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How Did Aircraft Photography Develop?
Post–World War II aerial photography remained critical for military applications, especially for spy planes. The 1950s saw the development of the U-2
spy plane, capable of flying at 70,000 feet and photographing the ground below. The U-2 was used for taking aerial photos over the Soviet Union, but also
enabled the acquisition of imagery during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which
showed the placement of missile launchers at key points in Cuba in October
1962 (Figure 9.4). Spy plane technology continued to advance with the
development of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, which could fly at 80,000 feet
or higher, while traveling at more than three times the speed of sound
( Figure 9.5 on page 274), thus enabling it to go higher and faster than the
U-2. The Blackbird was an essential aerial photography plane through the
Cold War and beyond, until it was retired in the late 1990s.
Today, digital aerial photography (among many other types of remotely
sensed data) is obtained by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These planes
The National Collection of Aerial Photography is a
great online resource for viewing aerial photography of Europe during World War II. Open your Web
browser and go to http://aerial.rcahms.gov.uk and
select the option for TARA, which contains imagery
from several countries. Select a location (such as
France or Germany), then select a region. Check out
some of the countless historic photos that TARA has
archived online.
Hands-on Application 9.1
World War II Aerial Photography Online
FIGURE 9.4 Aerial
imagery of Cuba from
1962, showing missile
facilities during the Cuban
Missile Crisis. (Source: U.S.
Air Force Photo)
UAV unmanned
aerial vehicle—a
reconnaissance aircraft
that is piloted from
the ground via remote
control.
How Did Aircraft Photography Develop?
Post–World War II aerial photography remained critical for military applications, especially for spy planes. The 1950s saw the development of the U-2
spy plane, capable of flying at 70,000 feet and photographing the ground below. The U-2 was used for taking aerial photos over the Soviet Union, but also
enabled the acquisition of imagery during the Cuban Missile Crisis, which
showed the placement of missile launchers at key points in Cuba in October
1962 (Figure 9.4). Spy plane technology continued to advance with the
development of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, which could fly at 80,000 feet
or higher, while traveling at more than three times the speed of sound
( Figure 9.5 on page 274), thus enabling it to go higher and faster than the
U-2. The Blackbird was an essential aerial photography plane through the
Cold War and beyond, until it was retired in the late 1990s.
Today, digital aerial photography (among many other types of remotely
sensed data) is obtained by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These planes
The National Collection of Aerial Photography is a
great online resource for viewing aerial photography of Europe during World War II. Open your Web
browser and go to http://aerial.rcahms.gov.uk and
select the option for TARA, which contains imagery
from several countries. Select a location (such as
France or Germany), then select a region. Check out
some of the countless historic photos that TARA has
archived online.
Hands-on Application 9.1
World War II Aerial Photography Online
FIGURE 9.4 Aerial
imagery of Cuba from
1962, showing missile
facilities during the Cuban
Missile Crisis. (Source: U.S.
Air Force Photo)
UAV unmanned
aerial vehicle—a
reconnaissance aircraft
that is piloted from
the ground via remote
control.