| Original caption: “Aircraft spotter on the roof of a building in London. Saint Paul’s Cathedral is in the background.” A Royal Observer Corps (ROC) watches for German aircraft. The primary line of defense was a series of coastal radars, but importantly, visual confirmation was the only means of tracking once Luftwaffe aircraft crossed into England. The Observer Corps was expanded throughout the 1930s until it covered all of England. By 1936, it was fully integrated into the air defense system led by Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding (April 24, 1882 – February 15, 1970). Wales, Scotland, and the rest of Great Britain were added by 1939, and the outer islands were added by 1941. This publicity photo was probably taken on the roof of 1 of the newspapers on Fleet Street. Saint Martin Ludgate, built to be a direct contrast to Saint Paul’s Cathedral, is visible just behind the observer. He wears civilian clothes, but has a Brodie helmet, binoculars, and gas mask. In the intervening years, the vast majority of the buildings behind the spotter in the Farringdon Street area have been demolished. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0282.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.88 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2916 x 2161 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 1, 1940 |
| Location | |
| City | London |
| State or Province | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-306-NT-901B-3 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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