Overview Flashcards
When were observation balloons first used over the battlefield?
1794
What did armies use balloons for throughout the 19th century?
aerial reconnaissance
Who pioneered the aeroplane in 1903?
The Wright Brothers, offering new flexibility and mobility
When did the US army get its first Wright aeroplanes?
in 1909, and experimented with bomb-drops (using sandbags) in 1910.
What trial did the French do with planes in 1910?
They made a trial reconnaissance flight using a Farman aircraft (one of the first French aircraft manufacturers)
What did the Italians carry out in 1911 in relation to planes?
The first operational air reconnaissance in October 1911, and dropped the first live bombs, in November 1911, against the Turks.
When was the army’s Royal Flying Corps (RFC) founded?
April 1912
When was the army’s Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) founded?
July 1914
What idea did the army have about how to use aircraft’s at the beginning of WWI?
They had no clear idea, other than as ‘mobile balloons’, and no certainty as to whether airships or aeroplanes were the best bet.
What were aircraft’s like in 1914?
Slow (70 mph) and flimsy (made mainly of lightweight wood and fabric). They had unreliable engines, often crashed and were unable to fly in bad weather.
Where did most of the government spending on military spending go in a pre-war Britain?
The army and navy soaked up most government spending on military equipment - since the launch of the new-style HMS Dreadnought
At the start of WWI how many military aeroplanes did Britain have?
just over 100
How many military aeroplanes did the RAF have by 1918?
More than 22,000 for various roles
What roles did the RAF have by 1918?
reconnaissance, air photography artillery spotting, communication and supply, ground attack, tactical and strategic bombing and air-to air combat
How many people were employed in the Britain aircraft industry in 1918?
350,000 workers
When did city bombing from the air begin?
When the Germans bombed Paris on 30th August 1914
What did the RNAS attack on 22nd September 1914?
Attack German airship sheds at Düsseldorf
What aircraft’s were raids on cities often done by?
Zeppelin airships and then Gotha bombing planes
When did London suffer its first big raid?
1917
What were AA defences and when were they introduced?
Anti aircraft defences were introduced after the first big London raid in 1917
What were the specialised roles for aircraft’s?
- Reconnaissance
- Artillery spotters
- Fighters
- Ground support
- Tactical bombers
- Strategic bombers
What were the roles of Reconnaissance aircraft’s?
To locate the enemy and update intelligence
What were the roles of artillery spotter aircraft’s?
To direct the fire of guns at unseen targets
What were the roles of fighters?
to control the skies and prevent enemy reconnaissance
What were the roles of ground support planes?
For low level battlefield attacks
What were the roles of tactical bombers?
to isolate a battlefield by striking transport and reinforcements
What were the roles of strategic bombers?
to attack the enemy homeland
How and when was the RAF established?
By merging RFC and RNAS in 1918
