The historical downplaying of Aircraft in WWI

[The Hangman]

Historical accounts of WWI usually discounts the contribution of aircraft in affecting the battles and the war in general, since air power was still in its infancy.

But isn't it true observation and reconnaissance aircraft made a significant difference in discovering the opponent's troop movements and dispositions, as well as accurately directing artillery fire? I find it difficult to imagine these new innovations were insignificant in the overall scheme of things. That observation balloons were considered sufficiently a critical target to send fighter aircraft to brave heavy fire to take them out. Maybe in the grand scheme of things they didn't make a strategic difference. But to the poor troops on the receiving end of their observed and correct fire, I bet they felt otherwise.

Even bombing, as primitive conducted with relatively tiny bomb loads dropped by Zeppelins and Gothas, caused great alarm to the British isles, similar to Doolittle's raid in WW2, resulting in combat squadrons and resources taken from the front lines to protect the UK.

So was air power in WWI truly measured as inconsequential in its effect in WWI?

[CjBobrow]

Originally Posted by The Hangman

Historical accounts of WWI usually discounts the contribution of aircraft in affecting the battles and the war in general, since air power was still in its infancy... So was air power in WWI truly measured as inconsequential in its effect in WWI?

Though this is a bit of self promotion you might want to look at a few books out there that speak about this topic... one that comes to mind can be found here on the Aerodrome...
https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/s...without+flyers

[Barrett]

Around 1990 I visited one of my fighter ace friends in DC, the late Col. Don Lopez of CBI P-40 and P-51 fame. He had a full-time position at the National Air & Space Museum and contributed to several displays. In showing me around, he noted the Great War & Memory exhibit which included a large text saying that many-most aviators were self promoting egotists. I asked Don about THAT and he grinned, "Well, some of us are, you know!"

[CjBobrow]

Originally Posted by Barrett

Around 1990 I visited one of my fighter ace friends in DC, the late Col. Don Lopez of CBI P-40 and P-51 fame. He had a full-time position at the National Air & Space Museum and contributed to several displays. In showing me around, he noted the Great War & Memory exhibit which included a large text saying that many-most aviators were self promoting egotists. I asked Don about THAT and he grinned, "Well, some of us are, you know!"

Don was a friend and his stories were a howl. It turned out we grew up in the same neighborhood in Brooklyn just separated by 20 years and many of the places he knew were still there when I was a kid. Same public school too and possibly even a few of the teachers!

[Phil1965]

I’m my mind Hangman , Great War air operations were not inconsequential. The big problem was that defensive strategy was well in advance of offensive strategy in WWI . Entrenched troops with the support of heavy machine guns and artillery tended to win the day or prevent any progress without enormous losses. The development of air superiority , mechanised forces and infantry tactics to exploit the advantages gained changed warfare and are still relevant today.