The War to End All Wars
Airplanes
Invented in 1903 by the Wright Brothers, the plane fulfilled the human desire to soar in the air
Tactics
During World War I, aircraft provided a new and vital tool for reconnaissance, allowing commanders to gather real-time information about enemy positions, troop movements, and terrain. Aerial reconnaissance enabled more accurate mapping, target identification, and assessment of enemy strengths and weaknesses. This information helped shape battlefield strategies and facilitated more effective planning and decision-making
Dogfights
Dogfights in World War I are aerial combat engagements between fighter planes. These skirmishes were a significant part of air warfare during the First World War.
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The development of fighter aircraft led to the concept of air superiority. Dogfights between enemy aircraft emerged. However, pilots would just fire pistols at each other due to the lack of machine guns.
The term "dogfight" likely originated from the way in which two aircraft would circle each other like dogs chasing their tails during combat!​​
The Synchronized Gear
In 1915, Anthony Fokker developed the first synchronized gear, allowing a machine gun to fire continuously without concern of shredding up the propeller. This caused Dogfights to spring up over every battlefield between enemy aircraft to determine control of the skies. The victorious side gained dominance and freedom of movement. Establishing air superiority allowed friendly aircraft to conduct missions without interference, providing aerial protection and support to ground forces.