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

During World War One, the role of standard pressureplanes and how theywere used changed greatly. At world-class planes were only usedfor sport, scarce people started realize that non only couldairplanes be useful but they could even influence an outcomeof the war greatly. Soon the war was filled with blimps,planes, and tethered balloons. By the end of the war, planesbecame a symbol of fear, but they were not always treatedwith such respect. In the time leading 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 decided that airplanescould only be used for reconnaissance or spying missions.(Villard-227) The airplane whitethorn be all very well for sport,but for the army it is useless (Quoted in Villard -227) Evenby the beginning of the war in 1912, the use of planes in warwas still prohibited by the War Office. Shortly thereafter 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 reliable motor. (Villard-228) Soon all countries in thewar effort had their own little air force, built hangers, andstarted to train pilots. The first bombing 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 ofpistol fire between British and German pl anes . (Harvey-95)The first flying experience for the unify 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 nervous strain ideas about the use of planes inwarfare. The most famous writer to explore the idea wasH.G. Wells. He wrote The War In The Air, a book aboutthe prox in which battle is conducted with planes.(Wohl-70). In Germany, literary fiction preceded the actualdevelopment of warfare in the air.