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Pilot Collection

Background imagePilot Collection: Churchills praise for RAF Pilots

Churchills praise for RAF Pilots
" Never was so much owed by so many to so few" - Prime Minister Winston Churchill from a speech made on 20th August 1940

Background imagePilot Collection: Elizabeth Bessie Coleman (1892-1926)

Elizabeth Bessie Coleman (1892-1926)
Elizabeth Bessie Coleman, 1892-1926, the first female pilot of African American descent and the first person of African American descent to hold an international pilot license. Date: 1926

Background imagePilot Collection: Flying Officer W E Johns - Biggles stories in Modern Boy

Flying Officer W E Johns - Biggles stories in Modern Boy
Advertisement in The Modern Boy magazine for the forthcoming series of stories written by Flying Officer W. E. Johns concerning the wartime adventures of Captain James Bigglesworth

Background imagePilot Collection: Wartime poster of Churchills famous words

Wartime poster of Churchills famous words: Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few, referring to the pilots of the Royal Air Force, fighting the Battle of Britain

Background imagePilot Collection: Bismarck / Dropping Pilot

Bismarck / Dropping Pilot
OTTO BISMARCK German Chancellor dismissed by Kaiser Wilhelm II: Dropping the Pilot

Background imagePilot Collection: WW2 poster, To Victory -- With Our Help

WW2 poster, To Victory -- With Our Help! Pilots profile with Hawker Hurricanes. Printed by Massey-Harris for distribution in England. Date: circa 1942

Background imagePilot Collection: Royal Air Force Display Poster, Hendon

Royal Air Force Display Poster, Hendon, showing two pilots in flight, with other planes in the background. 1936

Background imagePilot Collection: Propaganda poster: prime ministers statement

Propaganda poster: prime ministers statement
Second world war propaganda poster. Above a photograph of five brave airmen is a quotation from the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill: Never was so much owed by so many to so few

Background imagePilot Collection: Amy Johnson 1930

Amy Johnson 1930
Miss Amy Johnson overhauling her Gypsy Moth aeroplane after landing in Australia. She was the first woman pilot to fly alone to Australia

Background imagePilot Collection: WW2 poster, Fly with the RAF

WW2 poster, Fly with the RAF
WW2 poster, Men in reserved occupations can now fly with the RAF as pilot or observer. Apply nearest combined recruiting centre. Date: 1941

Background imagePilot Collection: WW2 poster, The British Commonwealth of Nations Together

WW2 poster, The British Commonwealth of Nations Together. 1941

Background imagePilot Collection: Amy Johnson - pioneering English pilot

Amy Johnson - pioneering English pilot
Amy Johnson (later Mollison) CBE (1903-1941) - pioneering English pilot who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia

Background imagePilot Collection: Supermarine test pilots at High Post Aerodrome in March?

Supermarine test pilots at High Post Aerodrome in March?
Supermarine test pilots at High Post Aerodrome in March 1946: From left: Flt Lt P. Wigley DFC, Sqn Ldr W.J.G. Morgan DFC, Lt Cdr Jeffrey K. Quill AFC, Chief Test Pilot; Flt Lt Leslie R

Background imagePilot Collection: Instruction booklet, Knitting for the RAF, WW2

Instruction booklet, Knitting for the RAF, WW2
Cover design, instruction booklet, Knitting for the RAF, World War Two, price one shilling. circa 1940

Background imagePilot Collection: Douglas Bader - Flying Ace of WW2

Douglas Bader - Flying Ace of WW2
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader (1910-1982) - Royal Air Force flying ace during the Second World War. A postcard produced for the (Royal)

Background imagePilot Collection: Birthday card, RAF flying dog pilot

Birthday card, RAF flying dog pilot. mid-20th century

Background imagePilot Collection: The seat of a hero: Spitfire pilots cockpit, 1940

The seat of a hero: Spitfire pilots cockpit, 1940
The cockpit, with its amazing array of dials, is the epitome of intensive mechancial warfare of World War Two. Date: 1940

Background imagePilot Collection: Major James McCudden, Royal Flying Corps, WW1

Major James McCudden, Royal Flying Corps, WW1
Major James Thomas Byford McCudden (1895-1918), officer and pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. He received more medals for gallantry than any other British airman serving in

Background imagePilot Collection: The Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain
A circular painting depicting the brave men of the Royal Airforce on the ground and in action during the Battle of Briatin

Background imagePilot Collection: Amy Johnson CBE (1903-1941) - pioneering English female pilot - pictured standing in

Amy Johnson CBE (1903-1941) - pioneering English female pilot - pictured standing in front of her Gipsy Moth just before she undertook a 19-day solo flight to Australia

Background imagePilot Collection: Flight simulator in use, RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire

Flight simulator in use, RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire
A flight simulator in use at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire. Before computers, flight simulators used actual models of different airfields in order to train pilots

Background imagePilot Collection: National Air Safety Committee Poster

National Air Safety Committee Poster
Poster, National Air Safety Committee, providing instructions to new pilots -- please help to keep flying safe. 1933

Background imagePilot Collection: Biggles / Fire / Plane

Biggles / Fire / Plane
The crumpled figure in the cockpit came to life : the female pilot in the burning plane points her gun at Biggles

Background imagePilot Collection: Poster, Sir Alan Cobhams National Aviation Day Campaign

Poster, Sir Alan Cobhams National Aviation Day Campaign Air Display (also known as Cobhams Flying Circus), Chapel Farm, Lochgelly Road, Kirkcaldy, 13-14 July 1935. Date: 1935

Background imagePilot Collection: Imperial Airways Poster, Travel Luxuriously

Imperial Airways Poster, Travel Luxuriously in the Worlds largest air liners, serving Europe, Africa, India and the Far East. Showing two pilots in the cockpit of a Heracles, and passengers boarding

Background imagePilot Collection: Royal Air Force Display Poster, Hendon

Royal Air Force Display Poster, Hendon, showing a pilot in flying gear, gesturing towards three biplanes in flight. 1934

Background imagePilot Collection: Pneumonia strikes like a man eating shark led by its pilot f

Pneumonia strikes like a man eating shark led by its pilot fish the common cold Consult your physician. Poster encouraging citizens to consult your physician for treatment of the common cold

Background imagePilot Collection: Major James McCudden, Royal Flying Corps, WW1

Major James McCudden, Royal Flying Corps, WW1
Major James Thomas Byford McCudden (1895-1918), officer and pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. He received more medals for gallantry than any other British airman serving in

Background imagePilot Collection: First airmail letter delivered, Windsor Castle

First airmail letter delivered, Windsor Castle
The first airmail letter ever to be delivered is handed to the Postmaster of Windsor, to whom it is addressed, on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle

Background imagePilot Collection: The Flying Saucer Conspiracy, book cover

The Flying Saucer Conspiracy, book cover
THE FLYING SAUCER CONSPIRACY, a book by Donald E Keyhoe. The cover shows two airline pilots sighting a flying saucer through their cockpit window

Background imagePilot Collection: Tibbetts, Paul, Pilot as Col USaF beside Boeing B-29

Tibbetts, Paul, Pilot as Col USaF beside Boeing B-29 Enola Gay

Background imagePilot Collection: The first Hawk XX154 in the air for the first time

The first Hawk XX154 in the air for the first time
The first Hawk, XX154, in the air for the first time on 21 August 1974 with chief test pilot, Duncan Simpson, at the controls. The flight from the flight test centre at Dunsfold lasted 53 minutes

Background imagePilot Collection: Littlehampton Pier

Littlehampton Pier
At Littlehampton Pier (which is complete with windmill and lighthouse), a steam tugboat brings a large sailing ship safely into port. Date: circa 1910s

Background imagePilot Collection: RAF Bomb-Aimer at his position; Second World War, 1943

RAF Bomb-Aimer at his position; Second World War, 1943
Photograph showing a Royal Air Force bomb-aimer at his position with the bomb release cable ready in his right hand, November 1943

Background imagePilot Collection: Boulton Paul Defiant fighter; Second World War, 1940

Boulton Paul Defiant fighter; Second World War, 1940

Background imagePilot Collection: Baron Manfred von Richthofen, German air ace, WW1

Baron Manfred von Richthofen, German air ace, WW1
Baron Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (1892-1918), also known as the Red Baron, legendary German fighter pilot during the First World War

Background imagePilot Collection: Airmail postcards at Gamages, London

Airmail postcards at Gamages, London
People at Gamages in Holborn, Central London, addressing postcards and posting them in the special London Aerial Postbox, in time for the first aerial mail service from Hendon to Windsor

Background imagePilot Collection: Richthofen and members of the Jagdstaffel

Richthofen and members of the Jagdstaffel
Captain Baron von Richthofen, German flying ace, responsible for bringing down 80 Allied planes during World War One, pictured here with members of Jagdstaffel 5 around a Fokker plane after his 62nd

Background imagePilot Collection: Aviator John Alcock 1919

Aviator John Alcock 1919
Captain in the Royal Air Force, he was the pilot of the first direct transatlantic flight in June 1919 with navigator Arthur Whitten Brown

Background imagePilot Collection: WW2 poster, Wings for Victory, Lets Go, National Savings. Date: circa 1944

WW2 poster, Wings for Victory, Lets Go, National Savings. Date: circa 1944

Background imagePilot Collection: RAFs new gyro gun sight by G. H. Davis

RAFs new gyro gun sight by G. H. Davis
Details of the RAFs new gyro gun sight, which makes every fighter pilot an accurate marksman. By means of two simple adjustments in action

Background imagePilot Collection: British airman dropping a bomb by hand, WW1

British airman dropping a bomb by hand, WW1
A British airman dropping a bomb by hand, in midair, during the First World War. The message on the bomb reads: Hun, Bulgar, Share This Ration. Date: 1914-1918

Background imagePilot Collection: John Derry, Supermarine test pilot

John Derry, Supermarine test pilot, at the 1947 Royal Aeronautical Society Garden Party at Radlett on 14 September. Date: 1947

Background imagePilot Collection: Luke, Frank, Pilot and 2nd ranking US air ace in WW1

Luke, Frank, Pilot and 2nd ranking US air ace in WW1

Background imagePilot Collection: Cartoon, The Dropped Pilot, WW1

Cartoon, The Dropped Pilot, WW1
Cartoon, The Dropped Pilot, twenty-four years after Tenniel. In Tenniels Dropping the Pilot cartoon of 1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II watches as Bismarck disembarks from the ship (of state)

Background imagePilot Collection: WW2 poster, Teamwork -- Thanks Pal

WW2 poster, Teamwork -- Thanks Pal! Printed by DeHavilland of Canada Ltd for distribution in England. Date: circa 1942

Background imagePilot Collection: Poster, aviation meeting in Nice, France

Poster, aviation meeting in Nice, France
Poster advertising an aviation meeting in Nice, France, 10-25 April 1910. Design by Charles-Leonce Brosse (alias Bsor, Bzor). Date: 1910

Background imagePilot Collection: Amelia Earhart; Wilmer Stultz (r) and Louis Gordon

Amelia Earhart; Wilmer Stultz (r) and Louis Gordon
Amelia Earhart, centre; Wilmer Stultz, pilot, right; and Louis Gordon, co-pilot. Burry Port, Wales, after their non-stop flight from Newfoundland starting on 17 June 1928. Date: 1928

Background imagePilot Collection: British RE8 biplane and pilot, WW1

British RE8 biplane and pilot, WW1
A British Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 two-seater biplane with the pilot in the cockpit, used by the Royal Flying Corps for reconnaissance and bombing during the First World War

Background imagePilot Collection: Sir Douglas Bader playing golf

Sir Douglas Bader playing golf
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader (1910-1982), RAF pilot during the Second World War despite having lost both legs in a crash in 1931

Background imagePilot Collection: Adamski and Painting

Adamski and Painting
Professor Adamski stands in front of a painting by Gay Betts depicting the Venusian space pilot he met in the Mojave Desert, California, 20 November 1952

Background imagePilot Collection: Poster, Experienced Travellers Fly British - BOAC and BEA offer services to

Poster, Experienced Travellers Fly British - BOAC and BEA offer services to and from nearly 70 countries Date: circa 1955

Background imagePilot Collection: World War II B25 bomber attacks Japanese ship

World War II B25 bomber attacks Japanese ship
World War II vintage photograph - B25 bomber attacks Japanese ship in China Sea

Background imagePilot Collection: Newspaper Story by Toby Neal in Shropshire Star 10 Octob?

Newspaper Story by Toby Neal in Shropshire Star 10 Octob?
Newspaper Story by Toby Neal in Shropshire Star 10 October 2006 Issue Page 8, Ernest Maund Early Aviator / Pilot from Craven Arms, Shropshire, UK

Background imagePilot Collection: Cornu helicopter 1907

Cornu helicopter 1907
Cornu Helicopter of 1907 Unusual Design Date: 1907

Background imagePilot Collection: Taking a ride over the Isle of Wight in an aeroplane

Taking a ride over the Isle of Wight in an aeroplane
Taking a ride over the Isle of Wight in a two-seater aeroplane. The lady passenger is bereft of flying hat/helmet and goggles and obviously therefore enjoys the feeling of the wind in her hair

Background imagePilot Collection: RAF lifeboats to the rescue

RAF lifeboats to the rescue
RAF motor boats rescuing a pilot who has crash landed at sea. The boats were built at the British Power Boats works at Southampton and with 100 h.p. engines, could travel at 26 miles per hour

Background imagePilot Collection: Fokker Dr I with Pfalz D III in background

Fokker Dr I with Pfalz D III in background
Fokker Dr I German fighter triplane with a Pfalz D III in the background. The Fokkers pilot prepares for takeoff, with a mechanic ready to swing the propeller and two more in attendance

Background imagePilot Collection: WW2 Christmas card, Escort

WW2 Christmas card, Escort! A Chelsea Pensioner looks in admiration at an RAF airman with an elegant woman on each arm. Date: 1941

Background imagePilot Collection: William Rowland Ding (1885-1917 )

William Rowland Ding (1885-1917 )
William Rowland Ding, 1885-1917, chief test pilot for Blackburn Aircraft. He is shown here sitting in the cockpit of a modified Handley Page G in 1914. Date: 1917

Background imagePilot Collection: The first Hawk XX154 takes to the air for the first time

The first Hawk XX154 takes to the air for the first time
The first Hawk, XX154, takes to the air for the first time on 21 August 1974 with chief test pilot, Duncan Simpson, at the controls

Background imagePilot Collection: Gremlin and Pilot

Gremlin and Pilot
A Gremlin tries to fog the aircrafts windscreen with his breath, but the pilot foils him by chewing a carrot to improve his sight

Background imagePilot Collection: WW2, R. A. F. Christmas Card

WW2, R. A. F. Christmas Card
A WW2 Christmas greetings card with a portrait illustration of a Royal Air Force pilot officer, under the foil badge. Date: circa 1939

Background imagePilot Collection: Taylorcraft DC-65 XK-ATY

Taylorcraft DC-65 XK-ATY (msn 0-4247. built as an L-2A ), at Mangere, NZ. (The aircraft and pilot Alexander N. Clark went missing on 23 November 1956, and were found in the bush 30 months later)

Background imagePilot Collection: Ernest Maund Early Aviator / Pilot with His Monoplane in?

Ernest Maund Early Aviator / Pilot with His Monoplane in?
Ernest Maund Early Aviator / Pilot with His Monoplane in Craven Arms, Shropshire, UK

Background imagePilot Collection: Airport Scene Paris 1934

Airport Scene Paris 1934
A De Havilland Dragon of Hillmans Airways and a private Swiss plane on the runway at Paris airport, France. Date: 1934

Background imagePilot Collection: Fought to a Finish

Fought to a Finish: A Remarkable Exploit on a Blazing Plane An illustration by Joseph Simpson of an incident described by Mr Boyd Cable (newspaper correspondent Ernest Andrew Ewart)

Background imagePilot Collection: Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, US pilot and ace

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker, US pilot and ace
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (1890-1973), US pilot and leading fighter ace with 26 confirmed victories, seen here with his Nieuport 28. Date: circa 1918

Background imagePilot Collection: William George Barker, RFC pilot and air ace

William George Barker, RFC pilot and air ace
William George Billy Barker (1894-1930), Canadian member of No. 9 Squadron, RFC, seen here wearing a fur coat, standing by his Sopwith Camel. His confirmed victories totalled 50

Background imagePilot Collection: Teasing Tirpitz, or luring a U boat to Dover, Heath Robinson

Teasing Tirpitz, or luring a U boat to Dover, Heath Robinson
A battered British plane suspends a tiny toy boat on a string, fooling a German U boat into pursuing it all the way to Dover. Another mischievous war tactic dreamed up by William Heath Robinson

Background imagePilot Collection: De Havilland Tiger Moth British biplane

De Havilland Tiger Moth British biplane
De Havilland Tiger Moth British trainer biplane. Date: 1930s

Background imagePilot Collection: Pilot (on first job) This war-flying seems easy, but WW1

Pilot (on first job) This war-flying seems easy, but WW1
Pilot (on first job). This war-flying seems easy, but I wish people would not test their guns quite so close. By Lieutenant George Arthur Hyde, MC

Background imagePilot Collection: Lieutenant and Mrs Vernon Castle, dancers

Lieutenant and Mrs Vernon Castle, dancers
Vernon Blythe Castle (1887-1918), and American wife, Irene (nee Foote), ballroom dancers, performers and dance teachers, pictured in 1917 when he was serving in the British Army in the Royal Flying

Background imagePilot Collection: Duties of a large bombers crew by G. H. Davis

Duties of a large bombers crew by G. H. Davis
The duties of a large bombers crew of seven during the Second World War. Every man has a special task allotted to him. Showing a 27-ton heavy bomber over its target in Germany. Date: 1942

Background imagePilot Collection: Sketch cover featuring Amelia Earhart by Olive Snell

Sketch cover featuring Amelia Earhart by Olive Snell
Portrait of pioneering American aviator, Amelia Earhart (1897 - 1937) by society portraitist Olive Snell on the front cover of The Sketch magazine. Date: 1928

Background imagePilot Collection: The UK Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Harold Macmillan, insp?

The UK Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Harold Macmillan, insp?
The UK Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Harold Macmillan, inspects a de Havilland Firestreak air-to-air missile on Gloster Javelin F(AW)7, XH900, as the pilot, Flt Lt Ian Keppie, looks on at Cottesmore

Background imagePilot Collection: WW2 - Fit and ready to join the RAF - strong like Father

WW2 - Fit and ready to join the RAF - strong like Father
" We Must Hand it to the RAF" WW2 - Fit and ready to join the RAF - strong like Father! A girl is happy to hand over her boy to the service of the country

Background imagePilot Collection: Henri Mignet sitting in a Le Pou-du-Ciel

Henri Mignet sitting in a Le Pou-du-Ciel talking to S.W. Appleby, also a Flying Flea pilot, at the International Air Rally organised by the Cinque Ports Flying Club at Lympne Airport, Hythe, Kent

Background imagePilot Collection: The first Hawk XX154 during its second flight

The first Hawk XX154 during its second flight
The first Hawk, XX154, during its second flight, 22 August 1974, chief test pilot, Duncan Simpson, again at the controls. Date: 1974

Background imagePilot Collection: Sir Alan Cobham

Sir Alan Cobham (1894 - 1973), English aviation pioneer. In the 1930s, when this photograph was taken (with his wife?), he pioneered inflight refuelling. Date: 1930s

Background imagePilot Collection: Captain Albert Ball

Captain Albert Ball
British flying ace of World War One, Captain Albert Ball (1896 - 1917) seated in his SE5 biplane. Britains highest scoring profile fighter pilot during World War One; died in action shortly before

Background imagePilot Collection: British SE5A biplane on airfield, WW1

British SE5A biplane on airfield, WW1
A British SE5A biplane, one of the main aeroplanes in use by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Seen here on an airfield, with crew. 1914-1918

Background imagePilot Collection: Air Scouts learning to glide

Air Scouts learning to glide
Two Scouts sit in a Slingsby T.21 while another Scout connects it to a cable prior to launch at the first Air Scout Gliding Course at Lasham. An Avro York G-ANTK can also be seen in the background

Background imagePilot Collection: Fokker triplane of Baron Manfred von Richthofen, WW1

Fokker triplane of Baron Manfred von Richthofen, WW1
A Fokker triplane of Baron Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (1892-1918), also known as the Red Baron, legendary German fighter pilot during the First World War



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