Crouched over a grey metal tube, helmeted aircrew would
have been receiving instructions from the pilot – over the
roar of the engines. The crew members hand would have
then pressed upon a cable switch – the noises of shutters
opening and closing and of film being transported into light
proof drums – masked by the engines roar. The observer/
navigator then would have relaxed, casually noting down
details in his board mounted log sheet. ‘Renfrew –
Zivilflugplatz (getarnt)’ . Numbers listed representing the
plane’s position were there as part of a list – a list that
started from the far side of Glasgow City. The plane a
photo-reconnaissanc type  from Hitler’s airforce, the
Luftwaffe had arrived.

It flew that sunny morning across Scotland
on the instructions of the German High Command
to shape their plans for the systematic bombing
of factories and shipyards.

The drone of the engines would have faded gradually as it headed towards Inchinnan, Erskine, Dumbarton and Clydebank.

 

Clydebank; to eventually suffer the worst of this mornings evil endeavour – bearing the heaviest of the eventual attacks. The observer photographer used the best optical equipment available and his quality had to be admired. To the untrained – the aerial map is not easily read. To help, the Legend above carries a host of pointers to the various sites that are clearly defined.  Over recent years I have collected as many of these photographs as were made available. Most are sized at 1.2Mb and in order to preserve the ability to enlarge on screen – will be kept that way.  The entire collection plus many pictures of old Renfrew are on CD ROM.  Contact the writer for more details on obtaining a copy.

glendinning@btinternet.com