War in Museums

IWM (HU 638) https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205068677

Today in 1944, a German V1 flying bomb falls on London, striking the Aldwych. Dozens of people are killed. Smoke rises over the Royal Courts of Justice and the church of St Dunstan's, as seen from Fleet Street. Pedestrians hurry across the street, while others calmly alight from a bus #OTD #SWW #WW2

A black and white photograph of a newly married couple. The bride wears a long coat and gloves, and the groom is in naval uniform.

Late June 1945; a wedding in Norway between Lieutenant Commander Patrick Dalzel-Job and Bjørg Bangsund. A naval intelligence officer, linguist and commando, Dalzel-Job is said to have been one of the inspirations for Ian Fleming's James Bond.

Photo: Lt Zimmerman www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Taking a ride on a tiger...

Today in 1944, outside Rauray in Normandy, British tank crewmen of A Squadron, Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, take a ride on a captured German Tiger. #OTD #SWW #WW2

Film: Peter Handford AFPU, IWM A70 59-6 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Taking a ride on a tiger...

Today in 1944, outside Rauray in Normandy, British tank crewmen of A Squadron, Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, take a ride on a captured German Tiger. #OTD #SWW #WW2

Film: Peter Handford AFPU, IWM A70 59-6 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

A black and white photograph shows a warship illuminated by the muzzle flash of secondary guns mounted amidships.

Today in 1944, off the French coast, the Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Belfast - now a London museum ship - opens fire with her four-inch guns against German targets in Normandy. #OTD #SWW #WW2 #Navalhistory

A colour photograph shows a pilot in flying gear posing in front of an aircraft.

Today in 1943 at Malta, Wing Commander John Selby DSO DFC, commanding No.23 Squadron Royal Air Force, poses with his Mosquito in this original colour photo. The plane's four machine guns have corks in their muzzles to keep out dust #OTD #SWW #WW2 #AvHist

Photo: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

A black and white photograph shows a biplane aircraft in flight, against a background of clouds and a bright shaft of sunlight. A windmill stands on the horizon.

Today in 1918, in France; a Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 fighter biplane returns to base near St Omer, during the First World War. #OTD #FWW #WW1 #AvHist

Photo: David McLellan www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

A black and white photograph shows a man giving a thumbs-up sign. He's seated at a double-barrelled 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun.

Today in 1944, at Plymouth; Jock Macgregor of the Canadian destroyer HMCS Haida gives a thumbs-up. Two days earlier he had been first to fire on the German submarine U-971. Haida later rescued six survivors. #OTD #SWW #WW2 #Navalhistory

Photo: Harold Tomlin www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

A black and white photograph shows a warship at sea, with shells falling nearby on both sides.

Today in 1944, off the French coast near Cherbourg, during operations to bombard German coastal artillery batteries, the British Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Glasgow comes under fire. #OTD #SWW #WW2 #NavalHistory

Pic: Lt Allen www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

A photograph of a framed bronze plaque showing Adolf Hitler in profile, looking left. A small plate fixed to the plaque reads 'TAKEN FROM THE GERMAN SUPPLY SHIP "ALSTAR" [sic] CAPTURED BY "ICARUS" OFF VESTFJORD 11TH APRIL 1940'

Today in 1940, in the Vestfjorden off the Norwegian coast, the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Icarus captures the German supply ship Alster. This bronze plaque of Adolf Hitler is found on board, and taken as a trophy. #WW2 #history #navalhistory

#IWMcollections EPH 9619 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Destroyer HMS Glowworm crosses the bows of German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper as she presses home her attack on the much more powerful German ship off Norway on 8 April 1940: photograph taken from the Admiral Hipper. Imperial War Museum image: FL 1973. Description: a small warship producing large amounts of black smoke as she moves at high speed with shell splashes around her. In the foreground can be seen the bows of the ship she is attacking, from which the picture is taken.

8 Apr 1940 // Destroyer HMS Glowworm sank off Norway after a valiant and tenacious attack on German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. 109 of her crew were lost. CO Lt Cdr Gerard Broadmead Roope was posthumously awarded the first VC of #WW2 for this action. (IWM image FL 1973) #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory

Another aircraft with a change of scenery at Duxford, a Falklands veteran, Harrier GR.3 XZ133. The aircraft is currently in Hangar 5 at Duxford, with its wheels back on the ground after many years suspended from the ceiling in AirSpace.

Sherman tank advances along a tree lined road.

A Sherman II from B Squadron, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry, passing through Hopsten,
#OTD 8th April 1945.
Sgt Travis photographed the scene.

3/4 CLY supported 5 KOSB on the advance to Halverde.

IWM BU 3324 #4Armd #CLY #Sharpshooters #SWW #History

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Gallant photographed in 1938. Imperial War Museum image: FL 22249.

5 Apr 1942 // Destroyer HMS Gallant was rendered a total loss after being damaged by German bombing while under repair at Valletta, Malta. Her hulk was expended as blockship at St Paul's Island off Malta in September 1943. (Imperial War Museum image: FL 22249) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory

Sherman tank on gunnery range with officers watching.

‘CRICKLADE’ a Sherman II of C Sqn, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, 9th Armd Brigade, on the gunnery range, Aleppo, Syria.

#OTD 5th April 1943, during a visit by Lt. Gen. W G Holmes, GOC of 9th Army.

The dark outline on the squadron O is unusual.

IWM E23451 by Sgt Mornement.
#9Armd #RWY #SWW #History

Brown mohair plush fully jointed teddy bear. The eyes are black boot button and the nose, mouth and claws stitched with black wool. There is the Steiff trademark metal button in the left ear. The accessories are two kilts, a beret, a houndstooth suit comprising jacket, trousers and hat, and a homemade metal and cloth gas mask.

This bear's name is Ted. His gas mask was made by his owner Elizabeth's mum Muriel in the early 1940s, to protect him and get Elizabeth used to wearing one. Ted also has other outfits including an American zoot suit.
Ref MISC.787:1, V & A Museum.

HMS Searcher not only made it to the end of the war to be sold into the merchant fleet, (in fact she was only scrapped in 1976), but she was involved in the final sinking of a U-Boot of the war. Spud obviously brought them luck.

A black and white photo of a puppy wearing a name tag reading 'Spud'.

Today in 1944, 'Ordinary Seaman Spud', the #dog mascot of the Royal Navy escort aircraft carrier HMS Searcher, poses for a photo. #puppy #History #WW2

Photo #IWMcollections A 22848

Today in 1945, in Levern in Germany north-east of Osnabrück, troops of Nazi Germany's Volkssturm militia surrender to British troops of 11th Armoured Division. #WW2 #History

Film: Sergeant Palmer, IWM A70 291-1 #IWMcollections

A black and white photo shows two British soldiers, one armed with a Bren light machine gun and the other with a Thompson submachine, in position on a pile of rubble in an urban area.

Today in 1945, Private Manders and Corporal Angus, of 1st Special Service Brigade, keep watch for enemy snipers in the German town of Osnabrück.

Photo: IWM BU 3057 #IWMcollections

A black and white photograph shows a sailor armed with a rifle standing at the rail of a warship. In the sea below a large group of men are swimming.

Today in 1944, in the Indian Ocean, Able Seaman H Leonard keeps watch as sailors of the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Newcastle swim in the sea. Leonard is armed with a rifle, for use in case sharks are seen. #WW2 #history #navalhistory

#IWMcollections A 23018

Sgt Lawrie of the AFPU films men of 6th Airborne Division glancing up at a burning US Curtiss C-46 Commando as it descends, presumably to crash (the film cuts just as it nears the ground). Operation Varsity, 24 March 1945.

IWM (A70 278-6), Sgt Lawrie
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Two men dance before a room of nurses and wounded soldiers.

A British Soldier and the Artist Entertain Wounded Soldiers with a Russian Folk-Dance at Archangel Military Hospital, 1944, by James Morris (1908-89), 1944.

IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 3975)
www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

The Frank Hodgkinson film collection is full of fascinating stuff.

The Frank Hodgkinson film collection is full of fascinating stuff.

A black and white photograph taking from an aircraft passing low over a surfaced submarine.

Today in 1944 British naval aircraft attack and sink the German submarine U-288. In this photo, a Grumman Avenger from the aircraft carrier HMS Tracker passes over the boat's conning tower. A member of the U-boat crew can be seen manning a twin 20mm anti-aircraft gun.

#IWMcollections A 22861

A black and white photograph shows naval pilots posing for a photo with one of their aircraft.

'THEY LEFT THE TIRPITZ BURNING'

Naval pilots of the Fleet Air Arm pose for a photo with one of their American-built Corsair fighters, aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, following a successful airstrike against the German battleship Tirpitz, 3 April 1944.

#IWMcollections A 22668

Infantry in Armoured Personnel Carrier

A great photo by Sgt Walker, taken #OTD 3rd April 1945, of Infantry from 53rd (Welsh) Division in a Ram Kangaroo personnel carrier. Taken on the outskirts of Ochtrup, following its capture.

IWM BU 2956
#49APCRegt #53Welsh #History #SWW #WW2

A black and white photograph shows an aircraft, in a steep dive, attacking a large warship. A column of smoke is rising from the ship.

Today in 1944, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm mount Operation Tungsten. The objective is the German battleship Tirpitz, moored in a heavily defended Norwegian fjord. The raid fails to sink Tirpitz, but causes extensive damage & inflicts hundreds of casualties among the crew

#IWMcollections A 22638

HMS Belfast fordeck

HMS Belfast captains bridge

HMS Belfast ammunition room

HMS Belfast engine room

More photos of HMS Belfast from yesterday.