Incredible WW2 colour pics reveal pilots' horrors with explosions, crashes and bombs

WORLD War 2 pictures in colour reveal the brutal conflict, incredible battle for skies with crashes, explosions and the brave pilots behind the planes.

By Henry Holloway /

Hellcat on fire DRUM

WORLD WAR 2: One pilot makes a daring escape from a Hellcat exploding into flames

Shocking images reveal moments such as a US pilot’s Dauntless dive bomber crashing nose first into the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

Fire erupts from beneath a Hellcat as the pilot desperately tries to escape the inferno in another photo.

One horrifying image reveals the sinking wreck of a B-29 Superfortress disappearing beneath the waves.

While another shows a shirtless crewman packing a similar plane’s belly with bombs.

All these pictures were colourised by design engineer Paul Reynolds, from Birmingham.

World War 2 in COLOUR: Explosions and crashes in the battle for the skies

 
STRIKING pictures of the fighter planes and bombs used during World War Two have been given a new lease of life after being expertly colourised
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A Douglas SBD dive bomber is balanced on its nose following a crash Paul Reynolds / mediadrumworld.c
A Douglas SBD dive bomber is balanced on its nose following a crash

    “I love showing off my photos and it's a real boost to get that positive reaction from people”

    Paul Reynolds

    He said: "I think colourising detailed photos really brings them to life

    “You notice detail that usually gets missed due to the monotone background.”

    World War 2 was the first conflict in which aerial battles became commonplace.

    B29 sinking DRUM

    CRASHED: A B29 Superfortress sinks into the sea after a crash

    Fat man DRUM

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    Other pictures show hardy RAF crewmen pushing a bogged-down Spitfire out of the mud after landing in Italy.

    While in one chilling image a US Air Force engineer is seen cleaning the “Fat Man” bomb .

    It was the nuclear device dropped on Japanese city Nagasaki by the US to end World War 2.

     

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    Colourised WWII Tanks Royston Leonard / mediadrumworld
    A M4A3 Sherman tank advancing into the center of Kronach, which burns from the fighting

      All these pictures taken more than 70 years ago.

      But now they have been vividly bought back to life by Mr Reynolds.

      Dauntless crash DRUM

      NOSE DIVE: A Dauntless bomber balances after crashing head first into an aircraft carrier

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        The 48-year-old added: “The content of the photo conveys its own message; however I am glad that by colourising these photos more people are aware of the happenings of WWI and WWII.

        "I always get a positive reaction to all photos I post. People are amazed at what can be achieved with even the most damaged of photos.

        “I love showing off my photos and it's a real boost to get that positive reaction from people."

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