In the skies over the Western Front, great air battles were fought featuring a rapid succession of new combat aircraft. The concept of such struggles was still new, and lessons were constantly being learned as pilots devised the best tactics. The race was also on for aircraft designers, with new, improved machines being quickly pressed into service. Within a year, or even a few months, a once fearsome weapon of war might be completely outclassed. The Sopwith Camel entered the fray in the summer of 1917 and was a leader in its field. For several months it was the most agile and potentially deadly of opponents. Although it was difficult for novice pilots to master, in the hands of the experts its extraordinary manoeuvrability could be put to good use, and the devastating power of its synchronised Vickers machine guns exploited.
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