The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-02
AMERICAN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE FRONT
BY Mai. Edw. j. Saeichen. A. {. A. (Chicf OF Photographic section I. 1. Air
t- Service, A. L. F)

The consensus Of expert opinion. as
expressed at the various inter-allied
conferences on aerial photography. is
that at least two-thirds of all mill
tary information is either obtained
or verified by aerial photography.
Marshall Foch withheld his final
decision, governing the operations i'm
mediately following the st. Mihiel
offensive, until his stan had received
and examined the aerial photographs
which confirmed the nature and
strength of the new line established
by the victorious American troops.
General Pershing has stated that the
aerial photograph is the most reliable
source of information available to
the higher staff officers.
An infantry colonel referred to the
aerial photographs he received dur
ing the Arsonne offensive as the most
vital assistance he had ever been
given by the Air service. and that the
details of the action as worked u by
his command from the study oP these
photographs had contributed in a
large measure to the success of the
action AMI had been an important
factor in reducing casualties. A young
lieutenant in speaking Of his expert
ences in action near NauX. said that
the only data he had there hat was
worth IA "tinker's damn came from
three aerial photographs some one
had "policed up for him.
AS another side TO the question. 1t
Is but fair to note the following re-
mark by IA colonel of the infantry;
They sent me some of that stuff ire
ferring to aerial photography. but l
couldn't m<Ae anything out of them
The answer in this case is obvious. for
I n ra1T1a and p~naanyrn ~ aerial
photographs can be exploited. is
measured by the natural and trained
ability Of those concerned with their
study and Interpretation, The aerial
photograph is in itself harmless and
valueless. 1t enters into the category
of instruments of war when 1t has
disclosed the Information written OF
the surface OF the print. The average
vertical aerial Photographic print is
upon first acquaintance as uninterest-
ing n unimpressive a picture as can
be imagined. without considerable
experience and study 1t is more diff
cult to read han a map, for it badly
represents nature from an angle we
do not know.
The oblique aerial picture, especial
ly when taken from a low altitude.
Is more readily comprehended. and
sometimes striking pictorial effects
are produced. The vertical photo
graphs made by the day bombing
squadrons occasionally present a
spectacular and dramatic interest in
addition to their value as a record OF
the bomb raid.
There has been a tendency TO wrap
the technique of aerial photography
in a veil of secrecy and mystery. This
attitude MAJ have been useful ir
/ cti m ~ 1afirr cIriNciyv hs,f tHarn ~,
a time when UGH a pose seriously in.
terferes with the free development oil
a new process.
While aerial photographs can be
made with a vest-pocket Kodah, 1t is
obious that where special conditions
prevail new instruments n methods
must be created to meet these condi,
tons. The work accomplished along
these ines during the war stands as
a remarkable scientific and mechani-
cal achievement. This achievement
coupled with the courage. skill and
endurance displayed in taking anC
producing the amazing quantity OF
photographs required, makes up a
chapter that is second to none in the
annals of photography.
A good aerial photograph compares
favorably with the best technical land
scape photographs. The latter car
be leisurely made from a carefully
chosen point Of view. with a camera
firmly set on a tripod. and with len,
and exposure conditions offering
considerable latitude. The militar,
aerial photograph is made with
heavy, cumbersome Gamers more oil
less successfully suspended In tbs
fuselage of an airplane TRAVELLING
through the air at a good hundred
miles per hour. The fuselage receive.
all the vibrations of a powerful mo
tor, whirring off more than a thou
sand revolutions a minute. as well a.
the thumps and bumps of air-pocket
and exploding enemy a~nti-aircraf
sheals.
The ground photographer chosse
his weather. the general staff chose
the aerial photographers weather
The weather conditions during boil
the Argonne and st. Mihiel operation
were exceptionally poor. The mos
favorable days We're crammed Will
Photographic activity, and even day
with barely enough light to produc,
the faintest trace OF an image on tn
photographic plate had to be "phot'
days"
Most of the long distance photo
graphic reconnaissance missions wer
the work of the first army observa
ton group, to which was ATTACHED