Vertical aerial view.

Description Vertical aerial view.

Date 1941

Collection Records of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe), Second World War Aerial Reconnaissance

Catalogue Number C 47630

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 799791

Scope and Content Luftwaffe aerial photograph showing Clydebridge Steelworks, Glasgow Colville's steel works are clearly visible in this aerial photograph, situated in the bend of the River Clyde near Rutherglen. According to the photograph's title, the plant was identified as a blast furnace plant, steel works and rolling mill. Although the Luftwaffe flew intelligence-gathering sorties throughout the war, the majority were flown in 1939 and 1940. In addition, a considerable dossier of intelligence was accumulated in the late 1930s: at this time, the German national airline, Lufthansa, covertly took photographs across Britain while ostensibly surveying new routes for flights. Luftwaffe intelligence officers used these aerial photographs to identify new targets for bombing sorties, to assess how effective earlier raids had been and to gather information about the strength of defences. Bomber crews were usually issued with annotated photographs to help them identify their targets. Taken during aerial reconnaissance in March 1941, this Luftwaffe intelligence photograph shows Colvilles Ltd steelworks in Glasgow. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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