How Low Can You Go? WWII Warbirds Hugging The Dirt!

Warbirds from WWII Flying extremely low, to impress their mates, to escape from harm or to execute an attack. Either way, it makes for some very impressive pictures!

air_flyingfortress81B-17F Fortress aircraft of the 91st BG, 8th Air Force executing a low fly-over during a demonstration at Bassingbourn, England, United Kingdom, 1943 [Via]

air_flyingfortress82B-17F Fortress aircraft of the 91st BG, 8th Air Force executing a low fly-over during a demonstration at Bassingbourn, England, United Kingdom, 1943 [Via]

air_flyingfortress85 (1)US B-17F Fortress aircraft ‘Hell Belle’ of the 91st Bomb Group, 401st Bomb Squadron doing a low-level fly-by at RAF Bassingbourn, England, United Kingdom, Jun-Sep 1943 [Via]

aeb3714a68a4023771d407b86317ec67F4U Corsair flying top cover in WWII [Via]

Lowdown58A USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt at extreme low level. Note that the sweep of the camera’s pan has bent the buildings in the background. [Via]

LowDown87A P-38 Lightning buzzing the field at Lavenham, England which was the home base of the 487th Bomb Group. [Via]

buzzjobP-38 buzzing an airfield [Via]

P-38s_over_Shemya_AAF_1_August_1945P-38 Lightnings making a low-level pass over the runway at Shemya AAF, 1 August 1945 during the Armed Forces Day celebration [Via]

Boulton_Paul_Defiant_Mk_I_night-fighter_of_No._264_Squadron_RAF,_silhouetted_against_the_clouds_during_a_low-level_pass_over_its_base_at_Biggin_Hill,_Kent,_April_1941._CH2523Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I night-fighter of No. 264 Squadron RAF, silhouetted against the clouds during a low-level pass over its base at Biggin Hill, Kent. [Via]

Hurricanes_006771Two Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane Mark IIs of No. 43 Squadron RAF make a low level pass over other aircraft of the Squadron, lined up at Tangmere, Sussex (UK). [Via]

 

730px-Aircraft_of_the_Royal_Air_Force_1939-1945-_Handley_Page_Hp.57_Halifax._CH10594Halifax B Mark II Series 1 (Special), JB911’ KN-X’, of No. 77 Squadron RAF, making a low level pass over other aircraft of the squadron at Elvington, Yorkshire. [Via]

LowDown92Blenheim aircraft from 60 Squadron RAF level out for the “run in” to make a mast-head attack on a Japanese coaster off Akyab, Burms in 1942.[Via]

tumblr_nlmsp2XwDK1u1y1coo1_1280Lancaster low pass, with 3 engines feathered. Scary.[Via]

5eee037e510bb8c130526a7b40b083e5Messerschmitt Me-262 flying low [Via]

9287411514_85e30c431e_z1945 World War II photo of American Republic P-47 Thunderbolts buzzing American troops in Brunswick, Germany [Via]

Ju87B-21Truly low-level flight of the Ju 87 [Via]

4327629748_ec9caff0c5_bLow-flying Short Sunderland patrol bomber at Kristiansten fortress (1945) [Via]

Lowdown44A squadron of Luftwaffe Ju-52 Junkers stream low over the Russian countryside near Demjansk, south of Leningrad. In February to May of 1942, the Germans were surrounded by the Red Army. Supplying the Germans during and after the “Demjansk Pocket”, was the role of the air force. Here, low flying in the slow transports was more a survival tactic than a joyride.  [Via]