Image Release Note 003: NCAP Upload

Summary

This release presents a rich and varied collection of aerial imagery sourced from historic and contemporary survey organisations, including the Directorate of Overseas Surveys (DOS), Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (JARIC), and several UK-based firms. Spanning 206 sorties and over 46,000 frames from the 1940s to the 2000s, the collection offers a broad geographic scope and captures decades of strategic, environmental, and infrastructural change.

UK coverage is extensive, with imagery from all four nations. Coverage of England features major cities like London and Manchester, counties such as Essex and Derbyshire, and infrastructure sites including Manchester Airport and London Rail. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are also well represented, with particular focus on locations such as Belfast, Lough Neagh, and towns across Ulster.

Internationally, the collection includes Ireland (Dublin and Cork), the Caribbean and British Overseas Territories (St. Lucia, Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Belize, and Fiji), and strategic European and Mediterranean sites such as Cyprus and East Germany. Additional coverage includes Brunei, the UAE, and Iceland.

Environmental and hydrological features are a notable feature, with repeated coverage of rivers, canals, and coastal zones including the River Lagan, Ulster Canal, and The Wash. Together, the collection offers a valuable visual record of geographic transformation across domestic and global landscapes.

Image caption: Hverfjall Volcano, near Mývatn, Iceland; Collection: SIMMONS, Sortie: AF/03C/0116, Frame: 0502 (22 August 2003).

Geographical Coverage

United Kingdom

• England: London, Manchester, Essex, Berkshire, Derbyshire, North Yorkshire
• Scotland: Aberdeen, Glasgow
• Wales: Betws-y-Coed, Pentrefoelas, Aberthaw, Llandudno
• Northern Ireland: Belfast, Ballymena, Lisburn, Derry/Londonderry

International

• Caribbean and South America: St. Lucia, Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Belize
• Europe: Cyprus, Germany, Ireland (Dublin, Cork, Lough Neagh, Ulster), Iceland (Reykjavik, Keflavik, and surrounding areas)
• Middle East: United Arab Emirates
• Southeast Asia: Brunei
• Pacific Ocean: Fiji

Specific Themes

• Environmental and hydrological sites: Includes rivers, canals, and coastal zones such as the River Lagan, Ulster Canal, and The Wash.
• Infrastructure sites: Manchester Airport, London Rail, M25 motorway, Brands Hatch

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