Photo-reconnaissance 1917

[Grid]

For 1916 a number of sources state that over the Somme, the RFC had taken over 19,000 photographs that produced some 430,000 prints. Does anyone have the equivalent figures for 1917?

 

Cheers,

 

Adam

[MikeMeech]

On 20/05/2020 at 02:53, Grid said:

For 1916 a number of sources state that over the Somme, the RFC had taken over 19,000 photographs that produced some 430,000 prints. Does anyone have the equivalent figures for 1917?

 

Cheers,

 

Adam

Hi

 

The RFC Communiques give information on the number of photos taken each day and over the time period of a particular communique, eg. RFC Communique No. 103 (24th to 31st August 1917) - "... over 11,000 photographs taken."  and for one day, August 27th, "Four hundred and one photographs were taken during the day."  These are available in an edited form in 'Royal Flying Corps Communiques 1917-1918' by Chaz Bowyer, or found fully in the Naval & Military Press three volume 'RNAS Operations Reports'.

 

That does not help with the number of prints, I think they are sometimes mentioned in the OH, but I would have to go through it for 1917.  An 'after action' report on artillery co-operation during Messines (TNA AIR 1/2053/204/391/5) has some mentions, eg. "In one Photographic Section as many as 1988 prints were issued in one day."  It also mentions the following:

 

If there is a particular piece of information you require please let me know and I will see if I have the information available.

 

Mike

 

 

[MikeMeech]

On 20/05/2020 at 02:53, Grid said:

For 1916 a number of sources state that over the Somme, the RFC had taken over 19,000 photographs that produced some 430,000 prints. Does anyone have the equivalent figures for 1917?

 

Cheers,

 

Adam

Hi

 

If you are still interested about photos taken during 1917.  Looking through the documents I have a report from Haig to the GIGS (UKTNA CAB/24/28) dated 7 October, 1917 'Work of the Royal Flying Corps in France During September 1917' mentions the following numbers:

 

"14678 plates were exposed most of which were satisfactory and 346999 photographs were distributed"

 

I hope that is of interest.

 

Mike 

Edited 27 June , 2020 by MikeMeech

[Grid]

Hi Mike,

 

Very helpful, that was nearly equal to the total number for the Somme in 1916 in just one month. really demonstrates the explosion of images and important to the war.

 

Best,

 

Adam