Figure 1.--

Military commanders were not sure how to use the new fixed-wing aircraft which were still in an early stage of development. The War began only a decaded after the Wright Brothers flight at Kitty Hawk (1903). The first planes available when the War broke out were fragile flying machines at a very early stage of development. The primary use of the airplane at first and through much of the War was aerial reconisance. The first planes were not even armed. Pilots had to take pistols and shotguns up ith them. Pilots and engineers rapidly learned from early experiences, leading to the major advances. As the war progressed more robust planes were developed with more powerful engines. And aircraft designers began to developed specialized plane types. Fighters, ground attack, and bombers were developed for tactical and strategic purposes. Fighters began to be used both to protect reconisance planes for ground support, although with out radios this was not as effective as in World War II. Large scale dog-fights swirled above the trenches over northern France. Fighter aces who racked up kills became know as aces. The press portrayed as modern knights, and many became popular heroes. Bombers began bombing, but it soon proved apparent that that they did not have the pability to hit specific trgets. The Germans who began bombing with both Zephlins and bombers soon found the best they could do was to drop bombs on cities. The Allies were preparing to retaliate with the massive bombing of Germany, but the Germans asked fo an armidtice before this ws laubched. Advances by one side or the other with new plane types and armaments caused the air balance to swing back and fourth during the War. As crashed planes were availble to both sides, advancs by obe side were quickly availble to the other side. The major factor became the greater industrial power of Britain and France and their ability to out produce the Germans.

Reconisance

The primary use of the airplane at first and through much of the War was aerial reconisance. The first planes were not even armed. Pilots had to take pistols and shotguns up ith them. Pilots and engineers rapidly learned from early experiences, leading to the major advances.

Fighters

As the war progressed more robust planes were developed with more powerful engines. And aircraft designers began to developed specialized plane types. Fighters wee developed to both shoot down and protect the reconisance airctaft. Large scale dog-fights swirled above the trenches over northern France. Fighter aces who racked up kills became know as aces. The press portrayed as modern knights, and many became popular heroes.

Ground Attack

Fighters began to be used both to protect reconisance planes for ground support, although with out radios this was not as effective as in World War II.

Bombers

Larger aircraft were developed to deliver heavy loads on targets. Interestingly it was the Russians who developed the first bomber. The Russians were alrready producing the Ilya Muromets bombers when the War broke out. Two of the initial production run of the had bee completed. The Ilya Muromets became operational with the Imperial Russian Air Service (August 1914). The Russians soon had a 10-bomber squadron (December 10). The Russians eventually had a 20-bomber force (Summer 1916). The first actual raid on German positions (February 1915). The Germans were unsure how to engage the Russian bombers. They were large and had sustantial arament. A snall fighter coukd also be caughtin the propeller. The first Ilya Muromet was shot down by a patrol of four Albtroses, three of which were shot down (September 1916). The idea of the bomber was a wepon that could accurately hit important targets. It soon proved apparent, however, that that they did not have the cpability delkivering their payload with any accuracy. This was in part because they had to bomb from high alditudes to avoid ground fire and eneny fighter. The higher the bombing alditude, however, the less the acuracy. The Germans who began bombing with both Zephlins deployed the Gotha bomber, the best known bomber of the WAr. The Germans sent the Zeppelins and Gothas on bombing raids tohirtover the hit specified targets in England. This proved impossible. and bombers soon found the best they could do was to drop bombs on cities. The Allies were preparing to retaliate with the massive bombing of Germany, but the Germans asked fo an armidtice before this ws laubched. Advances by one side or the other with new plane types and armaments caused the air balance to swing back and fourth during the War. As crashed planes were availble to both sides, advancs by obe side were quickly availble to the other side. The major factor became the greater industrial power of Britain and France and their ability to out produce the Germans.

Created: 12:22 AM 7/28/2015
Last updated: 12:23 AM 7/28/2015