Bidspirit auction | WW2 RAF Photo intelligence officer

WW2 RAF Photo intelligence officer who discovered Peenemunde signed cover. 543 Squadron RAF cover signed by Constance Babington Smith, the photographic interpretation officer who was credited with discovering the launch ramps at Peenemunde. Constance Babington Smith MBE, FRSL (15 October 1912 - 31 July 2000) was a British journalist and writer, but is probably best known for her wartime work in imagery intelligence. Her knowledge of aircraft took her into the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and photo intelligence in the Second World War. In December 1940, Babington Smith was in the fifth group of WAAFs trained in photographic interpretation in the top secret Photographic Development Unit, qualifying alongside Eve Holiday, and Ann McKnight Kauffer (daughter of the poster artist Edward McKnight Kauffer), initially based at Paduoc House, Wembley. She later worked alongside Sarah Oliver (Winston Churchill's daughter). Babington Smith had created her own reference report of Italian aircraft which had impressed her Squadron Leader. The photographic interpretation work concentrated on ships but her expertise with aeroplanes led to her being asked in early 1941 to set up an aircraft recognition section. It was unusual for a WAAF officer to head her own section without an RAF officer alongside. A colleague there, Ursula Powys-Lybbe, later wrote that ”Babs had sufficient strength of character, an extraordinary singleness of purpose together with total dedication to the task, mixed in with a modicum of determination necessary to be able to assume sole command of the new section”. The unit moved from London in after multiple bombings and she served with the Central Interpretation Unit (CIU) at RAF Medmenham, Buckinghamshire, reaching the rank of Flight Officer. Serving alongside was her brother, Bernard Babington Smith (1905-1993), who was also a photo interpreter (PI) at Medmenham and head of the Night Photograph Section. In 1942 she made an uncredited appearance in the Air Ministry feature film Target for Tonight, along with her fellow Medmenham colleague, Sqn Ldr Peter Riddell, and was Mentioned in Dispatches for her work. Working on the interpretation of aerial reconnaissance photographs, Constance was credited with the discovery of the V1 at Peenemünde, Germany, making the initial identification in the summer of 1943 with full confirmation in December 1943. She challenged the preconceptions and initial dismissal of her interpretation of 'ski sites' by the Industry section at Medmenham and worked to prove that they were in fact launch ramps for the V1. 96 ramps were identified and subsequently destroyed by the Allies. By 1944 the aircraft recognition section had eleven staff. In 1945 she was awarded the MBE. Her brother, Bernard, was also honoured for his work at the CIU, receiving the OBE. She was portrayed in the 1965 film Operation Crossbow by Sylvia Syms. Good condition. Part of Single Vendor collection. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide.