News & Articles

Find out about the latest news from NCAP and discover in-depth stories about NCAP collections, activities and projects.

3 overlapping black and white vertical aerial photos of a volcanic crater. A mile scale runs along the bottom of the image.

The Story of the Directorate of Overseas Surveys

Digitising the Directorate of Overseas Surveys Collection has been the National Collection of Aerial Photography’s largest print preservation and digitisation project to date, but how did the Collection come to...

Read more
A black and white vertical aerial photo of a river delta. The main channel undulates along the bottom edge of the image, with smaller channels running above it.

Reinterpreting the Directorate of Overseas Surveys Collection

The Directorate of Overseas Surveys (DOS) commissioned aerial photography to create mapping of Commonwealth countries. A new exhibition illustrates the great potential of the DOS Collection (cared for by the...

Read more
A sepia historic photo of a woman in glasses next to a window. She is looking down at 2 photographic prints in her hands.

The Women of Medmenham: Sarah Spencer-Churchill

Sarah Spencer-Churchill served as a Photographic Interpreter at RAF Medmenham between October 1941 and November 1945, going on to become a prominent actress and frequently discussing her military service in...

Read more
A black and white historic photo of a woman smiling at the viewer over her left shoulder.

The Women of Medmenham: Ursula Powys-Lybbe

This women’s history month, read about Ursula Powys-Lybbe, who began her career as a society photographer, before joining the WAAF in 1941 and working as a Photographic Interpreter at RAF...

Read more
A black and white historic photo of a woman sitting at a desk. A filing cabinet and shelves are visible behind her, along with maps on the walls. To the right are a window and a lamp.

The Women of Medmenham: Lady Charlotte Bonham-Carter

Charlotte Bonham-Carter – pilot, arts patron and photographic interpreter – was a vibrant presence at RAF Medmenham during her time working on the material which is now in the care...

Read more
A sepia historic photo of a young woman in uniform, wearing a wide-brimmed black hat and looking at the viewer.

The Women of Medmenham: Dorothy Garrod

Dorothy Garrod (1892-1968) pursued a successful academic career at a time when the limitations placed on women often hindered and overshadowed their important work. As one of the many women...

Read more
A black and white historic photo of 2 uniformed women sitting at a desk underneath a window. There are maps and aerial photos on the desk, and books on a bookshelf behind them.

Women's History Month: The Women of Medmenham

This Women’s History Month, the National Collection of Aerial Photography is privileged to introduce you to a small selection of some of the many women who contributed to the vital...

Read more
A head-shot of Dirk Bogarde staring straight at the camera. His dark hair is slicked back, he has raised his left eyebrow and he is wearing a tweed jacket.

Dirk Bogarde: Photographic Interpreter Turned Hollywood Film Star

Before he became a Hollywood film star, Dirk Bogarde served as an Intelligence Officer, working with imagery that now forms part of the Allied Central Interpretation Unit Collection at the...

Read more