RAF Medmenham
RAF Medmenham | |
|---|---|
| Medmenham,Buckinghamshirein England | |
 Danesfield House,the wartime home of RAF Medmenham | |
  RAF Medmenham Shown within Buckinghamshire | |
| Coordinates | 51°33′10″N0°49′25″W/ 51.55278°N 0.82361°W |
| Type | Royal Air Force station |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator | Royal Air Force |
| Controlled by | Allied Central Interpretation Unit |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941 |
| In use | 1941-1977 |
| Battles/wars | European theatre of World War II Cold War |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Peter Stewart, Francis Cator, Douglas Kendall |
RAF Medmenhamis a formerRoyal Air Forcestation based atDanesfield HousenearMedmenham,inBuckinghamshire,England.Activities there specialised inphotographic intelligence,and it was once the home of theRAF Intelligence Branch.During theSecond World War,RAF Medmenham was the main interpretation centre for photographic reconnaissance operations in theEuropeanandMediterraneantheatres.
Second World War
[edit]In April 1941, an RAF photographic interpretation unit (PIU) moved to Danesfield House, Medmenham, as its previous location atWembleywas short of space,[1][2]and was renamed theCentral Interpretation Unit(CIU).[3]Later that year theBomber Command Damage Assessment Sectionwas absorbed, and amalgamation was completed when theNight Photographic Interpretation SectionofNo 3 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit,RAF Oakington,was integrated with CIU in February 1942 and the base was assigned the mottoServe and Support.[4]
During 1942 and 1943, the CIU gradually expanded and was involved in the planning stages of practically every operation of the war, and in every aspect of intelligence. In 1945, daily intake of material averaged 25,000 negatives and 60,000 prints. ByVE-day,the print library, which documented and stored worldwide cover, held 5,000,000 prints from which 40,000 reports had been produced.[3]
American personnel had for some time formed an increasing part of the CIU and on 1 May 1944 this was finally recognised by changing the title of the unit to theAllied Central Interpretation Unit(ACIU).[3]There were then over 1,700 personnel on the unit's strength. The title of the unit reverted toCentral Interpretation Unitwhen the Americans returned home in August 1945.[3]
Early in 1945, a number of photographic interpreters (PIs) were sent to join theBritish Bombing Research MissioninParisto explore the degree of damage and production interruption caused byAlliedbombing in theResistanceareas of theMassif Centraland in the ports. They were also tasked with checking PI reports which were eventually related to assessment reports of attacks on German industry. Several PIs were also seconded tothe PentagoninWashington, D.C.,to join a detachment of RAF andBritish Armyofficers.
Supermarine Spitfires,without any guns but with a maximum speed of 396 mph[5]at 30,000 feet, were used for photo-reconnaissance missions. The aircraft were fitted with five cameras which were heated to ensure good results (while the cockpit was not). Another key aircraft was theMosquitowhich had a cruising speed of 255 mph, maximum of 362 mph and a maximum altitude of 35,000 ft. Thirty-six million prints were made during the war, of which some 10 million, many in3-D,still survive and are today kept inEdinburgh.A large number of photographic interpreters were recruited from theHollywood Film StudiosincludingXavier Atencio.Dirk Bogardewas employed in the Army reconnaissance section as a visual inspector. Two renowned archaeologists also worked there as interpreters:Dorothy Garrod,the first woman to hold an Oxbridge Chair, andGlyn Daniel,who went on to gain popular acclaim as the host of the television game showAnimal, Vegetable or Mineral?.Up to 150 women were also employed as PIs.[6][7][8]
Of particular significance in the success of the work of Medmenham was the use of stereoscopic images, using a between plate overlap of exactly 60%. Having overcome the initial scepticism ofLord Cherwellto the possibility of the new rocket technology, major operations made possible by the work at Medmanham included, on 17 and 18 August 1943, an offensive against theV-2rocket development plant atPeenemünde.Later offensives were also made against potential launch sites atWizernesand 96 other launch sites in NorthernFrance.It is claimed that Medmanham's greatest operational success was "Operation Crossbow"which, from 23 December 1943, destroyed theV-1infrastructure in Northern France.[6]One of the key PI's in theV-weapondetection period wasConstance Babington Smith.Babington Smith was also responsible for the Allies' confirmation of the existence of the GermanMe 163 Kometrocket plane as well as evidence of the test flights of theMesserschmitt Me 262jet fighter, the scorched grass caused by the rocket and jet engines of both aircraft being visible in aerial photographs taken overRechlin– "The German equivalent ofFarnborough".[7][8]
Post-Second World War
[edit]With the cessation of hostilities in Europe in May 1945 some sections closed almost immediately, whilst others worked on tasks for theControl Commissionin Germany. The several Army sections of CIU were incorporated in September 1946 to become theArmy Photographic Interpretation Centre (UK)(APIC (UK)).
The CIU was placed under the control of the newly establishedCentral Photographic EstablishmentofRAF Coastal Commandwhich had replaced the disbandedNo. 106 Group RAFand theJoint Photographic Reconnaissance Committee(JPRC). In August 1947, the unit's name was changed yet again, this time to theJoint Air Photographic Intelligence Centre (UK)(JAPIC (UK)). In October 1947, APIC (UK) was renamed theArmy Photographic Interpretation Unit (UK),(APIU (UK)) and, although it continued to operate within JAPIC (UK), had special responsibilities to theDirector of Military Intelligence.The Officer Commanding APIU (UK) was also deputy commandant of JAPIC (UK).
In December 1953, the unit was given the title of theJoint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre(United Kingdom), (JARIC (UK)).[3]The personnel of APIU (UK) were absorbed into the establishment of the joint service unit and the Army has continued to provide a number of PIs and supporting staffs in the JARIC establishment. JARIC moved in 1957 from its base atRAF Nuneham Park,near Oxford, toRAF Brampton.In 2012 JARIC was renamed Defence Geospatial Intelligence Fusion Centre (DGIFC) and moved to the other side of Huntingdon toRAF Wytonin 2013.
TheJoint School of Photographic Interpretation(JSPI) atRAF Chicksands– where PIs for all threeBritish servicesare now trained has been named the 'Medmenham Training Wing' in honour of the unit's heritage with Medmenham.[9]
In 1952, 591 Signals Unit moved to RAF Medmenham from RAFWythalland stayed until 1955 when it moved toRAF Digby,its current location. It was during its stay at Medmenham that the unit's crest was conceived; akingfisherwatching over the river (Thames), representing the unit's watch over the integrity and security of RAF communications.
On 3 November 1958,RAF Signals Command(motto:Aetherem Vincere– "To conquer the upper air" )[10]was formed at Medmenham by raising No. 90 Group RAF to Command status under Air Vice MarshalLeslie Dalton-Morris.[11]It was a relatively short-lived Command, lasting only until 1 January 1969, when it was absorbed byStrike Commandand reduced to Group status. It had five Air Officers Commanding in Chief during its existence.
Since the early 2000s, theJoint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence CentreandAllied Central Interpretation Unitcollections have been held by theNational Collection of Aerial Photography.[12]
RAF Radio Introduction Branch
[edit]During the Second World War, an organisation known as thePost Design Services(PDS) was formed at theTelecommunications Research Establishment(TRE),Malvern, Worcestershire,to provide a direct link between the designers of electronic equipment in the laboratories and theserviceusers in the field. The organisation was staffed by civilian scientists ( "boffins") and serving officers and worked predominantly in the fields of airborneradarandground-controlled interception(GCI).
In 1946, PDS was disbanded and a successor organisation, theRadio Introduction Branch(RIB), was formed at RAF Medmenham.[13]In 1952, the RIB was renamed asRadio Introduction Unit(RIU) and became responsible for the introduction into service of all airborne and ground radio systems. The unit had a complement of ten officers dealing withairfield approach aids,airborne tail warning,Dopplernavigation, weapon aiming and airborne interception for aircraft such as theGloster Javelin,Bristol Brigand,Vickers Valetta,de Havilland VenomandGloster Meteor.The unit moved toRAF Bensonin 1977.
See also
[edit]- Aerial reconnaissance
- Imagery intelligence
- National Collection of Aerial Photography
- Telecommunications Research Establishment
References
[edit]- ^Downing, Taylor (2011).Spies in the Sky.Little Brown Hardbacks (A & C). pp. 80–81.ISBN9781408702802.
- ^Unlocking Buckinghamshire's Past
- ^abcdeAllied Central Interpretation Unit (ACIU)Archived12 March 2013 at theWayback Machine
- ^Pine, L.G. (1983).A dictionary of mottoes(1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p.211.ISBN0-7100-9339-X.
- ^Downing, Taylor (2011).Spies in the Sky.Little Brown Hardbacks (A & C). p. 42.ISBN9781408702802.
- ^ab"Operation Crossbow", BBC2, broadcast 15 May 2011
- ^ab"Photography Before Edgerton".
- ^abCotton, Sidney (1969).Aviator Extraordinary: The Sidney Cotton Story.Chatto & Windus. p. 169.ISBN0-7011-1334-0.
- ^Alumni group site
- ^Pine, L.G. (1983).A dictionary of mottoes(1 ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p.7.ISBN0-7100-9339-X.
- ^Smith, Maurice, ed. (13 November 1959). "Signals Command".Flight International.75(2657). London: Iliffe & Sons: 559.ISSN0015-3710.
- ^"Allied Central Interpretation Unit (ACIU) | NCAP - National Collection of Aerial Photography".
- ^Sterling, Christopher H. (2008).Military communications: from ancient times to the 21st century.ABC-CLIO. p.471.
Further reading
[edit]- Abrams, Leonard N. (1991).Our secret little war.Bethesda, MD: Geographic Information Foundation.
- Babington Smith, Constance (1957).Evidence in Camera: The Story of Photographic Intelligence in the Second World War.Sutton.ISBN0750936487.
- Downing, Taylor (2011).Spies in the Sky.Little Brown Hardbacks (A & C).ISBN9781408702802.
- Williams, Allan (2013).Operation Crossbow: The Untold Story of Photographic Intelligence and the Search For Hitler's V Weapons.Random House.ISBN978-1848093072
