Since the first successful manned flight on November 20, 1783 achieved by the Montgolfier brothers, the idea of observing landscapes, geographic locations, and enemy movements has never been far from the minds of aviation pioneers. As Fulgence Marion describes in his text “Wonderful Ballon Ascents; or the Conquest of the Skies:” “Scarcely had the first ascents astonished the world, than the more adventurous spirits began to use the discovery;” as elaborated by Marion the first use was for the purposes of reconnaissance (Marion 66). There was good reason for this ambition; obvious tactical advantages are available to countries who employ aerial reconnaissance as a measure to direct their military forces. Naturally, as aviation technologies improved
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As is accounted in Terrence Finnegan’s novel Shooting the Front, “the first five months of war clearly demonstrated the acceptance of aerial observation as an integral part of modern warfare” (Finnegan 7) In regards to aerial reconnaissance technologies, the initial advantage fell upon the Germans. Prior the beginning of World War I, the German military had already shown interest in aerial photography for the purpose of surveying areas for military purposes (Granshaw 381). In fact, by the beginning of the War in 1914, Germany had already developed a “pistol grip aerial camera,” a “balloon camera,” and an “aerial camera incorporating tilt measurement” (381). The Allied Powers, however, were far more slow to adopt the usage of cameras as a supplement to the visual account of an on-board observers. In fact, early reconnaissance operations conducted during the war rarely make any effort to use photography (Katz 18). Despite initial friction, advocates for the use of photography, eventually convinced their governments of its merit leading to the development of allied counterparts to German camera technology such as the British Watson Camera in (381-382). As the important of aerial reconnaissance was fully realized during the war, countries found the employ of many aircraft specifically designed for the purpose of aerial
As is accounted in Terrence Finnegan’s novel Shooting the Front, “the first five months of war clearly demonstrated the acceptance of aerial observation as an integral part of modern warfare” (Finnegan 7) In regards to aerial reconnaissance technologies, the initial advantage fell upon the Germans. Prior the beginning of World War I, the German military had already shown interest in aerial photography for the purpose of surveying areas for military purposes (Granshaw 381). In fact, by the beginning of the War in 1914, Germany had already developed a “pistol grip aerial camera,” a “balloon camera,” and an “aerial camera incorporating tilt measurement” (381). The Allied Powers, however, were far more slow to adopt the usage of cameras as a supplement to the visual account of an on-board observers. In fact, early reconnaissance operations conducted during the war rarely make any effort to use photography (Katz 18). Despite initial friction, advocates for the use of photography, eventually convinced their governments of its merit leading to the development of allied counterparts to German camera technology such as the British Watson Camera in (381-382). As the important of aerial reconnaissance was fully realized during the war, countries found the employ of many aircraft specifically designed for the purpose of aerial