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Posts Tagged ‘Aerial photography’

Canadian Military History in Perspective

Mapping In Full Flight

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s aerial photography and mapping, a staple of operations from 1921 to 1939, was suspended during the Second World War, except where it would have direct mili­tary bearing, i.e. airfield construction. However, by 1944 the RCAF was performing limited photo survey work for federal and provincial governments, charging them $3.25 per square mile covered.

No. 7 Photo Wing was organized on May 29, 1944, at Rockcliffe (in Ottawa), to conduct photographic operations in Canada and to experiment—within the context of domestic aerial photography—with the combat techniques learned overseas. The unit began with an array of aircraft […]

August 18, 2008, by Hugh A. Halliday

Canadian Military History in Perspective

Above Enemy Lines: Air Force, Part 27

Aerial photography changed dramatically during World War II, but even before the war an expatriate Australian named Sydney Cotton, had—with the encouragement of the Royal Air Force—begun to explore the possibilities of marrying cameras to high-speed aircraft.

An inventor and aviation pioneer, Cotton had barnstormed in Newfound­land from 1919 to 1922 before moving on to Britain. His earliest experiments, conducted in peacetime, used modern transport aircraft like the Lockheed 12A. Camera lenses tended to frost over at high altitude and so he directed cabin air onto the cameras to solve the problem. When greater range was needed he fitted his […]

June 12, 2008, by Hugh A. Halliday

Canadian Military History in Perspective

Cameras Take Flight: Air Force, Part 26

Almost from the moment the camera was invented, men sought to take it aloft. The first aerial photograph—taken from a balloon over Paris—was made in 1858. Armies investigated the new technology, and in 1883 Captain Henry Esdale, Royal Engineers, photographed the Halifax Citadel from an unmanned balloon tethered 1,450 feet above the site—the first aerial photograph taken in Canada.

The limitations of balloons as camera platforms were evident. If tethered they overlooked a limited area. If set free they traversed an unpredictable track. The development of the airplane solved the problem by allowing the camera to roam or follow a […]

March 11, 2008, by Hugh A. Halliday

Classified Ads

Books And Publications

Two books by Russ Martin. Secret Zapping of Planet Earth: Main cause of cancer, leukemia, genetic mutation pandemic is revealed in this book. Human Flight from Balloon to Moon to Jumbo Jet: Before and after the Wright Bros. (approx. 228 colored pictures). Trafford Publishing 2657 Wilfert Rd. Victoria BC V9B 5Z3, 1-888-232-4444, 604-535-7397.

Military Memorabilia

WANTED: POCKET & WRIST WATCHES— Any condition: Military, Rolex, Railroad, Omega, Patek any old watches. Call or email Kevin. Toll-free 1-877-765-3999 or kevin@harmonyjewellers.ca.

MASYA HOLDINGS – CANADA’S CHOICE FOR MILITARY HISTORY DVDs— Specializing in military history DVDs, we carry a large inventory of titles in stock. View our catalogue on-line, www.masya.ca.

Miscellaneous

ATTENTION: ALBERTANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY— Do you have any old military books laying around the house? Why not think of donating them to The Military Museums.  Located in Calgary, The Military Museums is Canada's second largest tri-service military museum. The Military Museums Library and Archives has recently expanded its facility and is building up its military book collection for use by present and future generations.  If you or your loved ones have military books please consider donating them to the Museum.  The Archives are also interested in preserving personal histories of Canadians.  We would greatly welcome diaries, letters, photographs, scrapbooks, as well as personal remembrances in non-paper form -- such as tapes, home-videos, films and negatives, or digital media -- in order that following generations may learn what Canadians experienced. If you would like to contribute, please contact John Wright at The Military Museums Library and Archives, 4520 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary, AB  T2T 5J4, 403-974-2831, jpwright@ucalgary.ca.

Travel

CANADIANS AT WAR–WW I & WW II BATTLE TOUR— May 28 – June 10, 2009. Hosted by The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association. Relive the triumphs and tragedies of our brave Canadian soldiers during the great wars of the 20th century. Visit Ypres, Passchendaele, Beaumont Hamel, site of Battle of the Somme and Vimy Ridge, the scene of Canada’s greatest victory. Tour the beaches at Dieppe and Juno, finishing with a visit to Paris. Contact Ellison Tours 1-800-265-7022, vacations@ettravel.com.

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Legion Magazine is a Canadian English-language magazine with a French insert. It is published in a four-colour format, covering stories about Canadians, Canada’s institutions its military and its heritage. Legion Magazine is recommended by The Royal Canadian Legion, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving veterans and their families and the perpetuation of remembrance.