As we pause to remember those who lost their lives in both world wars, I take a look back on how aviation was used during World War One.
At the outbreak of the war in 1914 the Wright Brothers had made the first powered flight only a decade earlier. The start of the war saw aircraft used for reconnaissance. This was because the static nature of trench warfare meant aircraft were used to gather information behind enemy lines. As the trench systems developed, formal aerial photography was introduced in 1915. The first photographs were taken by hand but later, cameras were attached to the aircraft making them more effective. Aerial reconnaissance was dangerous as pilots had to fly straight and level making them an easy target for troops on the ground. Aircraft did not carry radios so messages were conveyed to the ground using message streamers. Pilots dropped messages in a weighted bag to troops on the ground to convey important messages.
Both sides tried to shoot down enemy planes to protect their own. At first, aircraft were unarmed but some pilots carried weapons including pistols and grenades. These had limited use and were dangerous to use. By 1915, forward-firing machine guns were fitted on planes, however, the real breakthrough came when they were synchronised to fire through moving propellor blades. As the war progressed aerial warfare developed from lone fights to larger formations of aircraft. Patrol leaders would try to spring a surprise attack which caused the formation would break into individual dogfights.
During the training, being a pilot was seen as a glamorous role. The role attracted young, energetic recruits. As aircraft became more sophisticated, pilots were seen as on the cutting edge of technology. However, due to the high demand for pilots basic training was minimal. Some men only had a few hours of training before being sent on active missions with some pilots only having 3 and a half hours of flying time. This short training led to heavy losses as inexperience in the air often proved fatal. Getting lost was common since cockpits were open and instruments were basic.
As the war progressed aircraft were used to support ground troops. Attacks were aimed at disrupting enemy forces on the ground often during battle. Tactical bombing became important in the war. The bombing of key military and strategic objectives on the home front was common. Aircraft became larger as the need to carry more bombs increased. Dedicated bomber aircraft carried large quantities of bombs, had a long-range and were very reliable as targets were often behind enemy lines.
Aircraft production increased during the war years. At the start of the war, France had less than 140 aircraft but by the end of the war, France had 4,500 aircraft. France produced 68,000 aircraft during the war with 52,000 lost in battle (a loss rate of 77%). This increase showed the importance of planes during the war.
Overall, as we remember the 9 million lives lost in the fighting, deaths in the Air Force were small in comparison (around 50,000) but still significant. However many of these people died fighting for their country. The advancements in aviation during this time are still significant today. We must not forget these warriors of the sky.
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