Second World War Stories

P-47 Thunderbolt in flight IWM (FRE 7594)
STORY

Why did American pilots love the P-47 Thunderbolt?

The P-47 Thunderbolt is one of the most recognisable American fighter planes from the Second World War. . In this video, our expert Graham Rodgers walks us through the history and technical aspects of this iconic aircraft.
P-47 Thunderbolt suspended in the American Air Museum ©IWM
STORY

The P-47 Thunderbolt, durable and deadly

The P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the leading American fighter aircraft of the Second World War. It saw widespread use in the European Theatre as an escort and ground attack aircraft.   

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 78th Fighter Group at Duxford IWM (FRE 5604)
STORY

D-Day at Duxford

Duxford's 78th Fighter Group were heavily involved in supporting the Normandy invasion, flying missions on 6 June and over the summer of 1944.
Lonnie Moseley with his P-47 Thunderbolt IWM
STORY

Lonnie Moseley and his incredible 4 July escape

In the early hours of 4 July 1944, Second Lieutenant Lonnie Moseley woke up, ate his breakfast and reported to briefing room at Duxford. Within hours, he would be faced with making three life or death decisions.
Glenn Vaughn close up on AAM ROH ©IWM
STORY

The American Air Museum's Roll of Honour

The American Air Museum commemorates the 30,000 American servicemen and women who died while flying from Britain. Their names appear on our Roll of Honour, which draws information from our archive onto the museum's walls.  
Devastation caused by the atomic bomb to trees half a mile from ground zero at Nagasaki. IWM (MH 2638)
STORY

Why were Atomic Bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were experiments in a new kind of warfare, whose full implications were not entirely understood at the time. The bombing of these cities in August 1945 brought an end to the Second World War, but at a terrible cost to the Japanese civilian population.
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