The Second World War In Color

The British Ministry of Information took thousands of color photographs of World War 2.  Hereunder are pictures of the vast collection held at the UK’s Imperial War Museum.

 

September 1944 Dutch civilians dance in the streets after the liberation of Eindhoven by Allied forces.

September 1944 – Dutch civilians dance in the streets after the liberation of Eindhoven by Allied forces.

July 1944 The RAF’s top-scoring fighter pilot, Wing Commander James ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, with his Spitfire and pet Labrador ‘Sally’ in Normandy.

July 1944 – The RAF’s top-scoring fighter pilot, Wing Commander James ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, with his Spitfire and pet Labrador ‘Sally’ in Normandy.

October 1944 British soldiers admire the Caryatids on the Acropolis while sightseeing in Athens.

October 1944 – British soldiers admire the Caryatids on the Acropolis while sightseeing in Athens.

September 1943 A 5.5-inch gun crew from 75th (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, in action in Italy.

September 1943 – A 5.5-inch gun crew from 75th (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, in action in Italy.

1944 Lieutenant Vernon R Richards of the 361st Fighter Group flies his P-51D Mustang, nicknamed ‘Tika IV’, during a bomber escort mission.

1944 – Lieutenant Vernon R Richards of the 361st Fighter Group flies his P-51D Mustang, nicknamed ‘Tika IV’, during a bomber escort mission.

 A German heavy cruiser abandoned in a dry dock at Kiel in May 1945

A German heavy cruiser abandoned in a dry dock at Kiel in May 1945

Local workers helping RAF fitters change the engine of a Lockheed Hudson at Yundum in the Gambia in April 1943

Local workers helping RAF fitters change the engine of a Lockheed Hudson at Yundum in the Gambia in April 1943

Local children crowding aboard a Sherman tank of the 3rd County of London Yeomanry in Sicily, August 1943

Local children crowding aboard a Sherman tank of the 3rd County of London Yeomanry in Sicily, August 1943

1943 Lancaster bombers nearing completion in Avro’s assembly plant at Woodford near Manchester.

1943
Lancaster bombers nearing completion in Avro’s assembly plant at Woodford near Manchester.

February 1944 General Dwight D. Eisenhower and his senior commanders at Supreme Allied Headquarters in London.

February 1944
General Dwight D. Eisenhower and his senior commanders at Supreme Allied Headquarters in London.

October 1944 Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery explains Allied strategy to King George VI in his command caravan in Holland.

October 1944 – Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery explains Allied strategy to King George VI in his command caravan in Holland.

April 22, 1944 British paratroopers prepare for a practice jump from an RAF Dakota based at Down Ampney in Wiltshire.

April 22, 1944 British paratroopers prepare for a practice jump from an RAF Dakota based at Down Ampney in Wiltshire.

c. 1941 An Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warden inspects damaged buildings in Holborn, London.

c. 1941 An Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warden inspects damaged buildings in Holborn, London.

March 1944 Private Alfred Campin of the 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry during battle training in Britain.

March 1944 Private Alfred Campin of the 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry during battle training in Britain.

August 1943 Nurses and convalescent aircrew at Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Hospital at Halton in Buckinghamshire.

August 1943 Nurses and convalescent aircrew at Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Hospital at Halton in Buckinghamshire.

May 1943 A crew from the 16th:5th Lancers, 6th Armoured Division, clean the gun barrel of their Crusader tank at El Aroussa in Tunisia.

May 1943 A crew from the 16th:5th Lancers, 6th Armoured Division, clean the gun barrel of their Crusader tank at El Aroussa in Tunisia.

December 1942 An Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) ‘spotter’ at a 3.7-inch anti-aircraft gun site.

December 1942 An Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) ‘spotter’ at a 3.7-inch anti-aircraft gun site.

 

Via the book The Second World War In Colour.

 

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