World War 2, Trolley Missions - 20 fotos
We remember the World War II this week on September 1st , when Germans started the invasion of Poland in 1939 – 70th anniversary. I also wanted to post about aerial photographies and I have found the Trolley Missions from allies.
The “Trolley Missions” began a few days before the war actually ended, but only over Allied controlled zones in Western Europe; after VE-Day some fights extended further East. Most of the flights took place on B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers; many of the low altitude photos came from these all but forgotten missions. The “Trolley Missions” took the ground crews (mechanics, cooks, etc..) and VIP’s over the war time mission targets at low altitude; over 30,000 non-crew personnel rode the “Trolleys”. A few planes actually landed. Trolley passengers were given permission and in few cases encouraged to take photographs. Generally a five man crew was used to fly the plane; the four officers and the chief engineer. The newer crews were generally used, but not always. For many of the battle seasoned crews this was their first up close view of what of what the missions had accomplished. A few “Trolley Mission” pilots were brought up on Court Marshal charges for “buzzing” military and civilian personal on the ground.
These photos were taken by Co-Pilot James Beadling from Mighty 8th Army Air Force, 448th BG, and 715th Squadron from the B-24 Wazzle Dazzle or shown at b24.net – photos were taken by Harvey B. DeVoe Jr..
Some information is unknown, you can contribute commenting. Thank you and enjoy the fotos.
1 The Dom Cathedral (Kölner Dom) in Cologne, Germany WWII, May 10th, 1945. "Trolley Missions"...Kölner Dom in Köln, Deutschland WWII, 10. Mai 1945. "Trolley-Missionen" Credit:
David C. Foster #
2 Hohenzollernbrücke Bridge, WWII B-24 VE "Trolley Missions", Cologne, Germany WWII, May 10th. Credit:
David C. Foster #
3 WWII B-24 VE "Trolley Missions", The Bridge at Remagen (Ludendorff-Brücke) , May 10th 1945. Credit:
David C. Foster #
4 Prisoner of War Temporary Enclosures (PWTEs) for German POWs at Remagen (Deutsch Kriegsgefangenen). Terrible conditions prevailed the camps (Housing 50.000 /PoWs ~ 120.000). Drinking water and food rations were lacking. Only few of the inmates had coats or shelter. It was a damp, cold spring with lots of rain. To protect themselves from the weather, prisoners dug holes in the ground. Lack of hygiene caused the spread of deseases such as dysentery. Credit:
David C. Foster #
5 This photograph shows the north of the city of Cologne. At the left side, from bottom to top, the Riehler Strasse with the Reichenspergerplatz and the Appelate Court (Oberlandesgericht, large square building), at the right side the prussian "Fort X", at the top St. Agnes church. Credit:
David C. Foster #
10 Right side square Neumarkt, left side the area around street Zeppelinstraße at building Olivandenhof. Cologne, Germany WWII, May 10th, 1945. Credit:
David C. Foster #
11 The Dragons Teeth (Drachen Zähne) of the Siegfried Line (Deutsch Westwall) , May 10th, 1945. Credit:
David C. Foster #
12 Brussels, Belgium, Wiertz street, along the railroad...May 10th, 1945. Credit:
David C. Foster #
13 An unknown railyard (Marshalling Yard/Rangierbahnhof), probably in Germany. Precision bombing was not known on 1945. Credit:
David C. Foster #
15 Negative image. The Cologne city districts Muelheim (background) and Riehl (foreground) with the destroyed Rhine River bridge "Muelheimer Bruecke", May 10th, 1945. Credit:
David C. Foster #
16 The Cologne city districts Muelheim (background) and Riehl (foreground) with the destroyed Rhine River bridge "Muelheimer Bruecke", May 10th, 1945. Credit:
David C. Foster #
20 Cologne, Germany: Dom Cathedral, Central Station, and the destroyed Hohenzollernbrücke Bridge over the Rhine River (1945). Credit:
David C. Foster #
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