Aviation+and+World+War+One

= __ Overview  __ = =  Aviation grew rapidly in the midst of the First World War. There were three standard uses of aircraft; tethered balloons, blimps, and airplanes. They filled the air observing enemy troops, locating submarines, and artillery spotting. = = __ Tethered Balloons  __ = =  During the Great War these balloons were imperative; providing a good use of communication for troops, a great tactic. Tethered balloons helped achieve information from locating the positions of enemy bases. They were guarded by military men in case of airplane attacks however; the cable securing the balloon usually damaged the plane rather than the plane damaging the balloon itself. = =    = =  __ Blimps __   = =      = =   Blimps were mainly uses in the beginning of the First World War. They served as a weapon for the military and hauled cargo; such as guns, bombs, and grenades. The most famous was the Zeppelin invented by Ferdinand von Zeppelin home to Germany. This aircraft was used for air raids at night in cities such as Britain and France. Blimps did not last long in the war due to other aircraft advancements such as the airplane. Another reason they did not last long was their highly flammable contents hydrogen gas caused them to be highly destructive when shot down. = =    = = __  Airplanes  __ = =      = =   The most common in prospect of use; were airplanes they evolved greatly growing in productivity and advanced in technology. The first to make airplanes useful to the military were the Italians also the first to use airplanes as a weapon dropping bombs and grenades. Bringing forth airplanes, it benefited armies in seeing more of what the tethered balloons couldn’t also observing and transporting people. Before the airplane was brought in sight of the military it was a sport to fly planes. For this, evolution of airplanes as well as the role of aviators greatly stirred up the war leading an impact on the end of the war as well as how airplanes are used today. = =  - Fighter and Bomber Plane   = =  The roles of aviators were to observe the ground while in flight, later this role turned into a much greater role a task. Aviators could fly an option between fighter planes which were primarily used for air to air combat most ended up in stalemates. The creation of the fighter plane was simple, Vickers Company wanted to experiment with the airplane by attaching a machine gun. In 1912 the first fighter plane on record was called “ Experimental Fighting Biplane 1" - nicknamed "Destroyer".   = =   Another option was to fly the b omber plane; primarily used for ground attacks known as air raids and they targeted enemy grounds that held factories, power stations and dockyards. This form of strategy was to cut off the enemy from advancing in the war.   =
 * - Aviators **

** Rene Fonck **from France he fought as an allied ace fighter, becoming the second top ace of all nations that took part in the First World War. **Manfred Von Richthofen** from Germany he is known as the number one top ace of all nations that took part in the First World War. He was an observer at first but when the fighter plane came into the war he quickly began flying fighter planes. ** Eddie Rickenbacker **from the United States he became apart of the top ace list, fighting for America as an American ace fighter.

**- Citations**

HYPERLINK "http://www.firstworldwar.com/airwar/index.htm" http://www.firstworldwar.com/airwar/index.htm

HYPERLINK "http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/zeppelin.htm" http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/zeppelin.htm

HYPERLINK "http://www.theaerodrome.com/aircraft/index.php" http://www.theaerodrome.com/aircraft/index.php

HYPERLINK "http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/weapons.htm" http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW1/weapons.htm

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