Second World War Air Imagery Enlargement

One of the most difficult aspects of the Arnhem air reconnaissance puzzle to explain clearly is the loss of resolution that has occurred in relation to Second World War air imagery since 1945. There was always an expectation among historians that, if the photographs of German tanks at Arnhem were ever found, they would be crystal clear. The reality of heavily pixelated digital photos has been hard for some to accept. Since publishing this blog, two prints have come to light that help to illustrate and explain the problem. The first, the original full frame photograph, shows the Luftwaffe experimental establishment at Peenemunde West in 1943. 

For the vast majority of locations, such images are the only tools at the historian's disposal. Yet, in this form, the photograph would have been virtually useless from a military perspective in the Second World War. Only through high magnification could significant details have been identified. Enlargements were made directly from the negative of the frame, a process that minimised any loss of resolution. Sadly, relatively few Second World War enlargements survive. However, an enlargement from this photograph has been retained. It shows an aircraft labelled the Peenemunde 20 and linked to the Luftwaffe's development of pilotless aircraft at Peenemunde West.

The clarity of this print is striking, given the extent of the magnification involved. This tiny detail of the original photo clearly shows a small aircraft and its general layout. Clarity is affected by 'light-spread', whereby the sun reflects back off the image towards the camera, but this is, nevertheless, a remarkable enlargement.

This photo shows exactly the same area of the original image, but digital magnification has been used. The image is obviously inferior to the Second World War enlargement. The object of interest is barely recognisable as an aircraft and there is a significant level of pixelation. However much faith we have in our modern technology, the fact is that the photo-interpreters who served at RAF Medmenham more than 75 years ago could have expected to obtain considerably greater clarity from the imagery at their disposal than we can from the same imagery today. Similarly, enlargements of the photographs showing tanks near Arnhem shortly before Market Garden would have been significantly clearer than modern-day digital enlargements.