phill.d.2
Great Horton Road - Listerhills
Photo best viewed full size here
If you would like to talk to me about these aerial images, then please contact me on my main flickr account here
These photos were taken by the R.A.F in 1951. The only clue to the date being the Festival of Britain celebrations taking part on Woodhouse Moor at the time.
The R.A.F were given the task of photographing every inch of the United Kingdom. A bit like a forerunner to our modern day google earth if you like. It was to establish the countries logistical capabilities like coastal defences, rail yards, and production as Britain began to take stock after W.W.2, and prepared for 40 years of cold war. The aerial photos were taken from a nose camera mounted in a Canberra plane. The plane flew in straight lines back and forth. It looks to have taken a photograph every second. The photos were taken on dedicated aerial reconnaissance cameras and film capable of being exploited at great magnification. Perfect quality for spotting your enemies entrenched troops and tanks, you can almost see Monty scrutinising similar photos of Normandy to see where his old adversary Rommel had his fortifications along the Atlantic wall. All the photos below are in flight order as the plane took them.
*This huge collection of photos were going to be destroyed. The RAF was pretty much going to incinerate all archives that were over 50 years old. Fortunately someone working at the archives realised their importance and kept the tins of film for the Leeds and Bradford areas*
As far as the RAF were concerned, these images never existed - but they were declassified in any case. This is the first time these photographs have been seen in public for 62 years.
Great Horton Road - Listerhills
Photo best viewed full size here
If you would like to talk to me about these aerial images, then please contact me on my main flickr account here
These photos were taken by the R.A.F in 1951. The only clue to the date being the Festival of Britain celebrations taking part on Woodhouse Moor at the time.
The R.A.F were given the task of photographing every inch of the United Kingdom. A bit like a forerunner to our modern day google earth if you like. It was to establish the countries logistical capabilities like coastal defences, rail yards, and production as Britain began to take stock after W.W.2, and prepared for 40 years of cold war. The aerial photos were taken from a nose camera mounted in a Canberra plane. The plane flew in straight lines back and forth. It looks to have taken a photograph every second. The photos were taken on dedicated aerial reconnaissance cameras and film capable of being exploited at great magnification. Perfect quality for spotting your enemies entrenched troops and tanks, you can almost see Monty scrutinising similar photos of Normandy to see where his old adversary Rommel had his fortifications along the Atlantic wall. All the photos below are in flight order as the plane took them.
*This huge collection of photos were going to be destroyed. The RAF was pretty much going to incinerate all archives that were over 50 years old. Fortunately someone working at the archives realised their importance and kept the tins of film for the Leeds and Bradford areas*
As far as the RAF were concerned, these images never existed - but they were declassified in any case. This is the first time these photographs have been seen in public for 62 years.