Photographs can provide valuable information about the capabilities, mission, and useful range of an aircraft. Whether the aircraft is in the air or on the ground, the way you photograph it aids the analysts in

PH2 K. Brewer 302.284

Figure 6-25. The Soviet cargo ship Nbah Pycakob in the port of Conakry, Guinea.

determining these factors. The basic requirements for photographic coverage are as follows:

1. Overlapping views of the port side, the starboard side, and the underside, including wings and wing tips

2. Radome and appendages

3. Antennas

4. Fuselage area under the horizontal stabilizers

5. Upper section fuselage

6. Odd-colored covering on the skin of the aircraft

7. Bomb bay areas, especially if open

8. Other open hatches

9. Landing gear

10. Engines and cockpit

11. Identification markings

12. Weapons

When shooting aircraft, the underside of the aircraft is almost always in shadow. Remember to compensate for your light meter reading, particularly when the aircraft is airborne. Use the substitution method of exposure to record an acceptable exposure.