NAVY'S LITTLE SAIL SHIPS. 26 MAY 1943, AT SEA OFF DEVONPORT. TWO OF FIFTEEN LITTLE SHIPS, WHICH ARE THE ONLY WAR VESSELS IN THE ROYAL NAVY STILL TO USE SAIL. THESE MOTOR FISHING VESSELS, AS THEY ARE KNOWN, USE A COMBINED POWER OF SAIL AND A NEW TYPE OF PETROL ENGINE, THEY ARE ONLY 60 FEET LONG AND THEIR DUTIES ARE MOSTLY HARBOUR DEFENCE, PATROL AND FERRYING SERVICES IN NAVAL PORTS. THEY CARRY LIGHT ARMAMENT.

Over two million American servicemen passed through Britain during the Second World War. In 1944, at the height of activity, up to half a million were based there with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Their job was to man and maintain the vast fleets of aircraft needed to attack German cities and industry.