Army's spy museum revealed
A History and Honour news article
23 Sep 10
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the creation of the British Army's Intelligence Corps. Some of the Corps' best kept secrets are exposed to the public at a remarkable museum in Bedfordshire. Report by Ian Carr.
Bird's eye view: carrier pigeons were used for aerial reconnaissance
[Picture: Harland Quarrington, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]Here's a pub quiz question for you. What was the first example of aerial reconnaissance?
Was it in the First World War perhaps? It's true that the Royal Flying Corps took cameras aloft, with pilots flying 800 feet (240m) above the ground while the observer leaned out of the cockpit taking pictures - despite Field Marshal Haig's view that this wasn't a gentlemanly way to fight a war. But that's not the answer.
Hot air balloons maybe? As early as 1858 balloonists would snoop on and snap what was happening on the ground below. But, no.
Give up? Well, according to Sally Ann Reed, curator of the Military Intelligence Museum at Chicksands, Noah was the first to use aerial reconnaissance. "He sent out a dove to find land," she says, tongue firmly in cheek....
Very cool article here.
No comments:
Post a Comment