A collection of aerial photographs taken during the Second World War have been published online and include photos of a US Army camp in Wiltshire and of Stonehenge.

A low-level photo showing part of a US Army camp in Wiltshire shows firing ranges in the foreground while troops play baseball in a recreation field and a photo taken on Christmas Eve in 1943 at Stonehenge shows the markings which highlight the location of a First World War aerodrome and camp.

Salisbury Journal: Over Salisbury WestOver Salisbury West (Image: English Heritage)

The black and white images were taken by the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) Photographic Reconnaissance units stationed at bases across England in 1943 and 1944 after the US joined the war in December 1941.

Salisbury Journal: Scene over ManchesterScene over Manchester (Image: English Heritage)

Chief executive of Historic England, Duncan Wilson said: “Our USAAF Collection records changes taking place in England as a result of the Second World War, as well as capturing fascinating incidental detail, like American troops playing baseball.

“Our collection of USAAF wartime photographs was taken in England by the pilots and aircraft of squadrons that provided intelligence for the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. This came at a cost, with many pilots killed in the line of duty.”

3,600 photos offer a birds-eye view of the country as it changed due to bomb damage to towns and cities during the Second World War.

He added: “We are making these images available to the public for the first time online, giving people access to this remarkable collection of historic photographs. They help to highlight the vital role aerial reconnaissance played in the Second World War.”

The collection captures a variety of locations and an “astonishing level of detail” and can be accessed in an online searchable map on the Historic England Archive.