The RAF’s No. 2 School of Photography was established in August 1940 to meet the rapidly increasing need for more photographers and photographic technicians to aid with aerial reconnaissance during the Second World War. The School was based at the Blackpool Technical College and Palatine Secondary School in Blackpool. Training of women at the School began in 1941.
Each Saturday morning during the training course, the Commanding Officer held an informal inspection. On the last Saturday of the month a more formal inspection took place, which concluded with the march past of the whole school, shown in this photograph.
In this image the women are parading past the Palatine Road School building, which now forms part of the Blackpool and the Fylde University campus.
This photograph is one of a set taken by Barnet Saidman, an RAF officer on the staff at the No. 2 School, and other colleagues, which was compiled into an album and presented to Squadron Leader W H Dunton, officer in charge of the No. 2 School. The album documents the training programme for the WAAF's at the No. 2 School, and is accompanied by written captions. The original album is held by the Defence School of Photography. A second set of prints was collected and presented within the album compiled by Knicky Chapman, who was herself on the staff at the No. 2 School.
This is part of the Volume: CHP01/07/01 Photograph Album Compiled by Knicky Chapman; within the Series: CHP01/07 Women's Auxiliary Air Force Second World War Photographs; within the Collection: CHP01 Knicky Chapman Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Photographer: Saidman, Barnet: Royal Air Force
Second World War Military Training Site, Military, Second World War, Women's History
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