History Of Warfare: War In The Air 1914-15

Part of the Cassell 'History Of Warfare' series, a multi-volume history of war and warfare from ancient to modern times.

The aeroplane, of which a practical version first flew in December 1903, was visualised by its inventors, the Wright Brothers, as a means of enlarging peaceful communication between peoples. Its military uses were quickly grasped by others and it served as scout, fighter and eventually bomber during the First World War. By the outbreak of the Second, all advanced states has organised large military air forces, chiefly dedicated to bombardment, which exponents of air power believed would win wars independently of action by sea or land. The operations of the air forces in the First World War, between the wars and during the Second World War form the subject of this volume.