Picture of the day. (1 Viewer)

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great shot.

8552
"..... Some Havocs were converted to Turbinlite aircraft which replaced the nose position with a powerful searchlight. The Turbinlite aircraft would be brought onto an enemy fighter by ground radar control. The onboard radar operator would then direct the pilot until he could illuminate the enemy. At that point a Hawker Hurricane fighter accompanying the Turbinlite aircraft would make the attack.[10] The Turbinlite squadrons were disbanded in early 1943"
[Wikipedia]
BTW - The Havoc on tracks has nothing to do with Turbinlite. Here's film of the tracked:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9vmamugkI4

The keel of the ship Wilhelm Gustloff

johnbr said:

View attachment 447638

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No. 1 Squadron. While searching for info on the above photo I came across this...

During World War II, the 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion started an adventurous experiment as it prepared for D-Day: enlisting dogs into their ranks. The so-called "paradogs" (short for "parachuting dogs") were specifically trained to perform tasks such as locating mines, keeping watch and warning about enemies. As a side job, they also served as something of a mascot for the two-legged troops.

Ausf.G IR (Infrared) vision system. German Infrared Night-Vision Devices – Infrarot-Scheinwerfer
Panzer V Panther

n mid 1943, first tests with infrared night-vision (Nacht Jager) devices and telescopic rangefinders mounted on Panther started. Two different arrangements / solutions were created and used on Panther tanks. Solution A – Sperber (Sparrow Hawk) was made up of one 30cm infrared searchlight (with range of 600m) and image converter operated by the commander – FG 1250.From late 1944 to March of 1945, some Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf G (and other variants) mounted with FG 1250, were succesfully tested. From March to April of 1945, approximately 50 Panthers Ausf G (and other variants) mounted with FG 1250, saw combat service on the Eastern Front and Western Front. Panthers with IR operated with SdKfz.251/20 Uhu (Owl) half-track with 60cm infra-red searchlight and Sd.Kfz.251/21 Falke (Falcon) (with range of 2500m). This solution could be easily mounted on any type of armored fighting vehicle
Solution B – Second more complicated arrangement / solution was "Biwa" (Bildwandler), which provided driver (installed on the front hull), gunner (installed on the mantlet in front of the gun sight) and commander (as in Solution A) each with one 30cm infrared searchlight (with range of 600m) and image converter. We have this for Panther II, but it's "Biwa" is not functional, only looks good. Various variants of Panthers were converted and mounted with "Biwa". It was reported that tests were successful, but there is very few combat reports from the Eastern or Western Front. Due to the lack of evidence, existence of Solution B is still questionable and even considered a hoax, but despite this was "implemented" into the game for Panther II (and it is simplier, than use a second - third "unarmed" Sd.Kfz 251/21 for the german tank platoon).
Various units received IR Panthers including 116th Panzer Division (3rd company of 24th Panzer Regiment, Western Front, Summer of 1944), Sixth SS Panzer Army (Hungary, early 1945), Panzer Division Muncheberg and Clausewitz.One combat report is by a veteran of 1st SS Panzer Regiment of 1st SS Panzer Division "LSSAH", who states that few Panthers equipped with infrared night-vision devices possibly from 116th Panzer Division were used in 1944/45 during the Ardennes Offensive.In April of 1945, Panthers equipped with IR equipment (solution B) joined Panzer Division Clausewitz and in mid April near Uelzen destroyed entire platoon of British Comet cruiser tanks. Also on April 21st of 1945, same Panthers overran an American anti-tank position on the Weser-Elbe Canal. Most of those reports can't be confirmed and are questionable.

In addition, it is reported but not supported that single unit equipped with Jagdpanthers also received and used infrared night-vision devices.

Nice.

Panther tanks of Operation Spring Awakening, the last German offensive of WWII, abandoned on the road near Lake Balaton, Hungary, due to lack of fuel.

Two American soldiers inspect a destroyed German King Tiger tank, 1944

Great pic. Looks like the nearest Panther has also been burnt-out, I suppose by the crew.

Very rare Studio Portrait of 2 brothers in the Armour Branch / 2.WK The one in the uniform of the assault gun troop of the Armed Forces and the other in the uniform of LAH SS Panzer troop with interesting peas tarn-cap of the Tiger Force / Rottenführer Waffen SS

Re fuel