The First World War (WWI) :: World War 1 I One

During World War One, the role of airplanes and how theywere used changed greatly. At first base planes were only usedfor sport, but people started realize that not only couldairplanes be useful but they could even influence an outcomeof the war greatly. short the war was filled with blimps,planes, and tethered blow ups. By the end of the war, planesbecame a symbol of fear, but they were not always treatedwith such respect. In the time tip up to the war, thegeneral feeling about planes was, they were a sneaky, unfairtactic that should not be used in warfare. During The 1899Hague Peace Conference it was put on record that thedropping or shooting of any projectiles or explosives fromthe air during a time of war was forbidden and wasconsidered a crime of war. It was also determined that airplanescould 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 delusive (Quoted in Villard-227) Evenby the begin ning of the war in 1912, the use of planes in warwas still prohibited by the War Office. Shortly thenceforth thischanged, people awakened to the possibilities of air warfare.The world soon started to realize the effectiveness of planesin war and how the control of the skies could influence theoutcome. Although the French were the first to have aworking, conscripting air force and to license fliers, their trustin airplanes still was not up to par. Their lack of trust wasjustified, for the planes had no armaments, too many wires,and no tried motor. (Villard-228) Soon all countries in thewar effort had their own little air force, built hangers, andstarted to train pilots. The first failing occurred inNovember 1911. Although the first bomb was dropped bythe Italians, soon all countries were involved in bombingraids. (Villard-229) It was followed by the first aerialdogfight in 1912. This consisted of a primitive exchange of pistol fire between British and German planes . (Harvey-95)Th e first flying experience for the United States occurred in1862, during the Civil War. General McClellan went intobattle against the South with a balloon corps floated byhydrogen and pulled by four horses. (Saga-51) Literaryfiction started to breed ideas about the use of planes inwarfare. The most famous writer to research the idea wasH.G. Wells. He wrote The War In The Air, a book aboutthe future in which battle is conducted with planes.(Wohl-70). In Germany, literary fiction preceded the actual nurture of warfare in the air.