World War II was a defining period in the history of this nation. There are a few iconic images that have come to represent this era, but so many other striking photographs have also survived. Check out this collection of rare WWII photos that are simply fascinating.
- A woman working on a “Vengeance” dive bomber near Nashville, Tennessee.
Flickr/Library of Congress
- A barker at the grounds of the Vermont state fair in Rutland. During wartime, people sought out fantastical distractions.
Flickr/Library of Congress
- Backstage at the “girlie” show at the Vermont state fair in Rutland.
Flickr/Library of Congress
- An instructor explaining how to operate a parachute to student pilots in Fort Worth, Texas.
Flickr/Library of Congress
- An instructor and students studying a map in Forth Worth, Texas.
Flickr/Library of Congress
- Women at the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California work on planes for soldiers at the front. Most important of the planes made at this plant was the B-17F.
Flickr/Library of Congress
- This woman is putting finishing touches on the bombardier nose section of a B-17F navy bomber in Long Beach, California.
Flickr/Library of Congress
- This photo’s description reads: “An American pineapple, of the kind the Axis finds hard to digest, is ready to leave the hand of an infantryman in training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. American soldiers make good grenade throwers.”
Flickr/Library of Congress
- F.W. Hunter, army test pilot at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant at Long Beach, California.
Flickr/Library of Congress
- Crowds of French patriots line the Champs Elysees to view Allied tanks and half tracks pass through the Arc du Triomphe, after Paris was liberated on August 25, 1944.
Flickr/Library of Congress
- Rural schoolchildren learn geography in a school room plastered with patriotic posters.
Library of Congress
- A soldier trains to use a gas mask in simulated exercises at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Jack Delano / Library of Congress LC-USW3-008339
- A mother and daughter in Roanoke, Virginia raid their attic for scrap metal to donate to the war effort.
Howard Liberman / Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-006304
- A sailor and girl at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress
- Children putting on a patriotic display in Southington, Connecticut.
Library of Congress
- Marine lieutenant, glider pilot in training at Page Field, Parris Island, South Carolina.
Library of Congress
- Crewman of an M-3 tank, Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Library of Congress
- Marines finishing training at Parris Island, South Carolina.
Library of Congress
- A woman working on an airplane motor at North American Aviation, Inc., plant in California.
Library of Congress
- A parade of M-4 (General Sherman and M-3 (General Grant) tanks in training maneuvers, Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Library of Congress
- News of victory spreads throughout the nation.
Library of Congress
What did you think of these rare WWII Photos? Does your family have any interesting photos or stories from this era?
Flickr/Library of Congress
Library of Congress
Jack Delano / Library of Congress LC-USW3-008339
Howard Liberman / Library of Congress LC-USE6-D-006304
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