of Colinade Avenue, The Hyde, Hendon, London, NW9. Telephone: Colindale 6157. Cables: "Aerofilms, Hendon, London"
1919 Aerofilms was founded by Francis Lewis Wills (1893-1980) on demobilisation from the RNAS; inspired by his war experience as an aerial photographer, he set up Aerofilms Ltd with Claude Grahame-White and Herbert William Matthews – the first commercial company for taking aerial photographs in the world.[1]
1929 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Producers of Aerial Photographs of Factories, Docks, Estates, Power Plants, etc. Air Surveys for Industrial and Municipal Authorities, Publishers of Air View Postcards, Commercial Photographers to all Trades. (Stand No. PP.14) [2]
By 1933 was a subsidiary of Airwork Ltd (see advert)
1937 Aerial photographers. [3]
1939 See Aircraft Industry Suppliers
By 1939 was a subsidiary of Aircraft Operating Co
WWII The staff were put to work in various functions supporting the war effort including the Ministry of Aircraft Production and the Central Interpretation Unit at Medmenham
Post WWII: the company restarted as an air survey organisation under the Hunting Group, F L Wills having encouraged the previous staff to rejoin.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [2] Contact A Creative