Tessa Munt, MP for Wells and the Mendip Hills, has lent her support to a campaign dedicated to commemorating the courageous pilots and navigators of the Photographic Reconnaissance Units (PRU) who served throughout the Second World War.
Formed on 24th September 1939, the PRU undertook perilous and secretive photographic reconnaissance missions across multiple theatres of war. Over the course of WWII, these units captured more than 26 million images of enemy operations and installations.
Flying high-speed, unarmed Spitfires and Mosquitos, PRU crews gathered critical intelligence that enabled the Allied forces to plan and execute strategic operations. This intelligence—often delivered the same day it was collected—was utilized by all branches of the armed forces and played a pivotal role in major events such as D-Day, the Dambusters Raid, the pursuit of the battleships Bismarck and Tirpitz, and the identification of V1 and V2 rocket sites at Peenemünde.
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Due to the covert nature of their missions, PRU airmen flew solo, unprotected flights, resulting in an alarmingly high death rate—nearly fifty percent—with an average life expectancy of only two and a half months. Despite this immense sacrifice, there is currently no national memorial honouring the PRU.
The Spitfire AA810 Project has spearheaded a campaign to establish a permanent memorial in central London to honour these unsung heroes.
In a recent House of Commons debate ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Veterans Minister Alok Sharma confirmed that plans to recognise the PRU’s contributions have progressed to the planning stage. The campaign has garnered significant political support from over 200 MPs across eight parties.
One notable PRU veteran is Captain Wilfred Bruce Tilley DFC, a native of Axbridge, Somerset. Born in 1913 into a farming family, Bruce left England for South Africa, working in gold mining before joining the Rhodesian, South African, and then Royal Air Forces. Assigned to 680 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, he flew missions across Europe and the Middle East, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.
After the war, Bruce married and settled with his family in Rhodesia before eventually returning to the UK. He passed away in 2002 and was laid to rest at St Mary’s Church in Berrow.
Local MP Tessa Munt expressed her enthusiasm for the memorial campaign: “I am proud to support this important initiative to honour those who served in the PRU, including Wilfred Bruce Tilley, who operated under extremely challenging conditions. I look forward to collaborating with the Spitfire AA810 Project and paying my respects at the completed memorial.”
The proposed memorial will be located outside the Treasury, near the entrance to the Churchill War Rooms—the very site where the intelligence gathered by the PRU helped shape wartime decisions. The location has received preliminary approvals from the Royal Parks and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with next steps including ground surveys and design planning.
Tony Hoskins, Director of the Spitfire AA810 Project, welcomed the announcement: “Uncovering the stories of these young men and women who risked everything to fly unarmed reconnaissance missions has been humbling. On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, it is fitting that the Government has recognised their vital contribution. The RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Units played a crucial role in every Allied campaign, and commemorating their sacrifice in the heart of London is a deeply deserved tribute.”
Anyone with memories of Wilfred Bruce Tilley or others who served in the PRU is encouraged to contact the Spitfire AA810 Project via their website or email Tony Hoskins directly at [email protected].