The following report on the use of air photographs to determine enemy minefield locations was originally published in Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 42, January 13, 1944. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

STUDY OF MINEFIELDS FROM AIR PHOTOS The accompanying sketches reproduce a minefield intelligence report in the form of an overprint of an aerial photo. This report proved to be of great value and was found to be accurate in detail when later on the minefield was cleared. It confirms the usefulness of a study of air photographs in determining minefield location when circumstances are favorable. Information indicated by examination and interpretation of the aerial photo on which the overprint was made was as follows: Minefield 45 to 55 feet wide, 2,600 feet long. Inferred field would make it 5,000 feet long. There are four rows of mines, three yards between the first and second, and the third and fourth rows, ten yards between the second and third rows, five yards between mines in all rows. Mine holes (spoil) are generally circular, indicating German Tellermines, Italian wooden box mines, or other mines of similar shape. Definitely not Italian B2 or V3s. Mine density 4 to 5 mines per yard of front. Dotted lines on overprint indicate inferred continuation of minefield to its natural anchors. Previous air cover does not actually show these mines but the disuse of former paths across these questionable areas indicates mined areas. On this later cover all evidence of the original mines is gone but new paths along limit of fields verify the minefield's existence. Field probably has small vertical fence around it.

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