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16 Stunning Glass Plate Negatives c.1918 - medium format
£35.00
16 Stunning Glass Plate Negatives c.1918 mostly medium format Marions Record Plates, revealing some extraordinary portraiture from the Great War period. Among these are images of a young man clearly emulating T.E. Lawrence and also in WWI uniform of the newly-formed Royal Air Force, Aerial Observer. This is an aircrew member whose duties are predominantly reconnaissance. The term originated in the First World War in the British Royal Flying Corps, and was maintained by its successor, the Royal Air Force. An air observer’s brevet was a single wing with an O at the root as seen on this young man’s uniform.
Observers were also issued with weapons, and expected to engage with enemy aircraft in the early days of military aviation. Over time, the role changed and separate gunnery specialities emerged. Air observers were trained at the Air Observer Schools. Many WWI flying ‘Aces’ began as observers, as did others when there were not enough places available to become pilots.
Given the extreme dangers involved it is highly probable this young man died in combat before November 1918 regardless of whether he flew the plane or accompanied the pilot - the dangers were identical. I do not have any means of identifying this young man from these beautiful and professional images. Yet I believe him to be the sister of the lady also shown here.