Allied Photo Reconnaissance of World War II

The first use of aircraft for military purposes was in a reconnaissance role. As early as 1789 hydrogen balloons were employed in artillery spotting during the Franco-Prussian War. In the 20th century the airplane became the primary platform for aerial reconnaissance, and the experiments of earlier years developed into sophisticated strategic operations. This book details several of the most important operations from the perspective of photo-reconnaissance, including Monte Cassino, the Normandy landings, and the hunt for and destruction of Germany's V-weapons.