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VE-Day photo gallery

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE-Day. Crown Copyright / MOD.

A Lancaster of Bomber Command drops food and supplies to a crowd of watching Dutch people during Operation MANNA in 1945.
A Lancaster of Bomber Command drops food and supplies to a crowd of watching Dutch people during Operation MANNA in 1945.

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British and Dominion airmen read of the end of the Italian campaign. Reading the news in 'The Stars and Stripes' and 'Union Jack', 3 May 1945. From left to right: Flight Lieutenant J Thompson of Glossop, Derbyshire, Flying Officer D Hunnam of Warrington, Lancashire, Flying Officer HH McHardy of Hawks Bay, New Zealand, Flying Officer R Johnston from Sydney, Australia, Flight Lieutenant J Ester, a Belgian, and Corporal WJ Cowell from Laindon, Essex.
British and Dominion airmen read of the end of the Italian campaign. Reading the news in 'The Stars and Stripes' and 'Union Jack', 3 May 1945. From left to right: Flight Lieutenant J Thompson of Glossop, Derbyshire, Flying Officer D Hunnam of Warrington, Lancashire, Flying Officer HH McHardy of Hawks Bay, New Zealand, Flying Officer R Johnston from Sydney, Australia, Flight Lieutenant J Ester, a Belgian, and Corporal WJ Cowell from Laindon, Essex.

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Operation VARSITY. Douglas Dakotas of 46 Group fly in formation over Wavre, Belgium, heading for the dropping zones east of the River Rhine on 24 March 1945. Above them, Dakotas towing Airspeed Horsas fly a divergent course towards their objectives.
Operation VARSITY. Douglas Dakotas of 46 Group fly in formation over Wavre, Belgium, heading for the dropping zones east of the River Rhine on 24 March 1945. Above them, Dakotas towing Airspeed Horsas fly a divergent course towards their objectives.

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Ground crew of 514 Squadron at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, return the V-sign to a neighbouring searchlight as they celebrate VE Day, 8 May 1945.
Ground crew of 514 Squadron at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, return the V-sign to a neighbouring searchlight as they celebrate VE Day, 8 May 1945.

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Ex-prisoners of war, along with attending nurses, give the "V for Victory" salute after being repatriated back to Dunsfold, Surrey, on board a Lancasterof 83 Squadron on VE Day, 8 May 1945.
Ex-prisoners of war, along with attending nurses, give the "V for Victory" salute after being repatriated back to Dunsfold, Surrey, on board a Lancasterof 83 Squadron on VE Day, 8 May 1945.

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An aerial view of crowds gathering in outside Buckingham Palace on VE Day, 8 May 1945.
An aerial view of crowds gathering in outside Buckingham Palace on VE Day, 8 May 1945.

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A group of prioners of war who have just returned to Britain walk away from the Dakota aircraft which had flown them to Westcott in Buckinghamshire on 15 April 1945.
A group of prioners of war who have just returned to Britain walk away from the Dakota aircraft which had flown them to Westcott in Buckinghamshire on 15 April 1945.

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WAAFs serving refreshments to a group of recently repatriated prisoners of war in the reception hangar at Wing, Buckinghamshire, on 17 April 1945.
WAAFs serving refreshments to a group of recently repatriated prisoners of war in the reception hangar at Wing, Buckinghamshire, on 17 April 1945.

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The crew of a 210 Squadron Catalina - code letter 'X' - which sank the last German U-Boat to be attacked by an aircraft of Coastal Command of the Second World War.
The crew of a 210 Squadron Catalina - code letter 'X' - which sank the last German U-Boat to be attacked by an aircraft of Coastal Command of the Second World War.

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An aerial view of crowds gathering in Piccadilly Circus, London, on VE Day, 8 May 1945.
An aerial view of crowds gathering in Piccadilly Circus, London, on VE Day, 8 May 1945.

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Members of No 1 RAF Dance Band - The Squadronnaires - pictured during a radio broadcast at the BBC's Paris Theatre in London, 16 April 1945. Formed in early 1940, the band was made up of former members of popular dance bands who were invited to join the RAF and form a Service dance orchestra. It was voted the UK's favourite band in a competition run by a newspaper in 1944. The band played at RAF stations, aircraft factories, Red Cross and other auxiliary units raising funds for charities.
Members of No 1 RAF Dance Band - The Squadronnaires - pictured during a radio broadcast at the BBC's Paris Theatre in London, 16 April 1945. Formed in early 1940, the band was made up of former members of popular dance bands who were invited to join the RAF and form a Service dance orchestra. It was voted the UK's favourite band in a competition run by a newspaper in 1944. The band played at RAF stations, aircraft factories, Red Cross and other auxiliary units raising funds for charities.

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Two flying control officers - Flight Lieutennts M MacIntyre and H Summerscales - controlling RAF supply operations into Gerdermoen airfield, near Oslo, Norway, in mid-May 1945. Over 600 Allied aircraft were safely brought in to the airfield during the early days of Operation DOOMSDAY, the liberation of Norway.
Two flying control officers - Flight Lieutennts M MacIntyre and H Summerscales - controlling RAF supply operations into Gerdermoen airfield, near Oslo, Norway, in mid-May 1945. Over 600 Allied aircraft were safely brought in to the airfield during the early days of Operation DOOMSDAY, the liberation of Norway.

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