greatest generation

African American troops practice combat drills in boot camp. In Italy, Buffalo Soldiers put that practice into action against the Germans.

(Source: archives.gov)

greatestgeneration:

An R.A.F. pilot with the signature hipster haircut

This is Albert Gerald Lewis, a South African volunteer and the best British flying ace. Apparently he was shot down, burned head to toe, returned to the Brits because of his injuries, and went right back to blowing German Luftwaffe out of the sky. BAMF? I would say so. 

Read this Life Magazine article about the pilots who saved England. No wonder these dudes got all the ladies! 

England’s most important young men are the several thousands who fly the Hurricane and Spitfire fighters in the Battle of Britain…

A great page detailing Lewis’ squadron. 

Wow! One of my favorite posts from almost a year ago. Time flies!

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Hopefully I don’t have to explain why its so hard to fire this machine gun from this position. Badass!

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Did you know “Wild Bill” Guarnere, of Band of Brothers fame, was busted from Staff Sergeant to Private Second Class for hiding local women in his assigned house in Aldbourne after Operation Market Garden Overlord?

Can’t blame a guy for looking out for his soldiers’ needs, right?

By far the best group effort war kiss I have seen. Planes, trains, and boats. It’s like these ladies tried to one up each other kissing their guys in acrobatic fashion. “Oh, he hung upside down out of a train car window? Don’t worry. I got you!”

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A US Marine keeps watch with his M1A1 carbine during the first flag raising on Iwo Jima, 1945

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German POWs - mere children - enjoy the simple things in life: water, hardtack, laughter, friends, and the end of violence