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- AEF Interpretation, Plate 42, Photo 2, After 1918
- Aerial Expeditionary Force with Edward Steichen
- Silver print
- National Air and Space Museum
- Aerial Expeditionary Force Photography Collection
- Image No. Interp-Plate42-Photos-2
Air Photography units were a vital branch of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in World War I. Often made at great risk to the photographer, photographic images allowed AEF commanders to gain accurate data on the enemy. The entire frontlines were photographed in a systematic fashion—and the most active sectors were often photographed on a daily basis. Photographs were routinely distributed to infantry and artillery commanders as a vital form of battlefield intelligence. Aerial photography became essential for map making and assessing the overall movement of the enemy.
