Images

A Messerschmitt Bf 109 (ME-109), the principal German fighter plane of the Second World War (1939-45). Taken at Thunder Over Michigan airshow in 2006.

A Messerschmitt Bf 109 (ME-109), the principal German fighter plane of the Second World War (1939-45). Shown with desert camouflage. Taken at the Flying Legends airshow in 2015.

An Me 109 Buchon, aka Messerschmitt Bf 109, the principal German fighter plane of the Second World War (1939-45). Taken at the Flying Legends airshow in 2017.

A photograph of Arthur 'Bomber' Harris, Air Chief Marshal of the RAF and Commander-in-Chief of Bomber Command from 1942 to 1945. Harris was adamant that heavy area bombing of German cities would bring a quicker end to World War II (1939-45...

A photograph of burnt-out residential buildings in Hamburg following the firestorm created by the RAF bombing campaign Operation Gomorrah of July 1943. (Imperial War Museums Collection)

Château des Réaux, chouzé-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire, France. The castle's history can be traced back to the 14th century when it belonged to the Countess of Sancerre. It then became the property of Jean Briçonnet (d. 1493), the first mayor...

A photograph showing Luftwaffe Heinkel He 111 bombers which were used to bomb targets in Europe and notably during the Battle of Britain of 1940. (Imperial War Museums Collection)

Promotional stamps for the Spitfire Fund, a government initiative to encourage civilians to contribute money to buy a Submarine Spitfire for the war effort during the Second World War (1939-45).

A Supermarine Spitfire at the Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow in 2023.

The cockpit of a Mk. IX Supermarine Spitfire. The fighter was in service with the RAF from 1939 to 1947 but was also used by many other airforces worldwide. (Aviation Museum Prague)