Today in 1944, a German V1 flying bomb falls on London, striking the Aldwych. Dozens of people are killed. Smoke rises over the Royal Courts of Justice and the church of St Dunstan's, as seen from Fleet Street. Pedestrians hurry across the street, while others calmly alight from a bus #OTD #SWW #WW2

Late June 1945; a wedding in Norway between Lieutenant Commander Patrick Dalzel-Job and Bjørg Bangsund. A naval intelligence officer, linguist and commando, Dalzel-Job is said to have been one of the inspirations for Ian Fleming's James Bond. Photo: Lt Zimmerman www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Taking a ride on a tiger... Today in 1944, outside Rauray in Normandy, British tank crewmen of A Squadron, Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, take a ride on a captured German Tiger. #OTD #SWW #WW2 Film: Peter Handford AFPU, IWM A70 59-6 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Taking a ride on a tiger... Today in 1944, outside Rauray in Normandy, British tank crewmen of A Squadron, Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, take a ride on a captured German Tiger. #OTD #SWW #WW2 Film: Peter Handford AFPU, IWM A70 59-6 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Today in 1944, off the French coast, the Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Belfast - now a London museum ship - opens fire with her four-inch guns against German targets in Normandy. #OTD #SWW #WW2 #Navalhistory

Today in 1943 at Malta, Wing Commander John Selby DSO DFC, commanding No.23 Squadron Royal Air Force, poses with his Mosquito in this original colour photo. The plane's four machine guns have corks in their muzzles to keep out dust #OTD #SWW #WW2 #AvHist Photo: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Today in 1918, in France; a Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 fighter biplane returns to base near St Omer, during the First World War. #OTD #FWW #WW1 #AvHist Photo: David McLellan www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Today in 1944, at Plymouth; Jock Macgregor of the Canadian destroyer HMCS Haida gives a thumbs-up. Two days earlier he had been first to fire on the German submarine U-971. Haida later rescued six survivors. #OTD #SWW #WW2 #Navalhistory Photo: Harold Tomlin www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Today in 1944, off the French coast near Cherbourg, during operations to bombard German coastal artillery batteries, the British Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Glasgow comes under fire. #OTD #SWW #WW2 #NavalHistory Pic: Lt Allen www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Today in 1940, in the Vestfjorden off the Norwegian coast, the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Icarus captures the German supply ship Alster. This bronze plaque of Adolf Hitler is found on board, and taken as a trophy. #WW2 #history #navalhistory #IWMcollections EPH 9619 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

8 Apr 1940 // Destroyer HMS Glowworm sank off Norway after a valiant and tenacious attack on German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper. 109 of her crew were lost. CO Lt Cdr Gerard Broadmead Roope was posthumously awarded the first VC of #WW2 for this action. (IWM image FL 1973) #RoyalNavy #NavalHistory

Another aircraft with a change of scenery at Duxford, a Falklands veteran, Harrier GR.3 XZ133. The aircraft is currently in Hangar 5 at Duxford, with its wheels back on the ground after many years suspended from the ceiling in AirSpace.

A Sherman II from B Squadron, 3rd/4th County of London Yeomanry, passing through Hopsten, #OTD 8th April 1945. Sgt Travis photographed the scene. 3/4 CLY supported 5 KOSB on the advance to Halverde. IWM BU 3324 #4Armd #CLY #Sharpshooters #SWW #History

5 Apr 1942 // Destroyer HMS Gallant was rendered a total loss after being damaged by German bombing while under repair at Valletta, Malta. Her hulk was expended as blockship at St Paul's Island off Malta in September 1943. (Imperial War Museum image: FL 22249) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory

‘CRICKLADE’ a Sherman II of C Sqn, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, 9th Armd Brigade, on the gunnery range, Aleppo, Syria. #OTD 5th April 1943, during a visit by Lt. Gen. W G Holmes, GOC of 9th Army. The dark outline on the squadron O is unusual. IWM E23451 by Sgt Mornement. #9Armd #RWY #SWW #History

This bear's name is Ted. His gas mask was made by his owner Elizabeth's mum Muriel in the early 1940s, to protect him and get Elizabeth used to wearing one. Ted also has other outfits including an American zoot suit. Ref MISC.787:1, V & A Museum.

HMS Searcher not only made it to the end of the war to be sold into the merchant fleet, (in fact she was only scrapped in 1976), but she was involved in the final sinking of a U-Boot of the war. Spud obviously brought them luck.

Today in 1944, 'Ordinary Seaman Spud', the #dog mascot of the Royal Navy escort aircraft carrier HMS Searcher, poses for a photo. #puppy #History #WW2 Photo #IWMcollections A 22848

Today in 1945, in Levern in Germany north-east of Osnabrück, troops of Nazi Germany's Volkssturm militia surrender to British troops of 11th Armoured Division. #WW2 #History Film: Sergeant Palmer, IWM A70 291-1 #IWMcollections

Today in 1945, Private Manders and Corporal Angus, of 1st Special Service Brigade, keep watch for enemy snipers in the German town of Osnabrück. Photo: IWM BU 3057 #IWMcollections

Today in 1944, in the Indian Ocean, Able Seaman H Leonard keeps watch as sailors of the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Newcastle swim in the sea. Leonard is armed with a rifle, for use in case sharks are seen. #WW2 #history #navalhistory #IWMcollections A 23018

Sgt Lawrie of the AFPU films men of 6th Airborne Division glancing up at a burning US Curtiss C-46 Commando as it descends, presumably to crash (the film cuts just as it nears the ground). Operation Varsity, 24 March 1945. IWM (A70 278-6), Sgt Lawrie www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

A British Soldier and the Artist Entertain Wounded Soldiers with a Russian Folk-Dance at Archangel Military Hospital, 1944, by James Morris (1908-89), 1944. IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 3975) www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

The Frank Hodgkinson film collection is full of fascinating stuff.

The Frank Hodgkinson film collection is full of fascinating stuff.

Today in 1944 British naval aircraft attack and sink the German submarine U-288. In this photo, a Grumman Avenger from the aircraft carrier HMS Tracker passes over the boat's conning tower. A member of the U-boat crew can be seen manning a twin 20mm anti-aircraft gun. #IWMcollections A 22861

'THEY LEFT THE TIRPITZ BURNING' Naval pilots of the Fleet Air Arm pose for a photo with one of their American-built Corsair fighters, aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, following a successful airstrike against the German battleship Tirpitz, 3 April 1944. #IWMcollections A 22668

A great photo by Sgt Walker, taken #OTD 3rd April 1945, of Infantry from 53rd (Welsh) Division in a Ram Kangaroo personnel carrier. Taken on the outskirts of Ochtrup, following its capture. IWM BU 2956 #49APCRegt #53Welsh #History #SWW #WW2

Today in 1944, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm mount Operation Tungsten. The objective is the German battleship Tirpitz, moored in a heavily defended Norwegian fjord. The raid fails to sink Tirpitz, but causes extensive damage & inflicts hundreds of casualties among the crew #IWMcollections A 22638

More photos of HMS Belfast from yesterday.

This 1917 medal was designed by French medallist Pierre-Alexandre Morlon (1878-1951). It depicts the figure of Victory sweeping forwards with St Chamond tanks of the French Army. #TankTuesday #IWMcollections MED 664 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Pratt & Whitney radial engine. IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England. #Alphabetchallenge #WeekNforNoise #travel

Thinking ahead to the 80th anniversary of VE Day in May and while there's plenty of photos, even film, cannot think of a single art work capturing the celebrations in New Zealand? Leila Faithfull, ‘VE-Day Celebrations outside Buckingham Palace.’ (1945) Imperial War Museum (Art.IWM ART LD 5202)

“Paths Of Glory” by C.R.W. Nevinson, 1917, #ImperialWarMuseum. This painting is a stark reminder of war’s cost. These two unknown soldiers gave what Abraham Lincoln once called, “…the last full measure of devotion…” We must not forget their sacrifice. @thegreatwargroup.bsky.social #FWWHist #WWI

5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards Cromwell, supporting 9DLI and their Kangaroos, in Weseke, 29th March 1945. Operating as a mixed battle group, along with K Battery 5RHA, flail tanks and bridgelayers, and looking every bit the modern army. IWM BU 2823 #SWW #History

30th March 1945, 8th Army in the Mezzano area: "A Churchill bridge-layer of 51st Royal Tank Regiment in action during a demonstration." (IWM NA 23556 - Sgt. Currey) #Italy80

It was ultimately decided that an air attack was the best option. Air Commodore John Slessor was charged with overseeing the operation. Plans were well advanced, with some aircraft already forward deployed, when the invasion of France and the Low Countries halted operations . 📷 IWM CH 9457 🧵3/5

This week's header image (30 Mar - 5 Apr): destroyer HMS Falcon, sunk 1 Apr 1918 when she was rammed and cut in two by armed trawler HMS John Fitzgerald while on convoy duty in the North Sea, with the loss of one member of her crew. Image: Imperial War Museum Q 18255.

31 Mar 1941 // Light cruiser HMS Bonaventure was torpedoed by Italian submarine Ambra south of Crete while escorting a convoy from Piraeus to Alexandria. Struck amidships, Bonaventure sank rapidly with the loss of 139 of her 480 crew. (Imperial War Museum: A 1730) #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory

5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards Cromwell, photographed by Sgt Midgley #OTD 31st March 1945, passing a barricade in Stadtlohn. IWM BU 2888 #5RIDG #7Armd #Cromwell #SWW #History

31st March 1945, 8th Army in the San Clemente area: "Sgt. P. Fordham DCM of Kendal won his award whilst serving with the 1st Bn. King's Own near Faenza, where he kept lines of communication open under heavy fire." (IWM NA 23598 - Sgt. Johnson) #Italy80

31st March 1945, 8th Army in the San Clemente area: "L/Sgt. D.R. Templeman of Peterborough sitting on his 25-pounder gun." (IWM NA 23602 - Sgt. Johnson) #Italy80

Ring of Brodgar being used as a training ground for tanks in 1941! Photo from the Imperial War Museum. @stoneclub.bsky.social @megalithic.bsky.social

The 1914 Star, a British campaign medal of the #FirstWorldWar. Almost 400,000 of these medals were awarded to British and Indian soldiers, and some Royal Navy sailors, who served in France and Belgium from August to November 1914. The design features two crossed Roman swords. #MedalMonday

Magnolia tree flowering in today's spring sunshine in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, near #IWMLondon.

Saw Bearcat in Duxford. Quite a beast with phenomenal climb.

Launched today in 1938, #HMSBelfast would be preserved as a museum ship. The ship opened to the public in 1971 and became a branch of the Imperial War Museum in 1978. In 2004, IWM photographers took a series of portraits of surviving HMS Belfast veterans. See more: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

Today in 1938, #HMSBelfast is launched. In this photograph, taken during the ship's drydocking at Tilbury in 1982, Belfast's hull is shot-blasted before repainting. Photo: #IWMcollections IWM-1982-40-40

Today in 1938, #HMSBelfast is launched. A seahorse, from one the ship's tampion badges; the coat of arms of the city of Belfast feature a seahorse. #StPatricksDay #IWMCollections MAR 573

Today in 1938, on #StPatricksDay, the Royal Navy light cruiser #HMSBelfast is launched. She's photographed here at speed off Scapa Flow in Orkney, during a review of the fleet by King George VI. #navalhistory Photo: #IWMcollections A 18642, by Lieutenant Hudson