Dramatic Second World War photos have emerged showing kamikaze attacks, aircraft carrier crash landings and planes plunging into the sea.
Pictures assembled by British Lieutenant Commander Claude Rayner highlight the dangers pilots faced towards the end of the war in the Far East.
Rayner was part of the British Pacific Fleet and carried out photographic reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols against the Japanese in 1944 and 1945. The airman was in the thick of the action, serving on various aircraft Fleet Air Arm carriers including HMS Indomitable, Unicorn and Venerable.
His graphic photos show a Japanese fighter pilot carrying out a terrifying suicide attack and Allied aircraft ending up in the sea after crashing while trying to land on aircraft carriers.
Dramatic Second World War photos have emerged showing kamikaze attacks, aircraft carrier crash landings (pictured) and planes plunging into the sea. Pictured: An American Grumman Hellcat crash lands on an aircraft carrier
One photo shows a Japanese aircraft plummeting towards the sea (pictured) during a terrifying kamikaze attack. The date and exact location of the attack is not known
The three photo albums show aircraft that failed to make a landing on carriers during patrols against the Japanese in 1944 and 1945
Pictures, including this one showing a British Seafire crash landing on an aircraft carrier, highlight the risks pilots were taking towards the end of the Second World War
In other images, Rayner has circled colleagues who perished in the conflict.
As well as the three photo albums, Lt Comm Rayner’s logbooks, uniform, flying helmet and goggles were consigned for auction by Lt Comm Rayner’s son who is from Norfolk. He inherited them following his father’s death.
The collection sold for a hammer price of £1,185, with extra fees taking the overall figure paid by the private collector to £1,400.
Matthew Tredwen, specialist at C & T Auctions, of Ashford, Kent, who sold the collection, said: ‘Claude Rayner was a pilot who flew many missions in the Far East, mostly photographic reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols against the Japanese.
This Fairey Barracuda, a British carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber, ended up in the sea after failing to reach its aircraft carrier
A Fairey Barracuda can be seen skidding along the surface of the sea after falling short in its bid to reach the aircraft carrier
Another image shows a British Fairey Barracuda lurching to one side after a heavy landing on board an aircraft carrier in the Far East
Emergency: Servicemen rush to the scene of a crash landing on board an aircraft carrier. A Fairey Barracuda plane can be seen leaning off the edge of the giant ship
Lost in battle: In other images, Lieutenant Commander Claude Rayner circled colleagues who perished in the conflict
Ready for action: A pilot climbs into an American FAA Vought Corsair fighter before a catapult launch from an aircraft carrier
‘He passed the photo albums, the logbooks and his uniform on to his son who has kept them since. His son in fact wore his father’s old flying helmet when he was training to fly.
‘He is very proud of what his father accomplished so it was a tough decision for him to part with the items but he felt it was the right time.
‘It is interesting that the album contains lots of graphic photos of planes coming into the land which didn’t quite make it.
‘It seems like some pilots have a macabre sense of humour taking photos of crashes but perhaps it was to remind them to take extra care when flying themselves.’
Crew examine a British Fairey Barracuda after its landing gear gave way during a ‘heavy’ landing on board an aircraft carrier
The collection sold for a hammer price of £1,185, with extra fees taking the overall figure paid by the private collector to £1,400
An American Vought Corsair comes into land on a Pacific island airstrip as a member of the ground crew directs the pilot
The photos, including this one showing debris from failed landing, demonstrate the deadly job carried out by pilots during the battle in the Far East
The wings of this American P47 Thunderbolt were left in tatters after being damaged during the battle against Japan between 1944 and 1945
Members of a British Pacific fleet crew pose next to a Fairey Barracuda in another of Lieutenant Commander Claude Rayner’s photos
The Fleet Air Arm was formed in 1924 as a unit of the Royal Air Force which was then operating the aircraft on Royal Navy ships. Pictured: Two mechanics work on a plane below an aircraft carrier’s flight deck
The Fleet Air Arm was formed in 1924 as a unit of the Royal Air Force which was then operating the aircraft on Royal Navy ships.
At the beginning of the Second World War, the Fleet Air Arm was made up of 20 squadrons with only 232 aircraft.
But their numbers swelled and by the end of the war they had 59 aircraft carriers, 3,700 aircraft, 72,000 officers and men and 56 naval air stations.
They operated fighters, torpedo bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.
American Grumman F6 Hellcats are pictured in the Pacific theatre. The photo is among others in albums assembled by a British lieutenant
Another set of pictures shows a Fleet Air Arm Vought Corsair clipping its wingtip on the control tower of an aircraft carrier on landing
Archive: Photo albums from Lieutenant Commander Claude Rayner also show images of officer training schools
Dramatic: The albums show dozens of pictures of planes and air crew and demonstrate the risks servicemen took during the Second World War
As well as the three photo albums, Lt Comm Rayner’s logbooks, uniform, flying helmet and goggles were consigned for auction by Lt Comm Rayner’s son who is from Norfolk. He inherited them following his father’s death