Aircraft – Wikinger: European Theater of War

A row of destroyed “Hanomags” – France 1944

By wikingeretowJul 22, 20200 Comments

The "Hanomag" or Sd.Kfz 251 series of vehicles was a half tracked armored fighting vehicle of Nazi Germany. Over 15,000 were built during the war, there were 22 variants of the base vehicle. These particular half tracks were knocked out by Allied air power between Carrouges and Rânes - an area below Caen and roughly a 12 km stretch of road. There were two other attacks around the same time which eliminated the entire group.

daily photoAircraft, Black and White, Half-Track, Hanomag, History, Infantry, Machine Gun, Photo, Photograph, World War Two, WW2, WWII

Me-163 A-V4 – Prototype Komet interceptor aircraft in a field

By wikingeretowApr 25, 20180 Comments

The Me 163A V4 was shipped to Peenemünde to receive the HWK RII-203 engine in May 1941. By 2 October 1941, the Me 163A V4, bearing the radio call sign letters, or Stammkennzeichen, "KE+SW", set a new world speed record of 1,004.5 km/h (624.2 mph), piloted by Heini Dittmar, with no apparent damage to the aircraft during the attempt.

UncategorizedAircraft, Black and White, History, Jet, Photo, Photograph, World War Two, WW2, WWII

8.8cm flak mounted on a Vomag Omnibus 7

By wikingeretowApr 17, 20180 Comments

An interesting photo as the Vomag Omnibus 7 was a civilian transport vehicle. There isn't a lot of information available about the Omnibus 7. The variant is known as the Vomag 88mm Flak 18 Waffentrager. It is an example of the need to get such an excellent but horribly immobile weapon into battle and as maneuverable as possible.

UncategorizedAircraft, Anti-Aircraft, Artillery, Black and White, History, Photo, Photograph, Tank, Tank Destroyer, Tanks, World War Two, WWII

Ilyushin Il-4 gun turret being loaded

By wikingeretowApr 08, 20180 Comments

UncategorizedAircraft, Black and White, History, Machine Gun, Photo, Photograph, World War Two, WW2, WWII

RAF Pilot receiving a haircut in between sorties

By wikingeretowFeb 20, 20180 Comments

With a pipe and a good book, this young pilot receives a haircut in between sorties. Knowing that each time they went out it could be their last mission, keeping mentally busy is key.

UncategorizedAircraft, Colour, History, Photo, Photograph, World War Two, WW2, WWII

“A date that will live in infamy” – Dec 7th 1941

By wikingeretowDec 27, 20170 Comments

The USS Arizona burns during the attack on Pearl Harbor A double post today - It's the 8th down here in NZ but for our American readers it is the 7th. "The attack commenced at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Time. The base was attacked by 353 Imperial Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four sunk. All but the USS Arizona (BB-39) were later raised, and six were returned to service and went on to fight in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged…

UncategorizedAircraft, Black and White, Colour, Death, Grave, History, Infantry, Navy, Photo, Photograph, Ship, World War Two, WW2, WWII

A P-51D Mustang fighter taking off from Iwo Jima. 1945

By wikingeretowNov 26, 20170 Comments

Uncategorized1945, Aircraft, Black and White, History, Pacific, Photo, Photograph, World War Two, WW2, WWII

A Douglas A-20 making a bomb run on D-Day, 6 June 1944

By wikingeretowSep 10, 20170 Comments

Assigned to the Ninth Air Force the 416th Bombardment Group, they were equipped with Douglas A-20 Havoc aircraft, seen here wearing the invasion stripes - alternating black and white bands on the wings and fuselage - an attempt to increase recognition and thereby reducing friendly fire incidents. D-Day invasion stripes were removed from the upper surfaces of aircraft a month later, and by the end of 1944 they were completely removed.

daily photo, UncategorizedAircraft, Black and White, D-Day, History, Machine Gun, Photo, Photograph, World War Two, WW2, WWII

Ju 88G W7+ N of the Nachtjagdgeschwader 100

By wikingeretowAug 19, 20170 Comments

Hungary 1944 Nachtjagdgeschwader 100 (NJG 100) was a Luftwaffe night fighter-wing of World War II. Nachtjagdgeschwader 100

daily photo, UncategorizedAircraft, Black and White, History, Night Fighter, Photo, Photograph, World War Two, WW2, WWII

Heinkel He162 Plane Factory in a Salt Mine near Schönebeck 1945

By wikingeretowJul 01, 20170 Comments

The He 162 Volksjäger - Peoples Fighter, primarily made of wood due to the short supply of metals at this late point in the war. It was the fastest of the first generation of jet fighters produced during the second world war.

daily photoAircraft, Black and White, History, Night Fighter, Photo, Photograph, World War Two, WW2, WWII