This question is related to WWII aviation, but not directly. In some documentary program, the authors said that the British used a great way of aerial reconnaissance - they used 3D photography. Then the people in the staff looked at these photos through special glasses - an invention from the nineteenth century, but apparently this made the photos much easier to interpret. The authors gave such an example: in a "flat" photo taken from an airplane, it is impossible to distinguish a well from a narrow tower. Only 3D photography gives this possibility. The problem is that I have not seen such a "patent" on war movies post-WWII. Rather, in these movies, people watch normal flat pictures taken from airplanes or satellites. So ... how is it? If 3D aerial photography during World War II really gave such great results, why did no one use it in later wars? Another possibility: such photography did not give much advantage (i.e. the authors of this documentary program exaggerated the matter)...? Option 3: This method is still used today, but you don't see it in war movies (a bit strange thesis)...?
3D aerial photography
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Snautzer01
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Airframes
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The "3D" system basically used two photos of the subject, known as "stereo pairs".
These were printed, side by side, on one sheet of photo paper, and then viewed through a "stereoscope". This device was around six inches tall, from memory, and consisted of two magnifying lenses on a stand.
Viewing the "stereo pairs" through the 'scope, details appeared in 3D, with such objects as towers appearing to "jump out" of the frame. (the same system as was used in children's "3D" slide viewers).
By measuring shadows, with the time of day, month and year, along with the altitude taken, known from info printed on the photos, it was possible to estimate the size of certain objects, and an example of this was the discovery, and approximate dimensions, of the V1 and V2 rocket weapons..
The system is still in use today, even with the availability of current satellite imagery and computer enhancement, and has, in fact been seen in some WW2 and post-WW2 movies, such as "Triple Cross" and "Operation Crossbow", among others.
Shown below are examples of a simple stereoscope, as used in WW2, and a child's "Viewmaster" 3D viewer.
These were printed, side by side, on one sheet of photo paper, and then viewed through a "stereoscope". This device was around six inches tall, from memory, and consisted of two magnifying lenses on a stand.
Viewing the "stereo pairs" through the 'scope, details appeared in 3D, with such objects as towers appearing to "jump out" of the frame. (the same system as was used in children's "3D" slide viewers).
By measuring shadows, with the time of day, month and year, along with the altitude taken, known from info printed on the photos, it was possible to estimate the size of certain objects, and an example of this was the discovery, and approximate dimensions, of the V1 and V2 rocket weapons..
The system is still in use today, even with the availability of current satellite imagery and computer enhancement, and has, in fact been seen in some WW2 and post-WW2 movies, such as "Triple Cross" and "Operation Crossbow", among others.
Shown below are examples of a simple stereoscope, as used in WW2, and a child's "Viewmaster" 3D viewer.
The rover on Mars uses it but you cannot show the effects to anyone without the equipment to view it. Taking stereo pictures is much more difficult than with an ordinary camera. In addition to stereoscopic images the others that made up the 10 million pictures taken by the allies also helped.
buffnut453
Captain
Stereoscopy requires 2 images of the same target taken from slightly different viewpoints (due to the motion of the sensor), where the images have 60% overlap. When viewed through the stereosope, the slight difference in parallax between the 2 images fools the human brain into thinking it's seeing a 3D view rather than 2 flat images. It takes some practice to develop the skills to view imagery in stereo...and prolonged time at the stereoscope can result in headaches.
The primary advantage of a stereo viewer is in making a 3D object stand out from a flat feature. While I can paint the roof of a hangar so it looks like a housing estate, or paint a fake stream along a runway, use of stereoscopy will neutralize the effectiveness of such measures because the true 3D shape of the area will become apparent. Stereoscopy is also useful for spotting vehicles under tarps or sparsely leafed trees because, again, the 3D nature of the vehicle will become readily apparent to the viewer.
The primary advantage of a stereo viewer is in making a 3D object stand out from a flat feature. While I can paint the roof of a hangar so it looks like a housing estate, or paint a fake stream along a runway, use of stereoscopy will neutralize the effectiveness of such measures because the true 3D shape of the area will become apparent. Stereoscopy is also useful for spotting vehicles under tarps or sparsely leafed trees because, again, the 3D nature of the vehicle will become readily apparent to the viewer.
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Truth! Rovers on Mars and earlier on the Moon are the times after the Second World War ... But I meant the use in conflicts, not in scientific and civil applications (entertainment). It is true that in the book Jawbreaker the author mentioned something about a 3D model of the city, probably Baghdad (some American general had something like that in his staff), but that was a short mention in one sentence and I don't know what exactly the author meant.
What I meant was it is used today in civil applications, it has never stopped being used by the military where needed, it was a Victorian invention and was used by the military in WW1. 3D models were often used in WW2 and still are to discuss targets, they are also used a lot in civilian life to present development projects although CGI is taking over in many areas. (What do you mean by Truth?)
Hi
During WW2 (and after) PR aircraft took photos using film strips with each individual image overlapping, therefore when viewed trough a stereoscope the image would be 3D, with high points looking closer. Throughout the Cold War this method was being used, I looked at enough images myself during some of the period. The initial analysis would be made by a PI looking at the negative film strip, he/she would make a report before prints were used for more detailed analysis.
However, aerial photos, mainly glass plates, were being taken during WW1 as well, at least some could be viewed in 3D. One of these methods is mentioned in the 'Brabazon Story' by Lord Brabazon, who was involved in aerial photography from an early stage of WW1, on page 104, mentions:
"We took stereo pictures of trenches up to 12,000 feet and got superb relief by enhanced base line. These were shown to the Staff by the usual viewing apparatus, but we also projected them to show relief, on the well known principle of projecting one photograph through red and the other through green and viewing them through red and green spectacles. By this means the eye can see only the one picture it is meant to see, and so a stereoscopic effect is obtained."
In more recent years the same method is used when viewing a digital image on screen that has been taken by an aerial platform.
During WW1 the 'PI' had to initially learn to recognise what they were looking at, this was not easy at first, this is why a series of manuals on the 'Interpretation of Aerial Photographs' were produced to train personnel to undertake this task.
Mike
buffnut453
Captain
The type of 3D model you're talking about can be derived from a number of types of digital data including digital optical imagery, hi-resolution radar, and lidar. Back in WW2, 3D models would be constructed for critical targets by specialist model-builders, based on intelligence derived from imagery. That same basic process remained the "state of the art" until the explosion of computing capacity in the late-1980s which replaced physical models with digital models.
This is a good read RAF Medmenham - Wikipedia
Medmedham was the British and later Allied centre for photo interpretation, there were 1700 people there handling up to 25,000 negatives a day at peak. The documentary may have focused (see what I did there) on the British efforts but it was a joint effort.
As regards 3-D it says this ......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 of Lord Cherwell to 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 the V-2 rocket development plant at Peenemünde. Later offensives were also made against potential launch sites at Wizernes and 96 other launch sites in Northern France. It is claimed that Medmanham's greatest operational success was "Operation Crossbow" which, from 23 December 1943, destroyed the V-1 infrastructure in Northern France.[6] One of the key PI's in the V-weapon detection period was Constance Babington Smith. Babington Smith was also responsible for the Allies' confirmation of the existence of the German Me 163 Komet rocket plane as well as evidence of the test flights of the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, the scorched grass caused by the rocket and jet engines of both aircraft being visible in aerial photographs taken over Rechlin – "The German equivalent of Farnborough".
The SR-71 carried stereo cameras as well as other "stuff".
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird - Wikipedia
As the SR-71 had a second cockpit behind the pilot for the RSO, it could not carry the A-12's principal sensor, a single large-focal-length optical camera that sat in the "Q-Bay" behind the A-12's single cockpit. Instead, the SR-71's camera systems could be located either in the fuselage chines or the removable nose/chine section. Wide-area imaging was provided by two of Itek's Operational Objective Cameras, which provided stereo imagery across the width of the flight track, or an Itek Optical Bar Camera, which gave continuous horizon-to horizon coverage. A closer view of the target area was given by the HYCON Technical Objective Camera (TEOC), that could be directed up to 45° left or right of the centerline.[79] Initially, the TEOCs could not match the resolution of the A-12's larger camera, but rapid improvements in both the camera and film improved this performance.[79][80]
Medmedham was the British and later Allied centre for photo interpretation, there were 1700 people there handling up to 25,000 negatives a day at peak. The documentary may have focused (see what I did there) on the British efforts but it was a joint effort.
As regards 3-D it says this ......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 of Lord Cherwell to 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 the V-2 rocket development plant at Peenemünde. Later offensives were also made against potential launch sites at Wizernes and 96 other launch sites in Northern France. It is claimed that Medmanham's greatest operational success was "Operation Crossbow" which, from 23 December 1943, destroyed the V-1 infrastructure in Northern France.[6] One of the key PI's in the V-weapon detection period was Constance Babington Smith. Babington Smith was also responsible for the Allies' confirmation of the existence of the German Me 163 Komet rocket plane as well as evidence of the test flights of the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, the scorched grass caused by the rocket and jet engines of both aircraft being visible in aerial photographs taken over Rechlin – "The German equivalent of Farnborough".
The SR-71 carried stereo cameras as well as other "stuff".
Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird - Wikipedia
As the SR-71 had a second cockpit behind the pilot for the RSO, it could not carry the A-12's principal sensor, a single large-focal-length optical camera that sat in the "Q-Bay" behind the A-12's single cockpit. Instead, the SR-71's camera systems could be located either in the fuselage chines or the removable nose/chine section. Wide-area imaging was provided by two of Itek's Operational Objective Cameras, which provided stereo imagery across the width of the flight track, or an Itek Optical Bar Camera, which gave continuous horizon-to horizon coverage. A closer view of the target area was given by the HYCON Technical Objective Camera (TEOC), that could be directed up to 45° left or right of the centerline.[79] Initially, the TEOCs could not match the resolution of the A-12's larger camera, but rapid improvements in both the camera and film improved this performance.[79][80]
The RA5Cs that were our next door neighbors at NAS Boca Chica had one of these filmstrip cameras at each end of the longitudinal belly "canoe" that housed the sensor systems, coordinated to shoot stereo images. These filmstrips would be calibrated to each other and run through the mother of all stereoscopic scanners to give broadband 3D imagery of a several mile wide strip centered on the plane's flight path. At the same time the plane was making a radar, an infrared, and an elint record of everything along its flightpath, keyed to the photo imagery strips. At the time, this awesome technology was already a decade and a half old, and already old hat. The Wing Commander's secretary and I had our picture taken sitting on a blanket out on the ballfield at 0130 from 16,000 feet, and our faces were clearly recognizable. We never knew the plane was there, and the photoflashes were of such short duration they didn't register on the human eye. The PI techs in the lab next door had a bit of a chuckle over it. "Big Brother is watching!"
Well that would be a great way of weaving a love interest angle into a spy thriller.
Snautzer01
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Der Kampf im Westen,Foto-Buch mit Brille | eBay
It was quite common even for sale 70 years later
set of the pictures. 2x per holder
It was quite common even for sale 70 years later
set of the pictures. 2x per holder
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It's all interesting what you write. So, in short, this method was still used after World War II, only for some reason I didn't see it in movies about the Vietnam War and others. Maybe the screenwriter had a different priority than showing staff officers in 3D glasses.
3-D film has existed since 1915 and 3-D movies were quite popular in the 1950s, whatever the script is it isn't seen as high tech and you cant present it in a 2-D film. The same happens with holograms, if you see a hologram yourself it is impressive, seeing one on TV isn't. 3D film - Wikipedia
So who brought it to your attention that someone had photo's of you with Penny Benjamin (the admirals daughter)?
It's a good thing the flyover didn't happen a few minutes earlier.
As it happened, the recon wing photo lab and our RA5C simulator shared a large space, formerly an engines shop, that had been partitioned off to house them in separate rooms with a barricaded door between marked TOP SECRET, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.
We were astounded when the photo guys opened the door from their side, spotted me, and one said. "That's him. Told you so! Hey you, come here, we got something to show you."
So they took me into their lab and showed me the pictures and the successive steps of enlargement they had used to come up with the crystal clear B&W 8x10 of us sitting on a blanket in the pitch black tropical night from 16,000 feet with a flash exposure of 1/10,000 second. I asked what the ISO of the film was, and they said I didn't have the clearance to know that, but to "think lots of zeroes". They knew I was an amateur shutterbug and often hung out with the PHs at the base photo lab and at the EM club. If they were out to impress me with their toys, they certainly succeeded!
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By the time staff officers see the images, enlisted Photographers Mates and Photo Interpreters have analyzed and processed the imagery to save the officers the headaches of wearing stereo glasses. They are wizards at bringing out 3D effects on 2D film. The really good stuff they do, you never see.
