American Approach to Aerial Reconnaissance and Observation During World War I

摘要

This premise of this report is that 'observation' was the motivation for the first employment of balloons and aircraft, and that in World War I, Allied assistance and equipment were absolutely crucial to the development and employment of the U.S. Army Air Service. This work will look at two main areas. First, the types of observation vehicles employed in World War I and secondly, the tremendous role the European Allies played in providing equipment, training, instruction, and combat experience to American aerial forces, both at home and abroad. 'The purposes of observation were to control friendly artillery fire and, through photographic and intelligence missions, to observe and report on friendly troop locations and movement, enemy ground and air activity, the terrain, and related matters. Most observation, especially where distance was a factor, was handled by two-seater aircraft, equipped with radio and visual signal equipment, armed with fixed guns in front and movable guns in the rear cockpit, and carrying, when necessary, photographic equipment; the remaining observation was carried out by observers in captive balloons. Now that the use of cavalry was not longer feasible, air observation was the eyes of the army''.