File:The aeroplane in war (1912) (14577732310).jpg

In the French manœuvres, a completely-equipped aeroplane repair shop, in the form of a motor-wagon, followed the military airmen as they moved from point to point. One of these invaluable “ateliers” is pictured above. Photo, M. Branger. (original caption in the book)
Identifier: aeroplaneinwar00grah (find matches)
Title: The aeroplane in war
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Grahame-White, Claude, 1879- Harper, Harry, b.1880
Subjects: Airplanes Aeronautics, Military
Publisher: Toronto : Bell and Cockburn
Contributing Library: ASC - York University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Ontario Council of University Libraries and Member Libraries

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aeroplanes will fall victims to gun-fire, but that this percentage will be a very smallone, and that it will be in no way sufficient to marthe success of the work that a squadron of air-scoutswill be able to undertake. The suggestion is now made that, in order tosecure some conclusive results, power-driver aero-planes, without occupants, should be made to ascend,and be directed on a pre-arranged course, whilesubjected to artillery-fire. Such a method wouldbe costly, however; but it might certainly yieldremarkably interesting data. Then there is the question of hostilities betweenaircraft, to which several references have been made.Here, again, theory has to take the place of practice.It is perfectly certain that, as machines cross fromtheir own lines to those of the enemy, engagementswill take place between them and hostile craft—which will seek to check them in their aerialspying. That special fighting machines will be built ispractically certain, also; and it is probable that, in
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V rf Ui THE AEROPLANE IN WAR 241 wars of the future, engagements between these aerialopponents will precede reconnoitring work. Howsuch flights in the air will end it is, however, difficultto predict. If some form of light explosive shell ishred, one well-placed shot will probably wreck amachine, or render it unmanageable. An aerial duelpromises to be over quickly. The skill will, nodoubt, lie in getting in the first shot, and in makingthat an accurate one. Although, in some respects, the future is ob-scure, there is, upon one important point, mostdefinite data to proceed upon. This is that theaeroplane is an instrument which will entirely changemilitary reconnaissance. We are in the presence of a new and formidablescience that will revolutionise warfare. So spokeColonel Seely, Parhamentary Under-Secretary ofState for War, at a special gathering of the Aero-nautical Society on i8th December, 1911. At the moment, all other problems are subservientto this: whatever its destructive power

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