The Western Front from the Air - Tapa dura

In this contemporary bird's-eye view of the Western Front battlefields, aerial photographs are used to illustrate seven major battlefields of World War I immediately before, during and after the action. These photographs, originally taken by the Royal Flying Corps to provide reconnaissance for the British Army on the Western Front, have been selected from the Imperial War Museum's "Box Collection". Neuve Chapell, Loos, La Boisselle, Flers, Vimy Ridge, Cambria and Amiens, are each described in a short narrative; highlighting significant actions and setting each battle within the context of the land war. The origins of air photography and the development of photographic interpretation in World War I are also outlined. each battle is illustrated with a selection of aerial photographs from the Box Collection to show the terrain and the defences, which are identified on the accompanying trench map. This imagery is interpreted and annotated using the original prints to show the battlefield conditions on the day, pinpointing strongpoints, machine guns, mortar positions and gun batteries.