Gallery 3 - Attack Aircraft and Light Bombers

Photos from Army Air Forces in World War II, "Men and Planes"

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The Planes

Historical Aviation Pictures

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US military aircraft serial numbers were a two-digit year followed by a sequentially-assigned number that identified each aircraft, for example 41-12800. Tail numbers were the serial numbers with the "4" omitted, thus 1-12800.

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B-26F on runway

B-26F on runway

B-25 Mitchell in flight

B-25C Mitchell, tail #1-12800, simple USAAC roundels, in flight. Transferred to RFC at Walnut Ridge Dec 6, 1945

B-26 Marauder, in all-metal finish

B-26B Marauder, tail #2-43459, 1943 roundel, all-metal finish, in flight. This aircraft used to test B-26F wing. Broken up at Brookley Field, AL Feb 15, 1945.

North American B-25J on runway

North American B-25J on runway

Douglas A-20 with USAAC fin flash

Douglas A-20, on runway, red & white USAAC fin flash

Douglas A-20 Havoc with red-dot roundel

Douglas A-20 Havoc, tail #116-33E0, red-dot USAAC roundel

Douglas A-20 Havoc with 1943 roundel

Douglas A-20 Havoc, tail #2-86657(?), 1943 roundel, in flight

B-26s Over Ocean With Invasion Stripes

B-26s Over Ocean With Invasion Stripes

B-26s With Invasion Markings on D-Day

B-26s With Invasion Markings

D.H.4 biplane on dirt airfield

D.H.4 Jenny biplane, on dirt airfield

Martin Bomber #2 twin-engine biplane

Martin Bomber #2, twin-engine biplane

Martin B-10, twin-engine bomber

Martin B-10, twin-engine bomber, red-dot roundel, on runway

MB-1 with WW1 fin flash

MB-1, WW1-era fin flash

Douglas B-18 parked near palm trees

Douglas B-18, parked near palm trees, crewman sitting in shade of wing

biplane with red-dot roundel

rotary-engine biplane, red-dot roundel on underwing

A-26C In Attack Mode

A-26C In Attack Mode

Ventura Bomber in flight

Ventura Bomber in flight

Douglas A-24 diving

Douglas A-24 diving

A-24 Dauntless with 1942-43 roundel

A-24 Dauntless on runway, simple 1942-43 roundel

Douglas A-26B in all-metal finish

Douglas A-26B, tail #1-39186, all-metal finish, in flight, late war blue-bordered USAAF roundel, squadron code AN W. Transferred to civil registry as N5245V.

Douglas A-26C, in flight over mountains

Douglas A-26B, tail #1-39136, in flight over mountains

Douglas A-26C, on grassy airfield, engines running

Douglas A-26C, on grassy airfield, engines running

Douglas A-26C In Flight

Douglas A-26C climbing, late war blue-bordered USAAF roundel

Douglas A-26C with blue-bordered USAAF roundel

Douglas A-26C in flight, tail #3-22315, late war blue-bordered USAAF roundel

A-26C In Flight, squadron code YAJ

A-26C in flight, tail #1-22415, squadron code YA J, late war blue-bordered USAAF roundel

Martin B-10 with pre-war fin flash

Martin B-10 in flight, pre-war fin flash

Douglas A-26 Invader in flight, tail #3-22282

Douglas A-26 Invader in flight, tail #3-22282, late war blue-bordered USAAF roundel

Maintenance at Bombardier School, No Smoking

Night-time maintenance at bombardier school, "No Smoking Within 50 Feet"

AT-11s in Formation

AT-11s in Formation, tail #1-27679 in foreground

B-18 at Night

B-18 at Night

B-18, red-dot roundels

B-18 on grassy airfield, red-dot roundels

B-18A, pre-war fin flash

B-18A in flight, pre-war fin flash

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All images courtesy of Air Force Historical Research Agency

Details of specific aircraft from Joe Baugher's USAF Serial Numbers.