View allAll Photos Tagged WWII
Photograph of an unidentified street scene in Bruges, Belgium, during World War II (undated).
From William L. Flournoy Sr. Papers, WWII 109, WWII Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.
Photograph of a group of U.S. Army officers posing together on a sidewalk outside of an Army barracks at an unidentified military camp thought to be in Texas [believed to be either Camp Wolters or Camp Howze] during World War II. Pictured are (left to right) Robert J. Pleasants of Cary, NC; Price; Warton; Olsen; and Palmquist [circa 1940s].
From Robert J. Pleasants Papers, WWII 73, WWII Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.
Snapshot of an unidentified U.S. Army technician third grade sitting in the back of an Army truck with other soldiers somewhere in the Philippines around 1945 or 1946 during World War II. Photograph taken while James W. Setzer of Maiden, NC, was serving in the 29th Engineer Topographic Battalion in the Philippines (circa 1945-1946).
From James W. Setzer Papers, WWII 245, WWII Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.
My grandfather, Martin Gerald Kinnavy, had a student deferment during the early years of World War II, so he couldn't be drafted. He had a low draft number, so after graduation, instead of waiting to be drafted, he decided to enlist. He went to enlist in the Navy, who turned him down due to his poor eyesight. Then he went to enlist in the Air Corps (the WWII analog of the Air Force), who also turned him down due to his eyesight. So he went to the Army, who also turned him down for the same reasons. So he sat back and waited to be drafted, and lo and behold, he was.
In basic training, he was instructed in the operation of the standard assault rifle at the time, and was given the designation of 'Rifleman', but was prohibited from actually firing the weapon due to his eyesight. As a result, when the rest of the recruits were out at the rifle range, he was on KP.
Luckily for him, he was a smart guy, and his scores on IQ exams and the like qualified him for the officer training program. When he was through with that, he was given a choice of assignment: Medical Administration Corps or Quartermaster. He chose Quartermaster. He was assigned to the Medical Administration Corps. Undaunted, he was also informed that he was either going to be sent to Panama or Iceland. The word came down that he was going to be headed to Panama, so he sent his winter clothes back home, which was a big mistake, seeing as how the people upstairs changed their mind afterwards and sent him to Keflavik, Iceland.
The hospital where he was supposed to be working burned down shortly after he arrived in Keflavik, and was rebuilt in the form of a series of quonset huts.
And of course, by the time he arrived in Iceland and this picture was taken, it was 1946, and the war was over.
This is the original canteen. 700 Austin Rover Workers used to work in these tunnels.
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If you have time, I recommend you look through all my pictures of the tunnels so that you gain a proper impression of the site.
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drakelow_Tunnels
Drakelow Tunnels:
Regional Government HQ (contains a good map of the tunnel layout): www.ringbell.co.uk/ukwmo/Page223.htm
This is what I can remember the guide telling us:
Drakelow Tunnels cover about 285,000 square feet (26,500 square meters)
Built in 1939 for Austin Rover workers to make engine parts for Spitfire and Hurricane fighter planes.
Later it became a Cold War regional defense bunker, hence the three blast doors we had to pass through to gain entry to the site.
The site is massive, the tunnels stretch for three and a half miles (five and a half kilometers) -- on entry, our guide told us not to wander off or we would become lost, and I can well believe it.
All sorts can be seen down there, including dormitories, canteens, and even an operating theater from the Cold War era. This had been found with all the equipment (such as an X-ray machine) unopened.
This US soldier in Alaska wears an Alaskan Department shoulder patch and stands by a Headquarters and Service Company signpost that bears a similar design. The Alaskan Department oversaw training, defense, and logistics in Alaska during WWII, including the complex issues related to lend-lease with Russia.
From a scanned negative.
Owen Mitchell with land army girls Alma, Jean, Big Renee, Little Renee and Joan on Broomfields Farm, Hadlow Down.
WWII German Bunker at Batterie de Longues-sur-Mer
ONLY Emergency Services Departments are allowed to use my photos. All others must ask permission.
Members of 6 Squadron in front of old missionary store at Halavo Bay, Solomon Islands.
Squadron Adjutant, Flight Lieutenant Alastair Scott, front right.
If you can identify anyone else in this photo please contact me.
Snapshot of William J. Ellis, wearing his U.S. Army uniform, posing for a photograph while wearing his military gas mask while standing along an unidentified body of water [believed to be at the Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland], taken within Ellis’ first year in service during World War II. Ellis later came to live in Raleigh, N.C. (circa 1942) [Photograph collected by Ellis’ girlfriend Peggy Long in “His Service Record” book during Ellis’ WWII service].
From William J. Ellis Papers, WWII 53, WWII Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.
Tony posing
My grandfather recently passed away at the age of 98.
He was a hero to me. He fought in WWII, and upon return started a steak house in Ca, had his own construction business, road paving business, and who knows what else, before starting a very successful Mexican Foods business.
A true entrepreneur.
Husband of 70 years to his wife, and great grandfather.
His name is Tony Garcia.
Snapshot taken across the Scheldt River looking towards downtown Antwerp, Belgium, during World War II. Pictured in the foreground are 1st Sgt. Fenor (?) and Capt. Anderson on the dock. Photograph taken by William L. Flournoy while he was stationed there with the 280th Port Company, U.S. Army [circa 1945] [description on back of photograph as being taken from “Ghent” is incorrect”].
From William L. Flournoy Sr. Papers, WWII 109, WWII Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.
Aircraft damaged beyond repair were dumped, post war some of the metal was salvaged, the rest remains and is slowly picked off by souvenir hunters. Photographed at the abandoned WWII air force base at Gorrie Field. This was a large base with a still impressive main runway. Light aircraft can still use the airstrip after 60 years without maintentance!