People's Republic of China aerial images released

Aerial photographs of The People’s Republic of China are now accessible on the NCAP website. The images cover parts of Beijing, Tianjin and Yunnan Province in 1945.

 

Japanese forces invaded China in 1937 and established a puppet regime in Beijing. During the Second World War, US photographic reconnaissance aircraft were based in south-west China. They flew intelligence-gathering missions over Japanese-held territory in Thailand, Vietnam and China.

 

The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square can be seen in the images of Beijing. The Forbidden City, built during the Ming Dynasty, was the political centre of China from 1420 to 1912. Tiananmen Square has been the site of many political events and protests. These include the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and the protests of 1989.