Ground Crew Collection

Raf Fast Jet Assists Flood Relief Efforts from the Air
Image Shows a 31 Sqn, RAF Marham Tornado being loaded with a Raptor Pod before a sortie to provide imagery of the Thames Valley area

Chipmunk aircraft of the G. U. A.s (Glasgow University Air Squadron
Chipmunk aircraft of the G.U.A.S (Glasgow University Air Squadron) at RAF Waddington 10th July 1952

British Eagle International Airlines a major British independent airline that operated from 1948 until it went into liquidation in 1968

A shooter signals the launch of an F / A-18 Super Hornet
Persian Gulf, February 7, 2008 - A shooter on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, gives the signal for an F/A-18E Super Hornet to launch off ship

R. A. F. ground crew clean the guns of a bomber. Pilots are ready to praise
R.A.F. ground crew clean the guns of a bomber. Pilots are ready to praise the ground staff and say there would be no raids if the guns weren t cleaned and the planes regularly checked

Leigh Light a powerful carbon arc searchlight of 20 inches used for spotting U-boats on the surface at night fitted to a Liberator aircraft of Royal Air Force Coastal Command. Circa 1943

R. A. F. ground crews clear up wreckage inside a bomb shattered hanger at an airfield near
R.A.F. ground crews clear up wreckage inside a bomb shattered hanger at an airfield near Salerno, following the success of Operation Avalanche, the allied invasion of mainland Italy

A Blue Steel missile at RAF Waddington The UKs nuclear deterrent seen here being loaded aboard a RAF Avro Vulcan. 14 February 1963

The First Boeing 747 to land at Heathrow Airport Jan 1970 Airport and airline workers walk around the Pam Am Boeing 747 jumbo jet after it landed at Heathrow for the first time

Refuelling and re-arming Spitfire fighters, Malta, World War II, 1942 (1944). Creator: Unknown
Refuelling and re-arming Spitfire fighters, Malta, World War II, 1942 (1944). Each to his Station. - While the pilot waits, soldiers and airmen refuel and reammunition his Spitfire in its pen

Sunrise at RNAS Yeovilton. An early morning sunrise at RNAS Yeovilton/HMS Heron as the ground crew of 702 Naval Air Squadron get ready for the departure of a Lynx MK3 aircraft

McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom 67-0223
United States Air Force (USAF) - McDonnell Douglas F-4E-34-MC Phantom 67-0223 (msn 2875, base code GA'), on the flight line at George Air Force Base

Ground crew and pilot manhandle a French Spad fighter through the snow to a hangar
701971 Ground crew and pilot manhandle a French Spad fighter through the snow to a hangar, January 1918 (colour litho0 by Flameng)

British 12, 000-lb armour-piercing earthquake bomb of the type used to sink the German battleship Tirpitz in the bomb
6015165 British 12, 000-lb armour-piercing earthquake bomb of the type used to sink the German battleship Tirpitz in the bomb bay of a Lancaster bomber, World War II

A veteran P-40 Warhawk fighter bomber Group under Major General Edwin J Houses 12th Air Support Command and a spearhead of General Montgomerys drive through the desert, dropped its 1, 000

North American Mitchell of No. 180 Squadron RAF, being refuelled and bombed up at Dunsford, Surrey, between cross-Channel sorties in support of Operation Starkey

Sergenat W Page of Coulsdon, Surrey, and Leading Aircraftman G Skelsey of London fit a long-range fuel tank to a Hawker Typhoon Mark IB of No. 137 Squadron RAF at B78 Eindhoven, Holland

R. A. F. in East Africa. Ground crew checking up before a Glen Martin Maryland takes
R.A.F. in East Africa. Ground crew checking up before a Glen Martin Maryland takes off on raid. 28h May 1941

The strong man of the RAF. 15th February 1940 (Original Caption). An up to date " Atlas" is serving with an RAF bomber squadron in France

Fairey Battle crews of 12 Squadron seen here living close to their machines, on a snow covered airfield at Amifontaine, France. 10th January 1940

Fairey Battles of 226 Squadron seen here being serviced in the fields closed to Faux-Villecerf, France Circa 16th May 1940

BOAC VC10 seen here on the apron at Khartoum after completing a proving flight from London Heathrow. 1st February 1964

The Martinsyde Raymor biplane being assembled at the airfield at Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John s, Newfoundland, prior to the attempt by Frederick Raynham (pilot) and C.W.F

Gloster Javelins of No. 25 Squadron line up on the apron at RAF Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire in 1959

RAF ground crew member T Walton seen here checks the winch on a RAF Bristol Sycamore HR13 helicopter after landing. 11th November 1957

SEPECAT Jaguar GR3As of 54 Squadron seen being prepared at RAF Coltishall for a bombing run on the Otterburn ranges 5th August 1987

SEPECAT Jaguar GR3As of 54 Squadron seen here taxi-ing to the runway at RAF Coltishall before take off for a bombing run on the Otterburn ranges 5th August 1987

A De Havilland DH Venom FB1 seen here being re-fuelled at RAF Leconfield during preparations for the stations Battle of Britain Day celebrations. Circa September 1955

The Fairey Long Rang Monoplane, seen here at RAF Cranwell before Squadron Leader O Gayford (officer in charge of the RAF Long Range Development Unit) and his navigator Flight Lieutenant G.E

A Gloster Meteor ground crew make last minute check before taking off for the gunnery range at RAF Leconfield. Circa 1955

Hawker Hinds seen here on the apron of RAF Digby whilst refuelling. 23rd May 1935

Lt Dave White, centre, commanding officer of D Flight, 22 Squadron, with fellow crew members Master Navigator Ron Dedmen, left

A English Electric Canberra is given a inspection in preparation for Battle of Britain at Home at RAF Scampton 4 September 1953 Re-indexed

145 Squadron English Electric Lightning T. 4 XM987 seen here during routine maintenance
145 Squadron English Electric Lightning T.4 XM987 seen here during routine maintenance RAF Leconfield. Circa 1965

Vulcans of the 617 "Dambusters"squadron at RAF Scampton leave for a
Vulcans of the 617 " Dambusters" squadron at RAF Scampton leave for a round-the-world flight to Rongatai airport in New Zealand. 14 October 1959

The wings being attached to a Folland Gnat of the Red Arrows in preparation for a Royal Airforce exhibition at Thameside, Berkshire. 14th October 1967

The worlds largest and fastest bomber - the Avro Lancaster - carrying eight tons of bombs and now on production in England, Scotland and Wales

Flight engineers working on the engines of the Air France L Intrepide Wibault 280.T12 at Croydon Airport being canvassed by T Crawford the Labour candidate for Croydon South in the upcoming General

Ground crew fit the tail vanes and manoeuvre a bomb into the bomb bay of a French Air Force Farman aircrafton the Western Front, 11 November 1917

Norwegian pilots operating under the RAF Second Tactical Air Force on the Western front, pictured beside a Spitfire fighter aircraft after returning from a sweep over enemy terrority during

The Westland Puma HC Mk. 1 is a AErospatiale Puma SA 330 E built under licence by Westland
The Westland Puma HC Mk.1 is a AErospatiale Puma SA 330 E built under licence by Westland Helicopters for the RAF. A member of a RAF refuelling crew dives for cover as the Puma takes off with full

An RAF Handley Page H. P. O / 400 bomber of 207 Squadron with its wings folded back is
An RAF Handley Page H.P. O/400 bomber of 207 Squadron with its wings folded back is pulled across the aerodrome at Ligescourt. 29th August 1918

The Goodyear Europa airship is hauled into position by teams of men at RAF Cardington formerly the Royal Airship Works March 1972 P000936

This Airco DH-4 operated a service from Londons Croydon Airport to Paris. Instone & Co. were a shipping company that originally operated a private service from its base in Cardiff via London to Paris

R. A. F. Ground Crews: Tripolitania, c1942-1943, (1945). Creator: Unknown
R.A.F. Ground Crews: Tripolitania, c1942-1943, (1945). From " R.A.F. Middle East - The Official Story of Air Operations, Feb. 1942 - Jan. 1943"

Sidi Barrani: R. A. F. Ground Crews, c1942-1943, (1945). Creator: Unknown
Sidi Barrani: R.A.F. Ground Crews, c1942-1943, (1945). From " R.A.F. Middle East - The Official Story of Air Operations, Feb. 1942 - Jan. 1943"

The monster mastered, 1941. Artist: Cecil Beaton
The monster mastered, 1941. Men grapple to keep a barrage balloon under control. From Air of Glory, by Cecil Beaton. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1941]

Loading bombs on to an RAF aircraft during World War II, c1940 (1943). From Coastal Command. [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1943]

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"Ground Crew: Unsung Heroes of the Skies" From assisting fast jet flood relief efforts to refuelling and re-arming Spitfire fighters during World War II, ground crews have always played a crucial role in aviation. In times of crisis, like the RAF Fast Jet assisting flood relief efforts from the air, these dedicated individuals ensure that aircraft are ready for action. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to maintain and prepare Chipmunk aircrafts of the G. U. A. S (Glasgow University Air Squadron) or McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom 67-0223. Even during wartime, their importance cannot be overstated. As depicted in an unknown creator's photograph from Malta in 1942 (1944), R. A. F and can be seen refuelling and re-arming Spitfire fighters amidst bomb-shattered hangars. Their bravery and resilience shine through as they clear up wreckage inside those devastated structures. Their expertise extends beyond combat situations too. The Leigh Light, a powerful carbon arc searchlight used for spotting U-boats, showcases their versatility and adaptability in different roles within aviation. The challenges faced by they are not limited to just maintenance tasks but also include logistical feats such as manhandling a French Spad fighter through snow-covered terrain to reach safety inside a hangar. Their contributions extend beyond individual missions; they play pivotal roles in historical events as well. A black-and-white photo captures British 12, 000-lb armor-piercing earthquake bombs being loaded into Lancaster bombers during World War II - weapons that would ultimately sink the German battleship Tirpitz. Whether it is Tripolitania or Sidi Barrani during c1942-1943 (1945), R. A. F Ground Crews continue to demonstrate unwavering dedication even under challenging circumstances.