War in the Air Recon Flashcards
How did the British utilise airships?
They used airships for reconnaissance purposes unlike the Germans who used them for bombing. However, they preferred Kite Balloons.
How did Kite Balloons operate?
The observer would sit in a box and rise 4000ft where they could see for around 15 miles however, they were easy target for enemy aircraft, in turn pilots would have competitions to see how many they could hit. Men were allowed to use parachutes unlike normal pilots. By Late 1916 the Germans believed that the British had a balloon supremacy of 15:1.
What happened regarding Aerial photography and the First World War?
- The British army started to experimented with air photography in early 1912.
- It was easier to take pictures on balloons as they were stationary however, pictures taken by planes were more valuable as planes could take pictures behind enemy lines but it was more difficult especially since the planes had to make it back.
- Cameras were automatic and a button had to be pressed for a string of pictures to be taken, originally they were added as an attachment on the side and had to be pointed but later they were installed into the floor of the cockpit making it far easier for pilots and gave them more control.
- Early cameras used metal or glass plates but later ones included automatically loaded film which hows rapidly improving technology.
- German cameras were much better than the British.
- In 1916 alone the RFC took 16’000 photographs alone and over 430’000 prints of the Somme Battlefield showing their extensive use by the British.
- By 1918 photographs could be taken from 15’000 feet and interpreted by around 3’000 personnel.
- Aerial photographs were assembled once taken to create a mosaic of the battlefield including enemy positions and trenches.
How much had reconnaissance changed by 1916?
They had 300 aircraft and 550 wireless stations operating in Flanders showing it’s increasing importance in the conflict.
What was the Bristol F2?
It was used extensively by the RFC for reconnaissance, it was a two seater plan and over 5’000 were built throughout the war.
