WW1 - War in the Air

Question 1

Reconnaissance, Observation, Communication

Answer 1

• Gaining intelligence by surveying enemy territory.
• Traditionally done by scouts (horse back) + spies.
• Reconnaissance – surveying territory.
• Observation – accurate recording of what was surveyed.
• Communication – relaying that accurate information as quickly as possible.

Question 2

Airships + Balloons

Answer 2

• Balloons on Western Front used for observation + artillery spotting, tethered by long cable to ground. 4k ft high, see 15miles.
• Took photos, checked maps, identified targets, used telephone.
• Incendiary bullets developed to make balloons catch fire.
• British enjoyed a balloon superiority of 15:1.

Question 3

Reconnaissance by Plane

Answer 3

• Pilots could not accurately identify soldiers and trenches, all looked the same. German pilot reported British troops running around in panic, they were playing football.
• Soldiers on the ground shot at any planes, 2 RFC aircraft shot down by British troops.
• Painted Union jacks on bottom of British aircraft.

Question 4

Communication + Radio

Answer 4

• Primitive, used hand signals or dropped messages from the air.
• 1914, radios. Used morse code.
• First radio transmitter filled 2nd cockpit. Pilot had to fly, navigate, observe and transmit, all unaided.
• 1915, Sterling Lightweight set. Engine noise lough + fliers couldn’t receive messages. Still incredibly effective.

Question 5

Artillery Spotting

Answer 5

• Pilots spotted targets for gunners and could correct aim of fallen shells.
• Radio was integral to this.
• Zone Call system. Pilots sent info in morse code to artillery batteries.

Question 6

Air Photography

Answer 6

• Initially easier from balloons - still.
• Cameras on BE2 aircraft on outside rear of cockpit –> L/B model pointed camera through hole in floor.
• 1915, British army had detailed 1:10,000 scale maps from air reconnaissance.
• 1916, RFC took +19k aerial photographs, producing 430k prints over Somme battlefield.
• 1918, planes were taking photos from 15,000 feet, out of reach of anti-aircraft fire.

Question 7

Armed Recon + Air Superiority

Answer 7

• Struggle for air superiority led to the rapid development of fighter aircraft and air-battle tactics. Recon vital.
• Slow flying planes vulnerable to fighter attack so had fighter escorts.

Question 8

RNAS Go to War

Answer 8

• Admiral “Jacky” Fisher saw potential threat to fleet from Zeppelin airships.
• RNAS bombed Zeppelin bases, Dusseldorf, 09/1914. Churchill supported aggressive strategy.

Question 9

Hugh Trenchard

Answer 9

• Hugh Trenchard commanded RFC on Western Front.
• Attack whenever possible.
• Co-operate with army, reconnaissance and low-level bombing.
• Maintain British morale and weaken German morale.

Question 10

RFC in Western Front

Answer 10

• Initially, recon to support ground offensives.
• Tried to unlock stalemate of trench warfare.
• 03/1915, battle of Neuve Chappelle, photos taken showed an undiscovered German trench causing a change in plan of attack.
• Dropped home-made petrol bombs –> wing rack carrying bombs,
• Seeing “friendly” planes overhead cheered soldiers.
• Seeing the enemies was frightening.

Question 11

Haig and Trenchard: a new strategy

Answer 11

• Haig supported Trenchard, he saw value of aircraft in sustaining his continuous offensive as means a to end the trench deadlock.
• Air supremacy was vital, achieved in 1918..
• British focussed on numbers, Germans focussed on quality of pilots.
• Both Haig and Trenchard have been criticised for being wasteful with material and lives. Spring 1917, RFC lost +700 planes and 473 pilots.

Question 12

Growth of RFC

Answer 12

• 1914, British = 113 aircraft.
• 04/1918, RFC + RNAS = RAF.
• RAF = 300k personnel and +22k aircraft.

Question 13

Early Air Combat

Answer 13

No air-to-air weapons other than pistols or rifles.
Lewis guns mounted on plane, but too heavy. Removed cooling system.
Lewis + Vickers gun.

Question 14

Adapting Aircraft for Gunnery

Answer 14

• Hitting propeller was a serious risk = crash.
• Machine guns mounted on upper wing.
• Vickers FB5 Gunbus, a successful British pusher (propeller at back), Lewis gun fired 500 bullets per minute on a swivel mount.
• Extra weight = slower speeds.
• French pilot Roland Garros tried fitting metal plates to propeller blades to deflect bullets.
• 04/1915, Dutch engineer A. Fokker made first interrupter gear. Pilots could shoot without hitting propeller blades.

Question 15

Developed Tactics

Answer 15

• Attacking from out of the sun or from below.
• Improved air gunnery and tactics made lone flying risky.
• RFC novice pilots told to stay close to flight leaders.
• British adopted formation flying, using hand signals for communication.