Aerial Photograph of Trenches Northwest of Limey, France
People have been taking pictures out of flying machines since the mid-1800s, but aerial photography really came of age during World War I, when it proved an essential reconnaissance tool.
Gorrell’s History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919, details the early days of military aviation, including the and aerial photography with a look at everything from history and in-depth descriptions of processes to photos of planes, people and the land.
Here are a few interesting photos from Major James Barnes’ section on the development of aerial photography:
The first German aerial camera captured by American forces in World War I
Stitched Aerial Photo from 1918
Aerial Photo of Pockmarked French Countryside with Key. This photo and its key are part of a series of examples showing what defences on the ground look from the air.
Assembling a camera for the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service.