The deadly warbirds of World War Two from Lancaster bombers to Luftwaffes are colourised in rare pictures to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Britain (21 Pics)

• The stunning colourised pictures gives an insight into what the life of a pilot was really like during WWII 
• Among the photographs include the RAF's Lancaster bombers, as well as the Luftwaffe's Messerschmitts
• U.S. Air Force is also included in this new colour collection, which was brought to life by Nathan Howland

An American B24 plane photographed from above while on mission to Brussels, Belgium on August 3, 1944. The stunning aerial shot shows the vast wingspan of the plane, while other aircraft fly below

Lt Robert B. Campbell Jr. flying over England in 1944. The stunning collection has brought some of the photographs from the Second World War to life using special colourisation techniques

This rare image gives a brief insight into the workings within Britain's Lancaster B Mark II bombers. The pilots can be seen looking on intensely during their mission 

Two RAF Lancaster bombers fly to intercept Luftwaffe Messerschmitts during the war. Graphic designer Nathan Howland, from Brighton, has helped bring the images to life so that later generations can understand and appreciate the true horrors of the war

At least six Lancaster B Mark III bombers fly over the skies during a flight drill in 1943. During World War II, the RAF counted some 1,208,000 members, with 185,000 serving as aircrew

Halifax Mark II's of RAF on an unspecified mission. The Handley Page Halifax was a Royal Air Force (RAF) four-engined heavy bomber, was developed by Handley Page to the same specification as the contemporary Avro Lancaster and Short Stirling

British Short S.29 Stirling Bomber. The Short Stirling was a British four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It has the distinction of being the first four-engined bomber to be introduced into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF)

Bombers of the 398th BG bombing from extreme altitude in April 1945. The 398th Air Expeditionary Group was a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe that was instrumental in bringing Nazi Germany to heel

A QJ-M of the 339th Bomb Squad 96th BG in a raid over Germany in 1944. The 339th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit

Lancaster B MKI's of RAF 207 over England in 1942. No. 207 Squadron Royal Air Force was a former bomber, communications and training squadron of the Royal Air Force. October 1943, 207 Squadron became the first occupant of the newly opened RAF Spilsby bomber station

Boeing-17G's flying into the sunrise in January 1945. These bombers were used by the US military during their assault on Nazi Germany 

B-17F 42-5918 flying in formation in November 1943. The words 'Ann K' can be seen inscribed onto the front panel of the warplane. The B-17 was primarily employed by the USAAC in the daylight strategic bombing campaign of World War II against German industrial and military targets

A rare shot of the P-47D allocated to Col.  Dave Schilling of the 56th FG - 62nd FS in the brief period just before it was painted for him to become 'Hairless Joe' shortly after D-Day

A group of redirected 398th BG's on a mission over Munich in April 1945. The 398 Bomb Group flew 195 combat missions, the last being on April 25, 1945

Mr Howland added that a 'great deal of research' was invested to make sure the photographs were in as good a condition as possible. Pictured: A P-51B of the 335th FG being run at visitors at Nuthampstead in England 1944

B24 42-94775 'War Eagle' on a bombing campaign to Brussels, Belgium on August 3 1944. Speaking of the restoration project, Mr Howland said: 'Many of the images are extremely rare and have yet to be shown to a wider audience'

A German Messerschmitt Bf 109-E bomb during the Battle of Britain in 1940. They made up the bulk of the Luftwaffe's aerial fleet and were first operational in 1937

A Nazi aircraft, complete with the Swastika emblem, returns home from a mission in Europe in January 1945. The Luftwaffe proved instrumental in the German victories across Poland and Western Europe in 1939 and 1940

A pilot sits on a Fiat G.50 series II Freccia from the Finnish Air Force in 1941, while another lies under the wing

The B-24H prepares for takeoff from an unknown airfield during the Second World War. The aircraft was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California

A close-up view of Lt Russ Kyler's P-47M 'Lorene'. Russ Kyler served at Boxted, England with the 56th Fighter Group and started his tour in August of 1944 and flew 57 missions over Europe