ABSTRACT
Aerial observation was soon divided into four: reconnaissance, artillery observation, artillery fire support, and aerial photography. The developments in aerial observation led to the development of fighter and bomber aircraft. By the end of the First World War, aviation and aerial warfare had become essential elements of modern conflict, which generals ignored at their peril. Aerial observation moved quickly from memory to sketch maps to photography, and the quality of photographs gradually improved. Advances in camera technology also played their part: a good aerial camera needed a strong lens and a fast shutter. The first specialised aerial camera was produced in Great Britain in 1915 by John Moore-Brabazon. The increasing effectiveness of aerial observation and photography led to countermeasures in the form of anti-aircraft defence, which made it necessary for pilots to fly at ever higher altitudes, and this in turn meant that aerial cameras needed bigger focal lengths to take quality photography.
