The evacuation from Dunkirk on the French coast was hailed in Britain as an extraordinary achievement and the ‘little ships of Dunkirk’ swiftly entered the mythology of wartime brave deeds.
British soldiers wade out to a waiting destroyer off Dunkirk during the evacuation.
Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, 31 May 1940.
Troops evacuated from Dunkirk enjoying tea and other refreshments at Addison Road station in London, 31 May 1940.
Some of the 'little ships' used during the evacuation of Dunkirk being towed back along the River Thames past Tower Bridge, 9 June 1940.
German forces moved into Dunkirk hours after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. Here German officers inspect a memorial on the sea front at Dunkirk.
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This US built fighter the Chance-Vought Corsair looped the loop at "zero feet" when the pilot tried to take off again after misjudging his landing on board HMS ILLUSTRIOUS. The landing wheels caught the landing barrier cable and the plane crashed upside down in the reverse direction. The pilot was unhurt. Note the two men in asbestos firefighting gear in the foreground.
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