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The War in the Air

The War in the Air. The War in the Air. When the war broke out in 1914, the airplane was a new and unproven invention. Canadians who wanted to fly joined the British Royal Flying Corps.

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The War in the Air

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  1. The War in the Air

  2. The War in the Air • When the war broke out in 1914, the airplane was a new and unproven invention. • Canadians who wanted to fly joined the British Royal Flying Corps. • Canadian airmen proved to be fearsome flyers and quickly gained a reputation for bravery and skill in battle.

  3. Canadians in the Air • Because of this reputation, Britain launched a pilot training program in Canada. • By 1918, 40 percent of the British Air force Pilots were Canadian.

  4. Who owned the Sky? • Germany had the upper hand in the air at the beginning of the war: • Germany 400 planes and the only Zeppelins • French 156 planes • British 113 planes

  5. German Fighter Planes • Germans also had a superior fighter plane. • The Fokker, had machine gun with timed firing mechanism and outstanding maneuverability. • Also known as a tri-plane

  6. British Fighter Plane • To compete with the Germans… • The British developed the Sopwith Camel in 1917 • shot down more German aircraft than any other Allied plane.

  7. Why did young men join the air force? • there was more glory then fighting in the trenches • they got to fight in leading edge war machines • better food, pay, and uniforms • slept in warm beds

  8. But…all at a high price! • The percentage of pilots killed was higher than any other military branch. • The average life of pilot = 3 weeks • Air service was called “suicide service” • Planes were called “flying coffins”

  9. Air Aces Air Ace: was a fighter who had shot down at least five enemy planes • Top air aces of WWI • - Manfred Von Rickthofen aka 80 victories • “Red Baron” (Germany) • - Rene Fonck (France) 75 victories • - Billy Bishop (Canada) 72 victories • - Ernst Udet (Germany) 62 victories • - Raymond Collishaw (Canada) 60 victories

  10. Canada’s Contribution in the Air • Canadian fighter pilots brought down 438 aircrafts in WWI. • Four of the top seven leading air aces in the Royal Air Force were Canadian!

  11. Combat Techniques • dogfights: dangerous aerial duels • Let’s watch • FACT & FILM: First Dogfighters • Fill in the question sheet as you watch!

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