The Aerial War
- Term Type
Additional Terms
- Preferred Term
The Aerial War
- Details
The Great War was the first major conflict to take advantage of airplanes, a technology barely ten years old. Initially, planes were used for reconnaissance, but their potential for warfare was soon realized. Planes were later outfitted with machine guns, mounted on the top of aircraft, in front of and within reach of the pilots. This configuration required that pilots fly directly at the enemy to take a shot. Also, propellers got in the way of bullets, so pilots were at risk of shooting off their own propeller. Dutch designer Anthony Fokker developed a gear that synchronized the blades and the bullets, creating the first true fighter plane of the war for the Germans and providing an early advantage in the skies for the Central Powers. Heavier, studier aircraft were manufactured for use as bombers.
Pilots of the Great War essentially learned the skill of aerial fighting on the job, inventing evasive maneuvers and testing their skills and nerves against the enemy. Air combat was extremely dangerous, not only because of fire from other planes, but also due to anti-aircraft missiles and the very real threat of the aircraft breaking apart while evading the enemy. Every country celebrated its successful fighter pilots, or "aces," such as German fighter Manfred von Richthofen—known as the Red Baron—who was credited with eighty confirmed kills, and the Frenchman Georges Guynemer.
- Variations
Great War
WWI
- Broader Term
