AEF Photo Recon collections

Frederic Mason · 10 August 2007, 05:58 PM

Has anyone run across any archives , collections, or agencies in the USA, which hold aerial recon photos of the AEF Western Front sectors, Meuse/Argonne, St. Mihiel, etc?? I'd like to find such photos and go copy them, where they may be available. The same is true for maps of the topography, etc. This info would be helpful to researchers, artists and the rest of the aero history fans. What have you found in your digging? There is a good bit of info floating around about the Jasta airfields and their locations. What about the AEF Air Service French fields and their locations?

ONEALM · 11 August 2007, 08:10 AM

Hi Frederic -

Try this book first - recently puboished and pricey (at least to me), but worth the investment. Terry Finnegan has really done his homework. A great look at the art of aerial photog and contains many, many sources for what you are searching for.

Shooting the Front: Allied Aerial Reconnaissance and Photographic Interpretation on the Western Front -- World War I: Allied Aerial Reconnaissance and ... on the Western Front -- World War I (Paperback)
by Terrence J. Finnegan (Author), George A. Joulwan (Foreword), Center for Strategic Intelligence Research (Producer), National Defense Intelligence College (U.S.) (Producer)

-Mike

Frederic Mason · 11 August 2007, 07:46 PM

MIKE; Thanks a million for this great tip. I'll check into it right away. I'm going to the NMUSAF archives at Wright-Patt in between the two shows, Dawn Patrol and Gathering of Mustangs next month in Ohio. Hope I'll see you there some where. Am making a name badge out of the Forum logo - if the webmaster okays it? Anything there you'd like me to digital shoot for you? I gotta check out the albums collection that they have of WWI? I shot the airbase files last time I was there, but its not a lot, just the old usual stuff seen around a lot. Trying to get to Maxwell AFB soon if possible and then to the Texas Dallas collection. Looks like Greg VanWyn got a bunch of that stuff in his new Osprey Albatros no.2. I'm real close to the 1st. Division museum at Cantigny here and going there as well. Cheers; FM

ONEALM · 11 August 2007, 08:54 PM

Frederic -

My pleasure. I was astounded at the material taht was contained in this book and I think you'll find it very useful.

If you are at Wright-Patt for the fly-in be sure to drop and see me & Russ Smith at our booth.

Mike

Volker_Nemsch · 12 August 2007, 06:50 AM

Hello Mike,

could you give us the ISBN number of the book and a place where to order it? I would be happy to have something like this in my library.

BTW, is there a German equivalent of this book existing (names, author, publisher, etc.)?

Thank you in advance for your help.

.

Taz · 12 August 2007, 07:11 AM

Volker- Here you go. ISBN below.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Amazon.com: Shooting the Front: Allied Aerial Reconnaissance and Photographic Interpretation on the Western Front: Books

AbeBooks: Search Results - ISBN 1932946047

Varese2002 · 12 August 2007, 07:27 AM

This book can also be ordered by the U.S.Government Bookstore here at $ 63 or $ 83 (International price).

If ordered in quantity there is a discount

Kees

Frederic Mason · 14 August 2007, 08:49 AM

Thanks for all the tips fellas; I ordered the book off of the used/rare tab at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, my old part-time retired gig, so I could use my members card, which of course you cannot since its another dealer? The high cost is because these defense agency presses are print-on-demand one-offs. Thats why the James Cooke title, The U.S. Air Service in the Great War, 1917-1919, is so high too, I believe?

On another front - I have asked Alan Toelle to write a book on the camouflage and markings of the U.S. AEF air service. If any of you know Alan, perhaps you could urge him to do this as well?? This is a book that needs writing and whose time has come, especially after Rogers book on the RFC-RAF markings?? He is most certainly the man to do the book? Cheers; FM