British night bombers by G. H. Davis
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British night bombers by G. H. Davis
British night bombers encounter flaming onions, as in the raid on Sylt -- a type of incendiary anti-aircraft shell used in the First World War, reintroduced by the Germans in the Second World War.
1940
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Media ID 14125245
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Anti Beam Bomb Bombers Bombing Bombs Davis Encounter Flaming Germans Hazard Incendiary Lights Onion Onions Raid Shell Shelling Slow Sylt Reintroduced
EDITORS COMMENTS
In the inky blackness of the night sky, British night bombers form a determined procession, their wings slicing through the darkness as they prepare to embark on a perilous mission. The year is 1940, and the Second World War rages on. The target: the German-occupied island of Sylt, located off the northwest coast of Germany. As the bombers approach, they are met with an unexpected and ominous sight. Flames illuminate the night, casting an eerie glow over the scene. The source of the fiery spectacle: German anti-aircraft batteries, firing their incendiary "flaming onion" shells. Named for their distinctive shape, these shells were a hazardous addition to the German arsenal, reintroduced from the First World War. The slow-moving incendiary bombs, with their fiery tails, pose a significant threat to the British bombers. The bombers' navigators must thread the needle, avoiding the deadly projectiles while staying on course to drop their own payloads. The contrast between the dark night and the bright, fiery explosions creates a haunting tableau, a testament to the brutal realities of wartime air combat. The British bombers press on, their lights cutting through the darkness as they continue their raid. The outcome of this encounter remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the night sky above Sylt is a battleground, a place where light and darkness clash in a deadly dance. This evocative image, captured by renowned photographer G. H. Davis for the Illustrated London News, offers a glimpse into the perilous world of wartime air transport and the hazards that awaited Allied forces during the darkest hours of the Second World War.
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