Scottish Office Air Photographs Unit (and later bodies) - 108,895 results

Abstract Over 1.5 million vertical and oblique aerial images of locations throughout Scotland plus associated sortie plots and administrative records.

Biographical/Historical note

The Scottish Office Air Photograph Library was created in 1948 to hold a duplicate print copy of all the aerial photography covering Scotland that was created during the National Air Photograph Survey - created by the Royal Air Force during Operation REVUE - immediately after the Second World War. It grew in subsequent years to hold original film flown by Ordnance Survey and commercial survey firms contracted to Scottish government.

The Library became the Air Photographs Unit within the Scottish Development Department. Following an internal Scottish Office review it was transferred to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in 1993, when it was re-named the Air Photographs Collection (APC). Following the transfer of The Aerial Reconnaissance Archives (TARA) to RCAHMS in 2008, the APC and TARA were merged to form the National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP).

Conditions Governing Access Open. Accessible via search room and Paid Search Service. Some imagery, and all finding aids, are available on the NCAP website.

Custodial History The Scottish Office Air Photograph Library was created in 1948 to hold a duplicate print copy of all the aerial photography covering Scotland that was created during the National Air Photograph Survey immediately after the Second World War. It subsequently acquired further declassified and released RAF aerial photography of Scotland, Ordnance Survey aerial photography and commercial aerial survey photography flown to service government contracts. The Library was transferred to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in 1993, and to Historic Environment Scotland in 2016.

Other Finding Aids Catalogue in search room and website provides access to digital copies of the original sortie plots.