Nell “Mickey” Stevenson Bright, WASP pilot.

Liberator GR Mark IIIA, LV345 'E', parked in a dispersal at Aldergrove, County Antrim, at the culmination of its service with of No. 86 Squadron RAF, and shortly before joining the Liberator Flight of No. 1 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit at Beaulieu, Hampshire. (IWM)

One for the aviation enthusiasts. This is a GAL.56, an experimental proof of concept tailless swept wing glider at RAF Beaulieu, late 1940s. Only a handful were ever made. It was one of several weird and wonderful inventions being tested at Beaulieu during the post-war period. 🧵

Martin B26 Marauder of the 323rd Bomb Group aka the "White Tails" at Earls Colne in Essex, England 1943

82 years ago today, an aircraft carrying eight Czechoslovak RAF airmen crashed in the New Forest with the loss of all on board. A year ago, myself and a friend visited the crash site, and placed a wooden cross down for them. 🧵

#NationalDogDay 🐶 The squadron mascot dog waits for the pilots to return at RAF Hornchurch airfield, Essex. 7 May 1942. (Photo source - © IWM CH 5763) Colourised by Doug

#NationalDogDay 🐶 Lt. Howard Hively of the USAAF 8th AF, 335th FS, 4th Fighter Group with his dog mascot 'Duke' and his P-47 Thunderbolt “The Deacon” at RAF Debden - 1943

Today is National Dog Day. Here are 3 dogs that belonged to Squadrons flying from RAF Beaulieu. Trea the Great Dane (323rd Bomb Group), MacTavish the Scottie dog (365th Fighter Group), and Antis the German Shepherd (311 Czechoslovak). Antis was awarded a Dickin Medal for Bravery.

Thunderbolt of the 365th Fighter Group, Belgium

On this day in 1940, a fierce aerial battle took place in the skies over Southampton. On Aug 16, the Luftwaffe mounted attacks on south coast airfields. The resulting clash led to the youngest RAF Battle of Britain pilot dying and one pilot being awarded the Victoria Cross. 🧵

Today marks the anniversary of the worst air accident relating to the New Forest airfields during WW2. Two aircraft collide over Sway, 13 fatalities including one man on the ground who'd moved to the forest to escape the dangers of the Southampton Blitz.

81 years ago today, Aug 6, 1944, American airman James Brantley died in a tragic accident at RAF Stoney Cross, New Forest. A flare went off in his B-26 cockpit; blinded and burned, he leapt out - into a spinning propeller. He’d flown his first mission only the day before.

@WW2Airfields RAF Croft in June 1944 to meet my Uncle. Peter Ager was only 19 when he was lost over Holland on 17th June. RCAF photo of the crews of 434 & 431 squadrons awaiting take off on 6th June 1944. Colourised by @marinamaral2

@WW2Airfields Coningsby, as the Dambusters were stationed there briefly, but mainly because Dad served there.

Here's another question... If you could step back in time and visit one wartime RAF or USAAF airfield when it was in service, which would it be and why?

Here's a question for you... You’re standing on the perimeter track of a disused and abandoned WW2 airfield. You hear the sound of ghostly engines in the distance. What aircraft do you want to appear in the distant sky?

Just asked my colleague to check, and yes, it appears it is safe to walk out onto the airfield today without being burned to a crisp. ☀️🌤️⛅️🌥️

On this day in 1944, John Stevens (left) and Virgil Mary (right) of the USAAF 402nd Fighter Squadron died in a tragic accident. They had left RAF Andover on 17 July 1944 in their P-38 Lightnings, when Stevens' aircraft was seen roll to the inverted position...

Battle of Britain souvenir. Essex, England.

V-1 flying bomb on display at the Battle of Britain 25th anniversary flying display at RAF Biggin Hill airfield, London, 1965. (Evening Standard)