Newly released photographs reveal pioneering role of women in wartime photography

The pioneering role of women in wartime photography is spotlighted in an intriguing collection of photographs newly revealed by Historic England to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Although perhaps more famous for the ‘James Bond’ and ‘Carry On’ franchises, during the Second World War, Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire was known as RAF Iver Heath — a base for the RAF Film Production Unit (RAFFPU) and the Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU). They produced vital newsreels and coverage of key events, which helped keep the public informed and supportive of the war effort. Notable British talents were there, such as a young Richard Attenborough, as was the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), the contributions of which to photography and reconnaissance during the Second World War have perhaps been undersold.

This extraordinary collection of some 150 photographs was put together by Dorothy ‘Knicky’ Chapman, who was part of the first intake of the WAAF at the No.2 School of Photography in Blackpool, Lancashire, before being posted to Pinewood. Photographers skilled in aerial reconnaissance were urgently needed, so WAAF training proved vital, keeping up with rapid advancements in intelligence-bringing military air photography. In Chapman’s collection, women are shown at work, for example, processing film in mobile darkrooms, but also at play, participating in sports or dramatic productions. It’s a glimpse into their unique wartime world, about which not much is known; Historic England hopes the collection’s release will kickstart better communication with the public, who are invited to share personal stories of women who served in the RAFFPU or WAAF —email communications@historicengland.org.ukbefore May 25.

Chapman, who had previously attended art school to study photography, married her course instructor and continued in her chosen career, later taking a job at the Science Museum creating microfiche. It’s likely many of her WAAF peers left photography behind altogether after the war, yet these are women ‘who broke barriers in military photography,’ comments Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross, and ‘this collection honours their contribution to our national story. Their legacy will continue to inspire future generations’.

‘We continue to host an annual Service of Remembrance at Pinewood, giving special recognition to the wartime film and photographic units who trained and worked here,’ adds David Conway, chief executive officer of the Pinewood Group.

Visit the Historic England website to view the collection