World War I[edit]

Giza pyramid complex, photographed fromEduard Spelterini's balloon on November 21, 1904The use of aerial photography rapidly matured during the war, asreconnaissance aircraftwere equipped with cameras to record enemy movements and defences. At the start of the conflict, the usefulness of aerial photography was not fully appreciated, with reconnaissance being accomplished with map sketching from the air.Germany adopted the first aerial camera, aGrz, in 1913. The French began the war with several squadrons of Blriot observation aircraft equipped with cameras for reconnaissance. The French Army developed procedures for getting prints into the hands of field commanders in record time.Frederick Charles Victor Lawsstarted aerial photography experiments in 1912 with No.1 Squadron of theRoyal Flying Corps(laterNo. 1 Squadron RAF), taking photographs from the British dirigibleBeta. He discovered that vertical photos taken with 60% overlap could be used to create astereoscopiceffect when viewed in a stereoscope, thus creating a perception of depth that could aid in cartography and in intelligence derived from aerial images. The Royal Flying Corps recon pilots began to use cameras for recording their observations in 1914 and by theBattle of Neuve Chapellein 1915, the entire system of German trenches was being photographed.[7]In 1916 the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy made vertical camera axis aerial photos above Italy for map-making.

A German observation plane, theRumpler Taube.The first purpose-built and practical aerial camera was invented by CaptainJohn Moore-Brabazonin 1915 with the help of theThornton-Pickardcompany, greatly enhancing the efficiency of aerial photography. The camera was inserted into the floor of the aircraft and could be triggered by the pilot at intervals. Moore-Brabazon also pioneered the incorporation of stereoscopic techniques into aerial photography, allowing the height of objects on the landscape to be discerned by comparing photographs taken at different angles.[8][9]By the end of the war aerial cameras had dramatically increased in size andfocal powerand were used increasingly frequently as they proved their pivotal military worth; by 1918 both sides