How could wartime picture books publish such images without breaching security?
Short answerHeavy censorship and propaganda framing determined what could be shown, even when the images now look surprisingly revealing.
NotesImages of events such as Ark Royal's sinking and Pacific war planning passed through a heavily censored publication system. The volumes functioned as propaganda manuals rather than unrestricted operational records. Their surprising photographic range therefore reflects material that censors approved for public circulation. They need to be read for both what they show and the wartime information policy that shaped their presentation.