.

I knew what the aircraft were but I wouldn't have come up with the details that's for sure. See Gareth, seek and you shall find - or MReyn will.

But just great to see them. They go back into the war years - that's over 60 years ago!

[MReyn24050]

I knew what the aircraft were but I wouldn't have come up with the details that's for sure. See Gareth, seek and you shall find - or MReyn will.

As you say PPrune Pop the information is there it just takes some digging.
Mel

[gareth herts]

Thanks so much - it's great to be able to put some info to the images as it were.

I can keep them coming if everyone's happy!

Thanks again all

Gareth

[gareth herts]

I love these two - both very evocative photos I think.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00012.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00013.jpg

[MReyn24050]

From the IWM Photograph Archives:-
First Photograph
Weatherbeaten Short Sunderland Mark III, W4004 'Z', of No. 10 Squadron RAAF is hauled up the slipway at Mount Batten, Devon, for an overhaul. Note the ASV Mark II anti-submarine radar aerial masts and transmitter loops on the rear fuselage.
Second Photograph
Supermarine Spitfire Mark IXB, MH809 'LO-P' of No. 602 Squadron RAF is guided out from its dispersal at Ford, Sussex, for a fighter sweep over occupied Europe.
Mel

[alvin-sfc]

Regarding the photo of the Westland Whirlwind, the pilot's right hand is in place,presumably, for climbing in but where on earth does he put his foot? Was there a pull-down step?:confused:

[gareth herts]

I'm glad one of us has found the info on their website! Then again - if I'd managed it myself I might not have got round to posting the images on here!
Thank you!

[MReyn24050]

You are welcome, some great photographs, not all are still in the Archives. The photographs you published of the Whirlwind, Spitfire or Stirling are no longer there.
Mel

[Saab Dastard]

The Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 of 1 Sqn RAF in France 1939/40 - the two pilots are (left) Squadron Leader PJ "Bull" Halahan DFC and Flt. Lt. PR "Johnny" Walker.

Both survived the war.

SD

[Blacksheep]

That Hurricane in C1230 appears to have some battle damage.

[gareth herts]

Hi folks
Well, a nice surprise at the weekend as two boxes of my gubbins retreived from my parents place revealed a scrapbook full of yet more photos. It's going to take some time to get the remainder filed but it has inspired me to scan some more in as I thought you might like to see them.
As before - any info greatly appreciated!
Gareth
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00016.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00015.jpg
My notes on this one say Spitfire Mk VB, Ibsley, 31st May 1943 - although where I got that from is lost in the mists of time!
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/SWScan00014.jpg

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!]

I wonder if that lady later regretted leaning up against the aeroplane in those fine clothes. Great pics though, keep 'em coming. :ok:

[LowNSlow]

Great pictures, keep them coming! The erk guiding the Spit out must have a death wish, waving his arms about to a guy who can't see him!!!

[Mark22]

The pilot group with the dogs.
That looks like Brian Lane on the right.
PeterA

[gareth herts]

It's been a while so I hope you'll forgive me adding three new scans on this grey (here anyway) Friday afternoon!
As ever - all info greatly received!
Gareth
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/scan3.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/scan2.jpg

This is the only one of these three that has any detail written on it - 17/06/44 apparently!

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/scan.jpg

[MReyn24050]

The third photograph shows a Spitfire Mk XIB of 412 Sqn RCAF being passed by British troops in Normandy 1944 on their way to attack the enemy at Tilly-sur-Seulles on the 17 June 1944. What happened to the Spitfire I am have no idea. However the boys obviously had no respect of aircraft := and have appeared to run over the starboard wingtip without a care in the world :)
The second photograph are Hawker Hurricanes from 601 Squadron
in March 1940 the squadron had converted to Hurricanes. During the German invasion of France, a detachment operated from French soil for a week, followed by defensive duties during the Battle of Britain while based in southern England, Tangmere 17 June 1940,Debden 19 August 1940,
Tangmere 2 September 1940 and Exeter 7 September 1940.
First photograph is a Spitfire Mk.IX, UZ-T (BS459), 306 Sqn (Polish).

[blue up]

Searched the archive last year and found pics of my grandfather and then.....a pair of cans of film footage showing him and his Para unit on 5th June 44. Cheap to get it all onto a DVD. About £30 for the lot and a 2 week turnround. Well done IWM.

http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j279/foggythomas/?action=view&current=Pic_Camouflage2.jpg

http://s82.photobucket.com/albums/j279/foggythomas/?action=view&current=Pic_IndCoy.jpg

From these I managed to get the crew list, stick list, co-ordinates of the route and finally tracked down the chap who sat 2 seats down from my grandfather. Best £30 ever!

[Chris Royle]

That's an Armstrong Whitworth Albermarle in the first photo. A disastrous aircraft by all accounts. Designed as a bomber but relegated to glider towing. Many were built by the MG car Company at Abingdon.
Look at the tiny fins and rudders and just imagine the lack of directional control when flying single engined!

[John Farley]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/johnfarley/Seleta1954small.jpg

One small aerodrome. Spitfires, Meteors, Mosquitos, Hornets, Beaufighters and an Anson. Not a bad air force. (The Anson is not in this pic)

[gareth herts]

Not a bad collection at all John!
Well, my good old Dad had another rummage around and unearthed another scrap-book of IWM photos - I must have been quite diligent back in the day when they were given to me - and they really are extraordinary images.
I have to say that they pose a great number of questions - not least of which is who would have taken them.
They really bring home some of the horrors of what aircrew had to go through during WWII and for that reason alone I do hope that no one has any objections to my posting some of them.
Any thoughts / comments / information is, as ever, greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Gareth
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/scan6.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/scan5.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/scan4.jpg

[Moose47]

G'day Gareth

(1) Spitfire Photo CNA 351 - Spitfire Mk. Vc of No. 43 'China-British' (F) Squadron. Full code is FT-Z

(2) B-17 photo - Boeing B-17G-95-BO Flying Fortress of the 351st Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group ((Heavy) a.k.a the "Bloody Hundreth".

(3) Shot of Hurricane (IWM CH1932) approaching another Hurricane (snow on ground) is Hawker Hurricane Mk. I DT-H (serial number V7607) of No. 257 'Burma' (F) Squadron.

(4) Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb of No. 129 'Mysore' (F) Squadron.
Coded DV-V and serial number EE602. The squadron was at R.A.F. Station Ibsley, Hampshire from March to June 1943.

Cheers...Chris

[airborne_artist]

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e185/garethstringer/scan.jpg

However the boys obviously had no respect of aircraft := and have appeared to run over the starboard wingtip without a care in the world :)

Doubt the Spit would have been recovered for repair - the port wing is about 20 yds away on the left, so the main spar would be sh@gged.

[MReyn24050]

:) Thanks for that,one fully appreciates what you say. Forgive me but the remark was made 'tongue in cheek', even if the both wings were in tact I am sure these boys had other things to worry about than a crashed aircraft blocking their path