The First World War (WWI)

During World War One, the role of airplanes and how they

were used changed greatly. At first planes were only used

for sport, but people started realize that not only could

airplanes be useful but they could even influence an outcome

of the war greatly. Soon the war was filled with blimps,

planes, and tethered balloons. By the end of the war, planes

became a symbol of fear, but they were not always treated

with such respect. In the time leading up to the war, the

general feeling about planes was, they were a sneaky, unfair

tactic that should not be used in warfare. During The 1899

Hague Peace Conference it was put on record that the

dropping or shooting of any projectiles or explosives from

the air during a time of war was forbidden and was

considered a crime of war. It was also decided that airplanes

could only be used for reconnaissance or spying missions.

(Villard-227) “The airplane may be all very well for sport,

but for the army it is useless” (Quoted in Villard-227) Even

by the beginning of the war in 1912, the use of planes in war

was still prohibited by the War Office. Shortly thereafter this

changed, people awakened to the possibilities of air warfare.

The world soon started to realize the effectiveness of planes

in war and how the control of the skies could influence the

outcome. Although the French were the first to have a

working, conscripting air force and to license fliers, their trust

in airplanes still was not up to par. Their lack of trust was

justified, for the planes had no armaments, too many wires,

and no reliable motor. (Villard-228) Soon all countries in the

war effort had their own little air force, built hangers, and

started to train pilots. The first bombing occurred in

November 1911. Although the first bomb was dropped by

the Italians, soon all countries were involved in bombing

raids. (Villard-229) It was followed by the first aerial

dogfight in 1912. This consisted of a primitive exchange of

pistol fire between British and German planes . (Harvey-95)

The first flying experience for the United States occurred in

1862, during the Civil War. General McClellan went into

battle against the South with a balloon corps floated by

hydrogen and pulled by four horses. (Saga-51) Literary

fiction started to breed ideas about the use of planes in

warfare. The most famous writer to explore the idea was

H.G. Wells. He wrote The War In The Air, a book about

the future in which battle is conducted with planes.

(Wohl-70). In Germany, literary fiction preceded the actual

development of warfare in the air.