Size: 8 x 8 inches

Letter of Authenticity included.

*The Imperial Japanese Navy employed some 50,000 people at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal at the peak of World War II, constructing and refitting destroyers, light cruisers, submarines and other various naval vessels. The 21st Naval Air Arsenal (Dai-Nijuichi Kaigun Kokusho), established jointly at Sasebo and Omura, produced a total of 966 aircraft. The facilities at Sasebo were used for repairs on the battleships Yamato and Musashi during the Pacific War.

*This TARGET marked aerial reconnoissance photograph was directly used and carried by Lt. Moore of the USS Enterprise Air Group during the Air Groups raids on Japan’s mainland.

This extremely rare ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ World War II Joint Intelligence Center Pacific Ocean Area (JICPOA) high altitude aerial reconnaissance photograph is marked “Sasebo - Japan - Sasebo Naval Yard and Seaplane Station”. This aerial reconnaissance photo was taken a specially outfitted B-29 Superfortress aircraft of Bomber Command operating out of the Pacific Theater where it was then developed after a special flight reconnaissance mission over Japan. Following the bomber groups return and landing on an occupied Allied island airfield, this photograph was developed by reconnaissance where it was then examined, marked and sent to PHASE 1 (Tactical Interpretation) and PHASE 2 (Strategic Interpretation) of the photo intelligence unit. Reconnaissance units would take the aerial photographs, print them, and identify them. PHASE 1 (Tactical Interpretation) then examines the aerial reconnaissance photos for immediate military operations and PHASE 2 (Strategic Interpretation) examines the reconnaissance photos for future military operations.

This “TARGET” marked aerial reconnaissance photo was carried and used by Lt. Moore of the USS Enterprise Air Group. He along with other USS Enterprise carrier pilots, officers, and high ranking commanders where given these photo intelligence marked aerial recon photographs in order to identify targets on the Japan mainland.

This target aerial recon photograph was used in pre mission briefings to familiarize USS Enterprise pilots on their objectives and target assignments before taking off the deck of the carrier. This aerial photograph also allowed Lt.Moore and other pilots the ability to get a “first hand look” of what their targets looked like on their approach making it easier to spot and call out targets designations from the air and allow USS Enterprise Air Group pilots the ability to accurately and efficiently locate and destroy designated targets.