Interwar RAF Strategic or Operational Reconnaissance?

[elbmc1969]

To confirm:

From 1930 to 1939, did the RAF have any strategic (to 600 miles) or operational (to 250 miles) reconnaissance aircraft?

 

[EwenS]

To confirm:

From 1930 to 1939, did the RAF have any strategic (to 600 miles) or operational (to 250 miles) reconnaissance aircraft?

This should give you what you are looking for.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/air-historical-branch/second-world-war-thematic-studies/photographic-reconnaissance-vol-i-1914-april-1941/

 

[EwenS]

Coincidentally this months “Aeroplane” magazine has an article titled “Secrets and Spies” about the two Lockheed 12A Electra Junior aircraft used by Sidney Cotton on behalf of the British Secret Intelligence Service for photo recce work pre-WW2. It looks at the aircraft, its modifications and its operations.

G-AFKR was only used briefly before being handed to the French.

G-AFTL was the replacement and has recently been restored for Fighter Aviation Engineering as seen below.

Electra closing in on first post-restoration flight

The Lockheed 12A Electra which provided Britain with invaluable reconnaissance photographs in the months leading up to World War Two will soon make its first flight in the UK for more than 80 years

www.key.aero

 

[elbmc1969]

This should give you what you are looking for.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/air-historical-branch/second-world-war-thematic-studies/photographic-reconnaissance-vol-i-1914-april-1941/

Thanks! Unfortunately, it doesn't say what military aircraft they used. Just heavy bombers with cameras installed? Not clear.