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Aircraft played a major role in the first world war. At first they were unarmed observation aircraft, getting information on enemy troop movements and being the "eyes and ears" for the artillery.

In later years they carried either one or two forward firing machine guns(on a single seater aircraft) and if you shot down 5 aircraft, you were considered an Ace. Both sides started using fighter squadrons to shoot down enemy aircraft/ enemy observation balloons and assist in ground operations.

Both sides also started using twin engine bombers to hit key enemy positions , usually with devasting effects. Bombs were first dropped out of the observers cockpit since there were no bombsite and no bomb-racks on the bottom side of the fuselage,these came in later years.

The only thing about flying these aircraft is that they where made of wood, you chocked on engine fumes and were exposed to the elements because you were in a open cockpit, also if you were shot down, there was no way to bail or jump out since the parachute was frowned upon and it was also in the experimential stages in some countries.

The aces were looked upon as national heroes such as Eddie Rickenbacker, Raoul Lufbery, Manfred Von Richtofen, Max Immelman, Albert Ball, Mick Mannock, Billy Bishop, Billy Barker and many more.

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13y ago

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