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Taken between February and July 1944, these remarkable large-scale images portray major operations against Axis infrastructure and the preparations for and execution of the Allied invasion of Europe. This is a well-curated selection in terms of both subject matter and size and quality of the prints. We have traced one other copy in institutional libraries, at the Library of Congress, donated by General Carl Spaatz, commander of Strategic Air Forces in Europe in 1944. The shots gathered here include the bombing of Berlin ("vast areas of Berlin in ruins"); the destruction of aircraft factories at Limoges, Gotha, Leipheim, and Marienburg and of the railway marshalling yards around Paris; 14 images relate to the D-Day landings and the operations immediately following, including landing craft protected by war ships off the coast and at the beaches, temporary harbour with "breakwater [which] consists of Merchantmen and old warships anchored in a continuous line while special pontoon sections make up another, and also piers and jetties"; Horsa and Hamilcar gliders at Caen; the bombardment of Caen; Tirpitz at her moorings in Kaafjord; oil refineries at Hamburg in flames; 13 images relating to the V Weapons project: Bois Carré, the first V1 launch site to be identified, before and after bombing; a V1 in the air pursued by a Hawker Tempest photographed from an American Lockheed Lightning; attacks on the V2 site at the "La Coupole" bunker complex at Wizernes, and "the massive concrete structure at Mimoyecques. probably connected with Germany's V.2 rocket weapon", but which was actually intended to house a battery of V-3 cannons, the "London Gun" supergun, the site was put out of commission by 617 Squadron - "The Dambusters" - with 11,900lb Tallboy bombs. Complete listing, titles taken from captions: Part of a Northbound enemy convoy photographed off Egersund during a reconnaissance flight to Norway. Vast areas of Berlin in ruins. Further heavy damage in Berlin shown here in a large area of the Western part of the city at Wilmersdorf and Schoenberg. 12,000 lb. Bombs on Aero-Engine Factory. This low altitude oblique of the same factory at Limoges was taken from a low flying Mosquito aircraft. The Gotha aircraft factory photographed shortly after a daylight attack by aircraft of the US 8th Air Force. Another reconnaissance picture of the Gotha factory taken the following day. The Airfield at Abbeville/Drucat has been ploughed up by the enemy; all runways and perimeter tracks have been mined over their entire length. Some of the famous World Fair Buildings at Leipzig covering more than 100 acres were almost completely destroyed by a heavy night attack by aircraft of Bomber Command 3/4th December, 1943. Destruction at Messerschmidt Works. The daylight attack on Leipheim Airfield by aircraft of the US 8th Air Force, on 24th April, 1944, resulted in the heavy damage shown here. Marienburg fighter assembly plant devastated for the second time. Almost complete devastation in the central part of Frankfurt after two night attacks by aircraft of Bomber Command. Fallersleben (Volkswagenwerke) the famous "People's Car Factory" now engaged on aircraft repairs and the production of important war material. Part of the M.A.N. Works, Augsburg [Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg] … very heavily damaged after an RAF night attack. Salbris explosive works and depot after a devastating attack by Bomber Command aircraft on the night of 7/8th May, 1944. Tours/Parcay Airfield after two attacks by aircraft of the 8th US Fighter Command in April [1944] and a heavy night attack by the RAF. A heavy night attack by the RAF on 3 & 4 May, 1944 … Mailly-le-Camp. Devastation of the Paris/Juvisy Marshalling Yard. Aulnoye Marshalling Yard devastated. The invasion of Normandy 6th June, 1944 … beach at Graye-sur-mer. More landing craft and equipment along the beach at Asnelles seen at 13:00 hours on 6th June, 1944. A concentration of Allied gliders which landed in a field eas.
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