Air Raid Collection (#2)

The German Air Fleet; Command post in a forward platform, during a raid... 1917. Creator: Unknown
The German Air Fleet; Command post in a forward platform, during a raid. The dimensions of the platform were manifestly exaggerated, 1917

The German Air Fleet; On board a zeppelin: in the rear, under attack by Allied planes... 1917. Creator: Unknown
The German Air Fleet; On board a zeppelin: in the rear, under attack by Allied planes, 1917. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

Premieres visions de Guerre; Un zeppelin est venu bombarder Anvers sans resultats, 1914. Creator: Unknown
Premieres visions de Guerre; Un zeppelin est venu bombarder Anvers sans resultats appreciables ; les bombes etaient encore peu efficaces, 1914

Le Zeppelin Abattu; Dans la banlieue Nord de Londres; Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson, 1916. Creator: Unknown
Le Zeppelin Abattu; Dans la banlieue Nord de Londres; Le lieutenant-aviateur William Leefe Robinson, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

La garde champetre; Derriere le front de la Somme, a Hangest-en-Santerre, 1916. Creator: Unknown
La garde champetre; Derriere le front de la Somme, a Hangest-en-Santerre : lecture d'une proclamation concernant l'alarme a donner en cas d'apparition d'avions allemands, 1916

Les destructions de monuments a Venise; Coupole de l'eglise San-Pietro di Castello, 1916. Creator: Unknown
Les destructions de monuments a Venise et a Reims; Coupole de l'eglise San-Pietro di Castello, qui fut atteinte par une bombe incendiaire et don't la lanterne seule fut detruite par le feu

Les destructions de monuments a Venise; Interieur de l'eglise Santa-Maria Formosa, 1916. Creator: Unknown
Les destructions de monuments a Venise et a Reims; Interieur de l'eglise Santa-Maria Formosa, apres le bombardement de Venise par les avions autrichiens, le 9 aout, 1916

L'Aviation Francaise sur le front Macedonien; un des bombardements de la ville de Petritch, 1916 Creator: Unknown
L'Aviation Francaise sur le front Macedonien; un des bombardements de la ville de Petritch: Pendant la periode de preparation sur le front d'Orient

Last zeppelin raid, on the night of January 29 to 30, 1916. Creator: Unknown
Last zeppelin raid, on the night of January 29 to 30, 1916

Sea Scouts Serving at a Mobile Canteen, 1944. Creator: Unknown
Sea Scouts Serving at a Mobile Canteen, 1944. From "Boy Scouts, by E. E. Reynolds. [Collins, London, 1944]

Bomb damage to Chichester following a tip and run raid on the city by Luftwaffe fighter bombers. 10th February 1943

Rescue workers search through the rubble and wreckage of Warwick Court, Holborn, London for survivors, after the building suffered a direct hit from a V2 rocket

Bomb damage to Bridlington in the North East of England after Germain airmen of the Luftwaffe bombed the town in an air raid in July 1940

Scene showing the bomb damage in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk following an air raid by the German Luftwaffe. German planes dropped around 1

On October 7 1941 bombs dropped in Rogerstone, Newport, Wales resulting in the loss of 18 lives. Here rescue workers and wardens attend the scene following the air raid by the German Luftwaffe

The wreckage of a Heinkel bomber which crashed on to 25 Victoria Road, Clacton, killing the aircrafts crew and Frederick and Dorothy Gill who were home at number 25 when the plane crash landed

Aerial photograph of damage to the Messerschmitt factory in Regensburg. 17th August 1943

Heavy bomb damage at Stettin after RAF attack on 20 / 21 April 1943
Heavy bomb damage at Stettin after RAF attack on 20/21 April 1943. Pictured, the first reconnaissance photograph the AG Der Chemischer Produkten Fabriken Pommerensdorf-Milch (Chemical Plant)

Damage to the Palm Court Restaurant, Selfridges, following an air raid attack which took place on 17th April. 20th April 1941

Salford Royal Hospital, after an air raid during The Manchester Blitz of World War Two. In June 1941 German bombs damaged the original Salford Royal Hospital on Chapel Street at the junction with

Liverpool. Merseyside. August 1941. During the Blitz. Picture shows the Old Street and Castle Street area of Liverpool, The National Bank Building with the Holt Building to the left

Picture shows business premises in Weston Super Mare, Somerset, decimated in The Blitz. June 1942. Street is unknown. On the nights of June 28 and 29

Cottingham Road, Hull, Yorkshire, after it was bombed in the Blitz. November 1940. The Hull Blitz was the bombing campaign that targeted the English port city of Kingston upon Hull by the German

Newbridge Road, Hull, Yorkshire, after it was bombed in the Blitz. Firefighters at the scene of a horrendous bombing raid The Hull Blitz was the bombing campaign that targeted the English port city

Hull, Yorkshire, during The Blitz. Picture shows the devastation in Buckingham Street, Hull. The Hull Blitz was the bombing campaign that targeted the English port city of Kingston upon Hull by

De La Pole Avenue in Hull, Yorkshire, during the blitz of World War Two. The emergency services search the rubble and crater lift by the bomb dropped by The Luftwaffe

Fountain Road in Hull, Yorkshire, during the blitz of World War Two. The emergency services, local people and the army search the rubble and crater lift by the bomb dropped by The Luftwaffe

St Athanasius School, Fonthill Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool, Merseyside, demolished in The Liverpool Blitz. The church next door however, escaped serious damage. Picture taken 8th October 1940

V1 flying bomb attack, Aldwych, London, 30th June 1944. One of the deadliest attacks, 46 people were killed and at least 200 others suffered serious injuries

WW2 Air Raids Ilford Essex East London WW2 Bomb damage in Ilford East London after an air raid is looked over by emergency service as they look for survivors amongst the rubble of collapsed

WW2 bomb damage in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, East Anglia. June 1943

GWR station staff member in a gas mask, c. 1939
During an air raid the threat of poison gas bombs being dropped by the German Luftwaffe was extremely high. Mustard gas was the most deadly gas available and could take up to 12 hours to take effect

Brake Third coach No. 3307 converted into a mobile cleansing unit, 1941
The fear of gas attack was of paramount concern during World War II, as demonstrated by the mass issuing of gas masks prior to the outbreak of war in 1939

A Sea Hurricane being loaded onto an armed merchant ship at Cardiff docks, c. 1941
As well as assisting in the transportation of military goods by rail the GWR also facilitated the war effort at their docks

Great Western Tender, No. W84, formerly No. 2641, 1941
Great Western Tender, No. W84 is featured in this official image taken in April 1941. Formerly No. 2641, this 4000 gallon engine tender was requisitioned by the Government for use with a fire

Air raid damage to goods wagons at Newton Abbot Station in 1940
On 20th August 1940 Newton Abbot Station was attacked by three German planes. This images shows the devastation that was caused by both bomb damage and extensive machine gun fire

Air raid damage to the gas holder at Swindon Works, 1942
Swindon Works following the air raid on 27th July 1942. The gas holder at the gas works is pock-marked by machine gun fire from a lone aircraft that had swooped over the town early in the morning

Bomb damage to Foxs Wood Tunnel, Bristol, 1941
A rather forlorn looking carriage can be seen here at the entrance to No.2 Tunnel at Foxs Wood near Bristol in 1941. A bomb had hit the tunnel mouth and ricocheted into the carriage

Air raid shelter at West Ealing Goods Yard, 1940
A rather intriguing photo here of West Ealing Goods Yard, taken in 1940. The strange molehill shaped mounds dotted along the track are air raid shelters

Air Raid notice, issued to passengers in 1940
This notice was issued to passengers in August 1940 by the GWRs General Manager, James Milne. The safety of staff and passengers was of the utmost importance

Friar Gate Derby, 1941 a42_00903
115A - 117A Friar Gate, Derby. The exterior of 115A-117A Friar Gate, premises of Wendy (115A), The Berlitz School of Languages (116) and The Friary Salon (117)

EDITORIAL Winston Churchill inspects the ruins of part of the Houses of Parliament after London's severest air raid by German bombers, 10-11 May, 1941

East End greengrocer doing his best to remain open for his customers despite the inconvenience of the shop and his home being bombed by the Luftwaffe during the air raids on London in the Second

Fire crews, police and ARP wardens help salvage furniture from properties close to Taylors Great Central Depository in St Georges Road, Southwark

Devastation at Upton Park following a V2 missile explosion in which 16 people were killed. 28th January 1945

The bomb damaged shell of the Coliseum Theatre, Bristol, following the Luftwaffe raid on the city. Circa November 1940

Bomb damage to Plymouth following a tip an run raid by Luftwaffe fighter bomber aircraft on the town. Circa April 8th 1941

Damage to Ashford, Kent following a tip and run attack by Luftwaffe fighter bombers. 24th March 1943

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In the midst of chaos and destruction, a woman finds solace in a simple cup of tea. As air raids ravage New Cross, she defiantly sits amidst the bomb damage, refusing to let fear consume her spirit. The once bustling St Thomas Hospital stands as a haunting reminder of the devastating power unleashed from above. Meanwhile, in Berlin, March 1944 bears witness to the relentless bombing campaign that leaves the center of this historic city in ruins. A Heinkel 111 bomber aircraft ominously soars over Tower Bridge, symbolizing the constant threat looming overhead. Backyards across Bristol become makeshift sanctuaries as Anderson air raid shelters provide shelter for families during these tumultuous times. Their presence is a testament to resilience and determination against an enemy that strikes indiscriminately. Newton Abbot Station falls victim to bombs raining down from enemy planes in 1940. Locomotives lie damaged and broken, their once powerful engines now silent witnesses to war's destructive force. Reconnaissance photographs taken after heavy RAF attacks on Cologne reveal a city reduced to rubble. Swindon Works employees navigate through debris with unwavering resolve as they maneuver wheel sets by crane amidst the chaos of war. Mogul locomotive No. 8314 bears scars inflicted by bombs in 1941—a poignant reminder that even machines are not spared from destruction's touch. Paddington Station also suffers its share of devastation in 1941—an enduring symbol of London's resilience under fire. Amidst this turmoil emerges stories of heroism and hope: an ARP warden risking his life rescues a young girl trapped beneath wreckage during the London Blitz. These acts exemplify humanity's indomitable spirit when faced with adversity—rising above despair to protect one another. Through it all, we glimpse both tragedy and triumph etched into history's tapestry—the air raid sirens may have sounded terror but failed to extinguish our collective resilience.