War In The Air Flashcards
(26 cards)
How did Aerial reconnaissance , observation and communication alter the way battles were fought
. Balloons on the western front were useful for observation and artillery spotting
. Observers could ascend as high as 4000ft and see for 15 miles
. Balloon observers took photographs , checked maps, identified targets and identified artillery
. Observation balloons were defended by AA guns and were not easy to shoot down as balloons could pass through without igniting the gas inside
Arrival of the RFC in France
. In August 1914 4 RFC squadrons were sent to France , they would support the army by scouting and artillery spotting
. The RNAS could attack the enemy as well as carry out reconnaissance
. None of the aircraft had weapons , only the airships had guns
Scout planes , observation and identification issues
. The first military aircraft were called Scouts , indication of their anticipated use
. Reconnaissance was important for intelligence gathering and for tactical observation. Aerial observation was often difficult since pilots could not identify accurately soldiers and trenches
. Soldiers on the ground tended to shoot at any aeroplane , ground crews painted roundels to distinguish British and french aircraft from Germans
Communication and radio
. Communication was art first primitive - using hand signals and messages dropped from the air
. Radio was a new technology in 1914 and the first airborne radio transmitter was so bulky that it filled the second cockpit on a 2 seater plane
. This meant the pilot had to fly , navigate , observe and transmit unaided
. In 1915 the sterling lightweight set came into use , wireless signalling was usually the job of the observer , who acted as the gunner
. Engine noise was so loud that radio signals could only be transmitted - fliers could not receive messages
Artillery spotting
. A key role for aircraft was artillery spotting , pilots could locate targets that the gunner could not see
. They could also identify enemy gun positions and pilots dropped messages or maps in containers for collection on the ground
. Using the zone call system from 1915 , pilots sent target information by radio in morse code to RFC signallers on the ground , the system relied on maps with numbered zones as each battery had a designed fire zone
Mapping the battlefield through air photography
. Air photography supplied intelligence for the Somme offensive of 1916 , and later battles
. The RFC took more than 19,000 aerial photographs and produced 430,000 prints over the Somme battlefield
. By 1918 planes were taking air photos from 15,000 ft which was too high for most AA guns and fighters
. From that height a photographic plate could cover about 6 miles of ground
Use of camouflage with Air photography
. Air reconnaissance compelled ground forces to disguise what they were Doing
. In 1916 the British set up a camouflage section , soldiers already wore khaki but now more active measures were being used to disguise their activities from aerial surveillance
. Most tricks were to fool snipers on the battlefield but fakery was also used to deceive aircraft
. Camouflage schemes included painting buildings , concealing aircraft on airfields and covering artillery guns in netting
Armed Reconnaissance and air superiority
. Air reconnaissance became vital for intelligence gathering , photographic observation , artillery spotting , communication and close support with guns and bombs were important ways in which aircraft and air crews contributed to battles on the ground
. The struggle for air superiority led to the rapid development of fighter aircraft and air tactics , at the start of the war no aircraft had guns
. By 1915 aircraft had largely taken the role of reconnaissance away from cavalry
. Reconnaissance aircraft were susceptible to fighter attack and so the answer was to provide fighter escort , the fighter could also take an offensive role to contest air space above the trenches and deny the enemy air intelligence by shooting down reconnaissance planes
The development of the RFC as a fighting force
. The RFC had 5 squadrons at the outbreak of war in August 1914
. The British expeditionary force took 4 to France , a total of 63 planes and 900 men
. The RNAS was to look after home defence but the potential threat of zeppelin airships meant that the RNAS was given responsibility for coastal patrols , scouting for the navy and attacking German airship bases
The RFC in western front action
. The RFC’s initial task was reconnaissance but it soon adopted a wider range of activities as commanders appreciated the role aircraft could play in trying to unlock the stalemate
. Hugh trenchard commanded the RFC on the western front for much of the war , his policies for the aviation core was : attack whenever possible , co-operate with the army through reconnaissance and low - level bumbling , to maintain British morale and weaken the German morale
. Air power had a significant impact on ground troops , seeing friendly planes cheered soldiers in the trenches but enemy planes was disheartening and frightening
Haig and Trenchard new strategy
. Army commander Haig supported Trenchard despite not knowing much about aviation technology
. He saw the value of aircraft in sustaining his continuous offensive strategy that he believed could win the war
. Haig saw AirPower as a battlefield partner for artillery , to make the breakthrough air support was vital
. Both Haig and Trenchard were criticised for a policy that was wasteful of lives and materials
. In the spring of 1917 the RFC lost 700 planes and 473 pilots killed but by 1918 air superiority had been achieved
Growth of the RFC from 1914-18
. At the start of the war Britain fewer aircraft (113) than France (160) or Germany (246)
. By 1915 12 RFC squadrons in France had 160 aircraft , by 1916 their were 27 squadrons and 600 aircraft
. On April 1st 1918 the RFC and RNAS merged into the RAF
Developments in technology for air combat : adapting aircraft for gunnery
. Most 1915 aircraft were biplanes with a propeller in front of the cockpit
. To avoid hitting the propeller machine guns were first mounted to the upper wings , aimed by the pilot
. The pusher design of the aircraft had the propeller at the back , giving the pilot and observer a clear front and side view with no risk of bullets hitting the propeller
. The production of the interrupter gear meant that a pilot could shoot through the arc of his propeller without risk of hitting the wooden propeller
Air - fighting techniques and Aces
. Technology was matched by new air-fighting techniques and aerobatic manoeuvres , such as attacking from out the sun or from below
. Improved air gunnery and tactics made lone flying risky for all , the RFC adopted formation flying usually in flights of 3
. The ‘ Red Barron ‘ was Germany’s most celebrated Ace
. Britain’s most celebrate ace was Major Mick Mannock
Technology forces adaptation
. Airforces had to update aircraft and tactics to counter improved AA defences
. Field artillery were adapted as AA guns but were ineffective
. Airbursting shells known as ‘ Flak ‘ were an effective deterrent
. Low level aircraft were at risk to rifle and machine gun fire and required metal to protect the fuel tank and pilot
. To avoid AA fire bombers attacked at night , to counter night raids searchlights were used from 1916 onwards
The importance of air power in achieving Victory in 1918
. In February 1917 Haig warned the British government that with British aircraft inferior in numbers and performance he might not be able to to achieve air superior and the enemy would have the advantage
. Haigs aggressive strategy meant that RFC had high casualties of 30%
. In July 1917 prime minister Lloyd George told parliament that the army needs priority over home defence
. Production of aircraft rose and by 1918 the allies were out producing the Germans 5:1
. By November 1918 Britain had 3,300 aircraft in France
How was air power being used
. Supporting the army remained the main role of the RFC and its ground attacks became increasingly effective
. In 1917 at the battle of Passchendaele more than 300 British aircraft attacked German ground troops
. Commanders hoped that air attacks would ‘ isolate ‘ key sectors of the battlefield , by destroying roads , railways and bridges to stop the enemy receiving reinforcements
. In August 1918 the British lost 243 aircraft in 4 days trying to knock out bridges
Casualties
. The casualty rate among aircrew ( 1 in 4 killed ) was about the same for infantry soldiers
. RFC soldiers were taught to attack but often faced a disadvantage as German planes were faster and flew higher
. Total casualties for Britain was 16,623
Strategic bombing
. Air bombing was new , the proponents of strategic bombing of factories and transport links hoped this would degrade the enemy’s fighting and morale
. Attacks on Britain from German zeppelins led to demands that Britain retaliate
The morale effect
. Trenchard felt that the impact of German air raids on Britain was more psychological than physical
. From June 6th 1918 to 11th November Britain launched 242 raids on Germany , although the raids did little damage they disrupted production
. Civil morale was not seriously damaged however
The RFC becoming the RAF
. On 1st April 1918 the RAF came into existence , Trenchard opposed the RAF believing that the prime role of air power was to support the army and navy
. By November 1918 the RAF had nearly 30,000 personnel and 22,647 aircraft
. At the end of the war however it was rapidly reduced in size
Impact of zeppelin raids
. Zeppelin raids had an impact on the British public disproportionate to their numbers and the damage caused
. The psychological effect was considerable and anxiety was increased by newspaper reports
. British citizens were unused to attacks on home soil
. Press reports tended to minimise damage and claim bombs fell on only fields and canals
. They condemned the raids as further evidence of German Barbarity
The need for home defence
. From December 1915 the RFC took over home defence from the RNAS and 11 squadrons were deployed against the German raiders
. Zeppelins were very large targets and often easy to shoot down
. The authorities had doubts about air raid sirens as they believed that they might cause people to die of heart failure or fright or even go mad
. The bombings caused outrage in the press and this resulted in authorities realising that civil defence measures were necessary
. Measures included restrictions on lighting in shops and trams , semi black out during raids , gas and electricity being shut off during raids
Gotha raids
. This was a more serious offensive from Germany using their new Gotha bomber planes in 1917
. The first mass raid occurred on 13th June 1917 and the worse raid killed 162 people
. Gotha were smaller than zeppelins and harder to shoot down
