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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 0198.PDF
74 JANUARY 25, 1040. WAR IN THE AIR (CONTINUED) mercial main roads, all have a story to tell. Movements by road, rail or water are soon known to the Allies and in the matter of information, we have a decided advantage. Photographs of a naval base may tell not only the num- ber, but also the identity of the ships in harbour, whether they have steam up or appear to be fuelling, and whether there is activity in the building yards. Much useful work is done by comparison with earlier photographs of the same scene. Every change is noted, and the trained intelligence officer, who may spend hours poring over a single print, sees much that the ordinary observer would pass over. Shadows, for instance, form a useful clue during interpretation. • Photographic Equipment T^ACH aircraft carries two cameras, one vertical type and -"-^ one hand type, held for oblique shots. Both are com- pact and virtually foolproof. They are designed to work in the worst circumstances and require very little attention. The vertical type is completely automatic, and contains an interchangeable film magazine, big enough to give 125 exposures. The film magazines can be changed in the air in a few seconds. At the start of a flight, a van crosses the aerodrome to the waiting bomber. Cameras, drums of ammunition and other equipment are transferred to the aircraft, and the vertical camera is screwed into place ; the oblique camera is placed ready in the fuselage. The vertical camera is set before the flight begins, according to the probable actinic value of the light and flying altitude. Should there be an error it is usually possible to make allow- ance for over or under exposure in the final processing. Meanwhile, the engines are warmed up and the crew have come aboard. Each knows the others' work and has been trained to co-operate. The aircraft takes oJff for Germany. The purpose of this particular flight is, let us say, to obtain information of certain enemy aerodromes, and on approaching the first objective the pilot takes the aircraft down through the cloud bank, sees on the left the circle of hangars, and swings the machine round towards it. A straight and level course, which is necessary for good aerial photography—though it makes gunfire from ground defences more dangerous—is set Over the middle of the aerodrome, the cameras are started, and after photograph- ing 20 or 30 German aircraft lined up 2,000ft. below, the aircraft goes on to its next object. It is not until the K.A.F. machine reaches the second aerodrome that it encounters opposition. Most of the necessary photographs have been taken, however, before the enemy fighters dive down on the raider from behind. Our air gunners hold their fire until the enemy are close, and in the meantime the British aircraft keeps on its course until the camera has finished its task. Only then does our aircraft slip upwards into the clouds. At the final aero- drome on the list it is necessary to drop to 1,000ft. in order to make sure of getting good results, and the observer now uses the oblique camera. Pom-poms and machine-guns fire at the intruder, but it is off again undamaged. At home, the magazines are removed for developing and printing, the observer makes his report, and in two or three hours the prints are being inspected by experts. Stereoscopes and magnifiers tell them much that was un- seen even by the trained observer in the "aircraft. Air- craft will be recognised and activity noted. Such was a typical instance of R.A.F. activity, in this connection. Sometimes it is less straightforward, and photographs may have to be taken from as low as 500ft. or as high as 24,000ft. On the inside looking out. An exclusive action photograph 01 a duel between a Heinkel He 111 and a Saro London flying boat.We cannot guarantee the authenticity of this but can see no trace of faking in the original photograph.
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