The DCCC Student History Club held a seminar on Air Power in World War I by Steven Suddaby, editor of French Strategic and Tactical Bombardment Forces of World War I on 9 March. Suddaby spoke about the history and development of aircraft, how aircraft changed war tactics, and how aircraft was a crucial part of the Allied victory in the Great War.
Suddaby presented images of kite balloons used to observe enemy lines miles away. He explained how balloons were tethered to the ground with ropes and sent Morse code through cable lines. Balloon crews directed the fire of artillery batteries on the ground.
Airplanes were originally used to take aerial photos of enemy territory. Suddaby explained how this set off the development of camouflage. Ground forces threw nets over railways and built wooden vehicles to fool enemy observation planes.
Suddaby talked about the development of aviation in ground and naval tactics. Naval observation aircraft helped Allied navies overcome the German submarine threat.
Suddaby concluded that aviation had a substantial impact on the outcome of World War I and dictated how armies and navies fought future wars.
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