ABSTRACT
In terms of air power history, the First World War has been over-shadowed by the Second World War. But the war of 1914–18 is in fact the mother-lode for air power historians. Indeed, virtually every important manifestation of twentieth-century air power was envisioned and worked out in at least rudimentary form between 1914 and 1918. Those who want to understand the role of aircraft in subsequent conflicts do well to turn back to the experience of the Great War precisely because all the roots of modern practice are there to be explored. Both official and unofficial interpretations of the events of the First World War had a strong influence throughout the inter-war years. In this short essay I can draw attention only to some of the highlights. I shall try to explain, concisely, what happened during the war, how it was understood, and how realities and interpretations sometimes conflicted. The essay will examine both tactical and strategic aviation, placing a slight emphasis on the latter. Throughout I shall focus mainly but not exclusively on the British experience.
