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BBC News
07-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Hidden images of Pinewood wartime filmmaking released
Hidden images of wartime filmmaking released 9 minutes ago Share Save Alex Pope BBC News, Buckinghamshire Share Save Historic England Archive Historic England Archive Two Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) trainees practised photography while wearing gas masks to simulate working under active service conditions Rare behind-the-scenes images taken at a film studio during World War Two have been released. To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Historic England has published the collection put together by Dorothy "Knicky" Chapman. She was posted to Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire when it was the central hub of military filmmaking. The "remarkable collection" of more than 150 photographs captures the "perspective of a woman wartime photographer", Historic England said. Its chief executive Duncan Wilson said he hoped it would preserve the photos "as an important part of our national heritage". Historic England Archive WAAF Sgt Dorothy Knapman - also known as Knicky - put together the collection During the war, Pinewood Studios was the base for government film units, including the RAF Film Production Unit and the Army Film and Photographic Unit. The studios were known as RAF Iver Heath at the time. Sgt Chapman assisted in the production of military films, such as The Big Pack and Operational Height. She also worked alongside a young Richard Attenborough. The films were "crucial for maintaining public morale during wartime", Historic England said. The collection also reveals the little-known story of the contributions of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) to photography and reconnaissance during the conflict. "The collection sheds light on the comprehensive training programme at the school, where WAAF recruits were schooled in all aspects of photography, particularly in the use of air cameras," Historic England said. "The images show women learning how to process films in mobile darkrooms, plotting aerial photographs and simulating work under active service conditions." Historic England Archive Members of the WAAF, in military uniform, posed with their cameras outside the RAF's No. 2 School of Photography Mr Wilson added: "We hope to honour the contributions of these women photographers and filmmakers to the war effort, preserving their stories as an important part of our national heritage." David Conway, chief executive officer at Pinewood Group, said: "Knicky Chapman's collection provides a fascinating glimpse into the legacy of Pinewood Studios and brings the pioneering role of women to the forefront." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wartime filmmaking photos released to mark VE Day
A collection of photographs featuring "pioneering" female military photographers has been released to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Historic England's (HE) archive images show the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) training in Blackpool, Lancashire. The 150-image collection shows women learning how to process films in mobile darkrooms, plotting aerial photographs and simulating work under active service conditions during World War Two. It was put together by Dorothy "Knicky" Chapman, who was part of the first intake at the No. 2 School of Photography in Blackpool. She was later posted to Pinewood Studios, the central hub of military filmmaking. Chapman was part of the first intake of 26 women who were trained at the school in Blackpool in 1941 [Historic England Archive] Historic England's archive images show the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during training in Blackpool [Historic England Archive] The WAAF was founded in 1939 to fill non-combat roles in the RAF. Chapman volunteered to join it before conscription was introduced. She was part of the first intake of 26 women to be trained at the school in 1941. The school was established to meet demand for photographers skilled in aerial reconnaissance. The photographs feature previously unseen images of Chapman's training and behind-the-scenes shots from her posting to the RAF Film Production Unit at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. At Pinewood she assisted in the production of military films which provided insight into the RAF's operations. They were also used in newsreels and coverage of key events in the war, including the D-Day landings. The training of WAAF photographers like Chapman was "vital" to the war effort, Historic England said. HE said it was essential for the training course to keep up with rapid advancements in military air photography. This provided intelligence that was crucial to the progress of the war. The training of WAAF photographers was "vital" to the war effort, HE said [Historic England Archive] The collection also showcases other sides of wartime life, such as the women playing sports and socialising. While the No. 2 School of Photography closed before the end of the war, its legacy lives on through the No. 1 School, which continued to train military photographers and is now the Defence School of Photography at RAF Cosford. Little is known about the lives of the women of the RAF Film Production Unit following the end of the war, though Chapman never lost her passion for photography, HE said. The organisation's chief executive Duncan Wilson said: "The photographs provide rare insight into a lesser-known aspect of our wartime heritage, from the crucial role of Pinewood Studios as the centre of military filmmaking to the pioneering women of the WAAF. "By sharing this collection, we hope to honour the contributions of these women photographers and filmmakers to the war effort, preserving their stories as an important part of our national heritage." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. More on this story Related internet links
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
The untold story of the RAF's wartime female propaganda unit
They were a small but dedicated group of women who played a key role in boosting the nation's morale. The weapons wielded by Sergeant Dorothy 'Knicky' Chapman and her colleagues against the Nazis and their allies may have been film cameras and tripods rather than guns and shells, but they were vital in explaining to besieged Britons how the war effort was being waged. A rare collection of photographs showing the untold story of their work in the RAF's wartime Film Production Unit is now being revealed for the first time. Previously unseen photographs of its work have been published by Historic England to celebrate the 80 th anniversary of VE Day. The more than 150 photographs, which Chapman collected at the time, offer a rare glimpse of the unit's endeavours at Pinewood Studios, the home of British filmmaking, where it produced newsreels and coverage of key events in the war, including the D-Day landings. These explained in vivid detail to a civilian audience the efforts of Britain's forces, both on the battlefield and the home front, and were deemed crucial in maintaining morale. Among the films made by Chapman and the RAF FPU at Pinewood were 'Operational Height', which told the story of the crews of the barrage balloon ships guarding the ports of the Thames Estuary, and a 16-minute 1943 film, Soldiers Stories: The RAF Regiment. Another was 'The Big Pack', showing the work of the RAF's Maintenance Command in organising the supplies needed for a major overseas operation. The photographs show the women of the FPU training to operate complex film equipment in difficult conditions, such as while wearing gas masks or in total darkness. Some are not without humour, with one showing WAAF Corporal Peggy Harvey in her uniform, applying her makeup while pumping up the tyre of a military vehicle at RAF Iver Heath, Pinewood. The unit's members were drawn from the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), which was founded in 1939 to fill non-combat roles in the RAF with women. Chapman, who had worked at photographic studios in Coventry and Sheffield after studying art and photography at Coventry School of Art, volunteered to join the WAAF before conscription was introduced. She was part of the first intake of 26 women to be trained at the No. 2 School of Photography, now the Defence School of Photography, at RAF Cosford, in 1941. Chapman was one of a small number picked to work in the stills department and her collection features stills from a number of the RAF's film sets and productions. She also worked alongside some of those who would go on to shape the British film industry, including a young Richard Attenborough, who volunteered to fly on bombing missions across Europe to film their outcome. WAAF photographers proved vital to the war effort in training RAF crews to carry out aerial reconnaissance, providing intelligence that was crucial to the progress of the war. As well as their vital work, the collection captures the women taking part in more relaxed off duty activities, including playing sports, dances at RAF Iver Heath and a theatre production of the comedy 'George and Margaret'. Chapman continued her passion for photography after the war - taking a job creating microfiche at the Science Museum and amassing a collection of several thousand slides documenting architecture across the country. But for most of the women the demobilisation of the WAAF marked the end of their lives in film. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: 'This remarkable collection commemorates the unsung heroes of the Second World War and sheds light on the history of wartime filmmaking. The photographs provide rare insight into a lesser-known aspect of our wartime heritage, from the crucial role of Pinewood Studios as the centre of military filmmaking to the pioneering women of the WAAF.' Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross added: 'This remarkable collection reveals the vital role Pinewood Studios played during the war and shines a light on the hidden contribution of women like Knicky Chapman who broke barriers in military photography. Their legacy will continue to inspire future generations.'
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Collection of rare photos of wartime film-making released for VE Day
More than 150 rare photographs showing behind-the-scenes wartime film-making have been released to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The images, released by Historic England, also highlight the pioneering role of women in wartime photography. The collection was put together by Dorothy 'Knicky' Chapman, one of the first women trained in military photography during the Second World War. Ms Chapman was part of the first intake of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) at the No 2 School of Photography in Blackpool. She was later posted to the famous Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, the central hub for military film-making, known as RAF Iver Heath. Film and photography units for the RAF were based at Pinewood and produced films that shaped public perception, as well as time-critical newsreels and coverage of major events including the D-Day Landings. Ms Chapman worked in the stills department and the collection features images from a number of the RAF's film sets and productions. She assisted in the production of military films including The Big Pack and Operational Height, which provided a rare insight into the RAF's operations. She also collaborated with future industry figures, including a young Richard Attenborough. The image collection also sheds light on how the training of WAAF photographers aided the war effort, with recruits schooled in the use of air photography to help support the RAF's use of photographic reconnaissance. The images show women learning how to process films in mobile darkrooms, plotting aerial photographs, and simulating work under active service conditions. As well as the training and the work of the WAAF, the collection also captures the social side of wartime life, including sports, theatre productions and events with RAF officers. Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson said: 'As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, this remarkable collection commemorates the unsung heroes of the Second World War and sheds light on the history of wartime film-making. 'The photographs provide rare insight into a lesser-known aspect of our wartime heritage, from the crucial role of Pinewood Studios as the centre of military film-making to the pioneering women of the WAAF. 'By sharing this collection, we hope to honour the contributions of these women photographers and film-makers to the war effort, preserving their stories as an important part of our national heritage.' Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said: 'This remarkable collection reveals the vital role Pinewood Studios played during the war and shines a light on the hidden contribution of women like Knicky Chapman, who broke barriers in military photography. 'As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, this collection honours their contribution to our national story. Their legacy will continue to inspire future generations.' Ms Chapman continued with photography after the war, but little is known about the lives of other women who served in the Royal Air Force Film Production Unit. Historic England is inviting the public to share stories about women in the unit by emailing communications@ before Sunday May 25.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Blackpool wartime filmmaking photographs released to mark VE Day
Wartime filmmaking photos released to mark VE Day Just now Share Save Share Save Historic England Archive The collection was put together by Dorothy "Knicky" Chapman A collection of photographs featuring "pioneering" female military photographers has been released to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Historic England's (HE) archive images show the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) training in Blackpool, Lancashire. The 150-image collection shows women learning how to process films in mobile darkrooms, plotting aerial photographs and simulating work under active service conditions during World War Two. It was put together by Dorothy "Knicky" Chapman, who was part of the first intake at the No. 2 School of Photography in Blackpool. She was later posted to Pinewood Studios, the central hub of military filmmaking. Historic England Archive Chapman was part of the first intake of 26 women who were trained at the school in Blackpool in 1941 Historic England Archive Historic England's archive images show the Women's Auxiliary Air Force during training in Blackpool The WAAF was founded in 1939 to fill non-combat roles in the RAF. Chapman volunteered to join it before conscription was introduced. She was part of the first intake of 26 women to be trained at the school in 1941. The school was established to meet demand for photographers skilled in aerial reconnaissance. The photographs feature previously unseen images of Chapman's training and behind-the-scenes shots from her posting to the RAF Film Production Unit at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. At Pinewood she assisted in the production of military films which provided insight into the RAF's operations. They were also used in newsreels and coverage of key events in the war, including the D-Day landings. The training of WAAF photographers like Chapman was "vital" to the war effort, Historic England said. HE said it was essential for the training course to keep up with rapid advancements in military air photography. This provided intelligence that was crucial to the progress of the war. Historic England Archive The training of WAAF photographers was "vital" to the war effort, HE said The collection also showcases other sides of wartime life, such as the women playing sports and socialising. While the No. 2 School of Photography closed before the end of the war, its legacy lives on through the No. 1 School, which continued to train military photographers and is now the Defence School of Photography at RAF Cosford. Little is known about the lives of the women of the RAF Film Production Unit following the end of the war, though Chapman never lost her passion for photography, HE said. The organisation's chief executive Duncan Wilson said: "The photographs provide rare insight into a lesser-known aspect of our wartime heritage, from the crucial role of Pinewood Studios as the centre of military filmmaking to the pioneering women of the WAAF. "By sharing this collection, we hope to honour the contributions of these women photographers and filmmakers to the war effort, preserving their stories as an important part of our national heritage." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
