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The Air War

Air Reconnaisance

Both sides used aircraft as spotters to direct artillery fire and detect enemy troop movements. In the picture below, a German plane is seen flying over a german artillery column as it advances. The plane was used to direct artillery fire with greater accuracy.
Photograph showing A German Plane serving as a spotter as column of German Artillery Advances on the Western Front. Source: Europe's Greatest War, published 1915

In the next picture group of French dirigibles can be seen, as well as some early aircraft including one which was touted as being able to reach the then incredible speed of 125 miles per hour. By the end of the war, both sides would have made significant advances in aviation, and the early airplanes would be obsolete.

A variety of Fench dirigibles  and aircraft. Source: Europe's Greatest War, published 1915

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