Images Dated 24th October 2004

B-25 Mitchell Bomber taking off from Hornet'; Second World

Photograph showing an American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber taking off from the aircraft carrier Hornet on 18th April 1942. This bomber was one of sixteen bombers, under the command of Lt.-Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, which were launched from Hornet for an air-raid on Tokyo - the first American attack on Japan during the Second World War

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

General Tom Thumb, Lucia Zarate, General Mite and Frank Uf

Engraving showing General Tom Thumb, real name Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-1883), Lucia Zarate (1864-1890), General Mite, real name Francis Joseph Flynn (b.1864), and Frank Uffner, pictured in the Piccadilly Hall, London, 1880. Uffner was the promoter who was exhibiting Zarate and Flynn to the British public at that time. General Tom Thumb was only included in this picture to give an idea of the relative size of the midgets

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Richard Sands Air Walking at Drury Lane, 1853

Engraving showing Richard Sands (d.1861), the American acrobat, equestrian and air walker, performing at Drury Lane Theatre, London, March 1853. The secret of his performance was apparently rubber suction pads and although this particular show was a success, he died performing this stunt in Massachusetts when the plaster of the ceiling he was walking gave way

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans