Sortie Series SOP/RN - 1 results

Abstract Vertical and oblique aerial images of locations in Scotland taken by pilots training in aerial reconnaissance at the Royal Naval School of Photography.

Biographical/Historical Note

The photographs in this collection were taken between 1966 and 1970 by pilots of the Royal Naval School of Photography flying Hawker Hunter GA-11 and PR-11 aircraft. These aircraft equipped the school until it was closed in the early 1970s. As part of their training, pupils flew the Hunter on low-level photographic sorties around northern and western Scotland, although occasional sorties were flown to more distant locations in Wales and Norfolk.

The photography was mostly low-level oblique imagery, although some small-scale vertical imagery was also collected in order to construct mosaics. The images were taken using a Vinten F95 type camera, which was a very successful low-level aerial reconnaissance camera also used by the Royal Air Force. To compensate for apparent image motion when photographing features at low level, the camera system had an automatic image motion compensation function, which moved the film across the lens during exposure at a speed dependent on the speed and altitude of the aircraft. The camera could be fitted with lenses of 1.5- or 3-inches focal length and the magazine could give 1200 exposures.

Conditions Governing Access Closed. Imagery can only be accessed with knowledge of exact sortie references. No searches for imagery of specific geographical areas are currently possible.

Custodial History Understood to have been held by Highlands and Islands Enterprise who gifted them to Scottish Screen, as part of a larger collection of unrelated material. In 2002, when it was discovered that the films were not movie film, but still aerial imagery, they were gifted to RCAHMS.

General Physical Description Negatives are rolls of 70mm format film.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements 70mm aerial film.

Scope and Contents The areas covered are mainly harbours and bridges in the Highlands and Banffshire, along with several islands and harbours along the western seaboard and Northern Isles. No original sortie plots held.