OWLS’ EYES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 February 1941, Page 3

OWLS’ EYES

POSSESSED BY THE R.A.F. : j TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AT NIGHT Photographs can now be taken by I tiie R.A.F. on even the blackest night. ' Photographic Hare bombs, dropped by I British aircraft allow photographs m jbe taken from considerable heights, and under almost any condition of I black-out. Flare bombs are released and operated by an intricate system of electrical control. The camera is also electrically controlled, whilst by means <T a photo-electric cell, the flash of the flare bomb itself automatically closes the camera shutter. When the flare bomb is released the camera shutter opens, exposing the sensitive film in readiness for the coming flash of revealing light. Down goes the flare bomb until it reaches the allotted height, suitable for illuminating the target. The lipshooting light, carrying its tell-tale evidence m the owls-eye lens, operates the photo-electric cell, which closes the shutter of the camera. Much wf the success o< R.A F. ,n air photography is cue to technical developments in British cameras ;.nd L oses. Germany's one-time lead in this field has now been reversed and from the evidence of captured Nazi aircraft K can be safely said that the new British equipment is appreciably better than that of ihe enemy. Many of the new problems created by modern highflying requirements, stjch as freezing and lens clouding, have been successfully solved by ingenious systems of electrical heating, and by the titling of optical flats and perspective windows.