Development of Air Warfare in World War I: 1914–1918

Introduction and Overview

At the beginning of the First World War in 1914, aircraft technology was only a decade old. For this reason, the military did not regard aircraft as being of much use except for reconnaissance. However, this situation was to change, and as the military value of air warfare developed, so did the number of aircraft manufacturers. This led to significant advances in the technology of aircraft design. "For example, France had fewer than 140 aircraft when her war against Germany began; four years later that number had ballooned to approximately 4,500." (The War in the Air)

The first real use of aircraft for military purposes actually began before the First World War, when the Italians used German-built monoplanes to drop hand grenades on Turkish forces in the war against Turkey in 1911. (ibid) However, the Great War was to change the direction and importance of aircraft production forever. During the duration of the war, France alone produced more than 68,000 aircraft, of which 55,000 were lost in battle. (ibid)

This pattern of development was also seen in the production of aircraft in other countries involved in the war. For example:

"A typical British aircraft at the outbreak of the war was the general-purpose BE2c, with a top speed of 116 km/h (72 mph). Powered by a 90 hp engine, it could remain aloft for over three hours. By the end of the war, aircraft were designed for specific tasks. Built for speed and maneuverability, the SE5a fighter of 1917 was powered by a 200 hp engine and had a top speed of 222 km/h (138 mph)." (ibid)

The development and direction of aircraft design was largely determined by the necessities and requirements of the war. Firstly, the war necessitated that aircraft be designed to be as easy to fly as possible, since there was only a limited amount of time for pilot training. Some pilots began flying with as little as four hours of actual flying time. (ibid) This also necessitated that planes be designed to be as stable as possible. This requirement was to change as the momentum of air warfare accelerated and maneuverability became a more dominant priority.

The following quotation clearly relates the technological advancements to military needs and vision:

"The rapid pace of technological innovation was matched by a rapid change in the uses to which aircraft were put. If in 1914 there were few generals who viewed aircraft as anything more than a tool for observation and reconnaissance — and many of them had great reservations even about that use — by the end of the war both sides were integrating aircraft as a key part of their planned strategies." (ibid)

Aircraft therefore became an integral part of the battle strategy of both sides and not merely an adjunct to military operations. The types of aircraft used in the First World War went through various phases of development in line with their evolving roles. They were seen first as reconnaissance craft, then as strategic bombers, and were also used for ground attacks and naval battles. Later, as the influence and military importance of aircraft grew alongside advances in technology, there was an intensifying struggle to control the skies above the battleground, and a more maneuverable fighter aircraft was developed.

Reconnaissance

As General Foch stated at the beginning of the war, "Aviation is a good sport, but for the army it is useless." (ibid) This reflected the general view, consistent with the relatively early state of aircraft development at the time. Other participants in the war echoed this sentiment: "There was a great deal of experimentation and speculation in all the major belligerent countries, but no clear agreement on the use to which aircraft would be put." (Robbins 98)

However, the early success of military balloons during the American Civil War provided a model for the possible role of aircraft in reconnaissance missions. This role proved successful in the first year of the war, and generals on both sides began to realize the potential of aircraft as a means of gaining strategic and tactical advantage over the opponent. "General John French acknowledged that without the timely information provided by the RFC, Von Kluck's army would have succeeded in encircling his forces at Mons." (ibid)

There were numerous dangers associated with reconnaissance flying. These included anti-aircraft fire and artillery shells, as reconnaissance planes "typically flew at an altitude similar to the apex of the artillery shell's flight, and they flew along a line between the guns and their targets." (The War in the Air — Observation and Reconnaissance)

Conclusion

The development of the air conflict in the First World War was closely linked to technical advances in aircraft design. The necessities and the competition engendered by the conflict also motivated technological innovation. The First World War was neither won nor lost through air warfare. What the war did for military aircraft design and development was to open up entirely new possibilities for future warfare.