RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Units

That this House supports calls for a national memorial to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the Royal Air Force’s Photographic Reconnaissance Units (PRU); notes that the PRU, formed on 24 September 1939, undertook highly dangerous, unarmed intelligence missions across all theatres of the Second World War, capturing more than 26 million aerial images that proved vital to operations including D-Day, the Dambusters Raid and the identification of V1 and V2 launch sites; recognises the contribution of the 1,746 PRU pilots and navigators and 635 photographic interpreters, a third of whom were women, whose skill and dedication often went unrecognised due to the secret nature of their work; acknowledges the truly international effort of the 24 nations represented in the PRU, from across the Commonwealth and occupied Europe; pays tribute to local heroes such as Charles Rochford Lousada of Stratford-upon-Avon and Philip Miles of Tanworth-in-Arden, who served with great distinction and courage; and believes that establishing a dedicated national memorial would be a fitting way to honour all those whose work and sacrifice helped secure victory in Europe 80 years ago.