These stunning collection of colourised photographs give a glimpse into what life was really like serving on the airplanes during World War Two.
Among the collection include images of the RAF Lancaster bombers, which helped win Britain the war, as well as Luftwaffe Messerschmitts, which launched its campaign of terror on England during the Blitz.
The images have now been restored into colour, and show officers in the Air Force and U.S. Navy, as well as British crewmen returning from a mission, and members of the Finnish Air Force as they wait to depart British soil.
A British FB24 plane photographed from above while on mission to Brussels, Belgium on August 3, 1944. The stunning aerial shot shows the vast wingspan of the two-seated jet, while other aircraft fly below
Lt Robert B. Campbell Jr. flying over England in 1944. The stunning collection has brought some of the photographs from the Second World War to life using special colourisation techniques
This rare image gives a brief insight into the workings within Britain’s Lancaster B Mark II bombers. The pilots can be seen looking on intensely during their mission
Two RAF Lancaster bombers fly to intercept Luftwaffe Messerschmitts during the war. Graphic designer Nathan Howland, from Brighton, has helped bring the images to life so that later generations can understand and appreciate the true horrors of the war
At least six Lancaster B Mark III bombers fly over the skies during a flight drill in 1943. During World War II, the RAF counted some 1,208,000 members, with 185,000 serving as aircrew
The German Luftwaffe claimed roughly 70,000 aerial victories, while 75,000 of their fleet was destroyed or significantly damaged. Of that, nearly 40,000 were written off.
Their total air fleet production stood at just under 120,000 planes, with a personel of 3.4million pilots in service between 1939 to 1945.
During World War II, the RAF counted some 1,208,000 members, with 185,000 serving as aircrew.
One of the most recognisable aircraft from the period has to be the British single-seater Supermarine Spitfire
Graphic designer Nathan Howland, from Brighton, used his expertise to add colour to the images and help preserve the memories of war for future generations to learn from.
Mr Howland, 52, said: ‘Many of the images are extremely rare and have yet to be shown to a wider audience.
‘To me, most of them encapsulate the dichotomy in the expression that there is beauty in war. It gives us an emotive and moving insight into the fearful altitudes these very young men faced and braved.
‘In the midst of it all, there were these extraordinary battle photographers, armed only with a camera who stole themselves from everything around them to bring their eye, the war and the beauty of nature together in profound moments.
Halifax Mark II’s of RAF on an unspecified mission. The Handley Page Halifax was a Royal Air Force (RAF) four-engined heavy bomber, was developed by Handley Page to the same specification as the contemporary Avro Lancaster and Short Stirling
British Short S.29 Stirling Bomber. The Short Stirling was a British four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It has the distinction of being the first four-engined bomber to be introduced into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF)
Bombers of the 398th BG bombing from extreme altitude in April 1945. The 398th Air Expeditionary Group was a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe that was instrumental in bringing Nazi Germany to heel
A QJ-M of the 339th Bomb Squad 96th BG in a raid over Germany in 1944. The 339th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit
Lancaster B MKI’s of RAF 207 over England in 1942. No. 207 Squadron Royal Air Force was a former bomber, communications and training squadron of the Royal Air Force. October 1943, 207 Squadron became the first occupant of the newly opened RAF Spilsby bomber station
Boeing-17G’s flying into the sunrise in January 1945. These bombers were used by the US military during their assault on Nazi Germany
‘It saw my role to lend my skill-set to honouring these moments as best I could, to hopefully provoke a more immediate sense of what it was like to be an airman in wartime.’
Mr Howland added that a ‘great deal of research’ was invested to make sure the photographs were in as good a condition as possible.
He said: ‘Everyone loves a colour image, they bring life, depth, vibrancy, energy and a richness that is lacking in a monochrome image.
‘Colourising allows us to see images in a completely new perspective. In many cases it allows the viewer to see much more detail within an image than your eyes would otherwise perceive when looking at something in greyscale. I think it’s a little bit of magic.
‘My only wish is for people to enjoy the work, and if you look at a colourised image and can’t tell that it was ever black and white, then that is the biggest flattery any colourist can ask for.’
B-17F 42-5918 flying in formation in November 1943. The words ‘Ann K’ can be seen inscribed onto the front panel of the warplane. The B-17 was primarily employed by the USAAC in the daylight strategic bombing campaign of World War II against German industrial and military targets
A rare shot of the P-47D allocated to Col. Dave Schilling of the 56th FG – 62nd FS in the brief period just before it was painted for him to become ‘Hairless Joe’ shortly after D-Day
A group of redirected 398th BG’s on a mission over Munich in April 1945. The 398 Bomb Group flew 195 combat missions, the last being on April 25, 1945
Mr Howland added that a ‘great deal of research’ was invested to make sure the photographs were in as good a condition as possible. Pictured: A P-51B of the 335th FG being run at visitors at Nuthampstead in England 1944
B24 42-94775 ‘War Eagle’ on a bombing campaign to Brussels, Belgium on August 3 1944. Speaking of the restoration project, Mr Howland said: ‘Many of the images are extremely rare and have yet to be shown to a wider audience’
A German Messerschmitt Bf 109-E bomb during the Battle of Britain in 1940. They made up the bulk of the Luftwaffe’s aerial fleet and were first operational in 1937
A Nazi aircraft, complete with the Swastika emblem, returns home from a mission in Europe in January 1945. The Luftwaffe proved instrumental in the German victories across Poland and Western Europe in 1939 and 1940
A pilot sits on a Fiat G.50 series II Freccia from the Finnish Air Force in 1941, while another lies under the wing
The B-24H prepares for takeoff from an unknown airfield during the Second World War. The aircraft was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California
A close-up view of Lt Russ Kyler’s P-47M ‘Lorene’. Russ Kyler served at Boxted, England with the 56th Fighter Group and started his tour in August of 1944 and flew 57 missions over Europe