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The Evolution of Aerial Warfare: Key Aircraft and the Legendary Red Baron**

This article explores the development of aerial combat during World War I, highlighting the transition from reconnaissance to armed warfare. It details significant milestones, including the first aerial kill by French pilot Joseph Frantz, the advent of forward-firing guns with interrupter gear, and notable aircraft such as the Fokker Eindecker and Sopwith 1½ Strutter. The narrative culminates in the story of the infamous Red Baron, detailing his remarkable rise to fame and the circumstances surrounding his final dogfight and untimely death.

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The Evolution of Aerial Warfare: Key Aircraft and the Legendary Red Baron**

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  1. War in the air By Liam Sproule

  2. War in the air • Started when pilots began carrying weapons • Before this planes were used for reconnaissance A Nieuport 17

  3. The first kill • The first aerial kill was achieved by French air force pilot Joseph Frantz and his observer Louis Quenault • He was using a rear-mounted Hotchkiss machine gun

  4. New advancements • Since the start of WWI aeroplanes had been fitted with rear mounted machine guns A Morane-Saulnier with an armoured propeller • A new way to mount the guns was needed • The solution came in placing a forward firing gun above the engine

  5. Forward firing guns • The first solution for firing a gun the propeller arc was thought of by Roland Garros In early 1915 • This was to armour the propellers

  6. Interrupter gear • A better solution was needed however • The interrupter gear or ‘synchronization gear’ was invented by the Germans • The interrupter gear stopped the gun from firing when the propeller was in the way. • Led to the design of the Fokker Eindecker

  7. Fokker Eindecker • Based on the unarmed A.III scout • First aircraft to incorporate the interrupter gear Fokker Eindecker • It used a single Parabellum MG14 • Designed by Anthony Fokker

  8. Fokker Eindecker • German authorities didn’t allow it to fly over enemy lines • An estimated one hundred made • Also estimated that it shot down one thousand planes between 1915 and 1918

  9. Fokker Eindecker • Deemed to ‘finicky’ and overly sensitive • It used wing warping • Lack of tail ailerons • Its engine was gravity fed

  10. Sopwith 1 ½ strutter • Designed as an escort plane • Was used as a light bomber • Had a rear mounted machine gun • Favoured for its long range and handling Sopwith ½ strutter

  11. Sopwith 1 ½ strutter • Introduced in January 1916 • Powered by a 130hp motor • Built in many variants • British produced 1,280 Sopwiths • France produced more than 4,500

  12. Short Bomber • Designed by the Short brothers • Long range two seat multipurpose plane • Based on the successful Short Type 184 A Short Bomber

  13. Short Bomber • Came into service in late 1916 • Had a rear mounted Lewis gun • Had the ability to carry 420kg of bombs • During testing both its wingspan and overall length were increased several times Short Bomber Technical drawings

  14. Short Bomber • Its first bombing mission was to attack targets in Belgium • The Short proved to be to underpowered and was pulled out of the war in early 1917 Short Bomber Amphibious variant

  15. Friedrichshafen G.III • Designed by Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen, a German aviation company • Used for tactical bombing • Powered by twin six-cylinder 260hp Mercedes D. Iva engines Friedrichshafen G.III

  16. Friedrichshafen G.III • Payload of 1000kg • Carried streamlined P.u.W bombs • Could also carry an air mine • 330 were produced

  17. Friedrichshafen G.III • The G.III was a very stable aircraft • Had a very considerable range

  18. Pilots behind the planes • At the beginning of the war life expectancy was 5 week • During ‘Bloody April’ a pilots life expectancy was just 17.5 minutes

  19. Red Baron • Born 2 May 1892 to a Prussian Noble Family • He loved hunting from an early age • At the age of 11 he enrolled in the Prussian Cadet Corps

  20. Red Baron • In 1911 he entered the Uhlan Regiment Number 1, a cavalry regiment • In early 1914 his regiment transferred to the western front • In May 1915 he requested that he be transferred to the flying corps

  21. Red Baron • In June 1915 he joined the 69th flying squadron • Started his career as a spotter • He started pilot training in October 1915 • On Christmas day he passed his exam

  22. Red Baron • He was assigned a two seat albatross B.II • He scored his first victory over the Verdun in April, 1916, a French Nieuport • His regiment transferred back to the Eastern front several months later

  23. Red Baron • While in the Eastern front he carried out bombing missions • His most notable success was the bombing of the Manjewicze railway station • In August 1916 he met the Great ace of the time Oswald Boelcke

  24. Red Baron • In 1916 Manfred formed his own flying sqaud • He required that all of his pupils study his tactics • By March 26, 1917 he had downed 31 planes

  25. Red Baron • On April 5, 1917 the British planned a massive bombing raid on Manfred's aerodrome • He was having a feast at the time • The aerodrome was extensively damaged

  26. Red Baron • On July 2 he encountered pilot D C Cunnell • Cunnell proved to be a worthy opponent

  27. Red Baron • After coming back from leave he shot down 2nd Lt. H. J. Sparks • He achieved 17 kills in march and April of 1918

  28. The Final Dogfight • On the morning of April 21, 1918 • Capt. Brown shot down the Red Baron • The aircraft went down in Australian occupied territory

  29. The Final Dogfight • Capt. Brown never claimed the kill • Some Australian gunners did however • The British held a grand funeral for the Ace • He died age 25 having downed 80 aircraft

  30. Bibleography 9, Nov. "The Red Baron, Manfred Von Richthofen - Top WW1 German Ace." WW1 and Aviation - Facts, History, and Pictures. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.acepilots.com/wwi/ger_richthofen.html>. "Aerospaceweb.org | Ask Us - Fighter Guns & Synchronization Gear." Aerospaceweb.org | Reference for Aviation, Space, Design, and Engineering. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/weapons/q0303.shtml Bishop, William Avery, and Stanley M. Ulanoff. Winged Warfare. New York: Arco Pub., 1981. Print. "Fokker Eindecker." Fokker Eindecker. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.aviationtrivia.info/Fokker-Eindecker.php>. "Friedrichshafen G.III - Bomber." All the World's Helicopters and Rotorcraft - the Most Complete Helicopter Collection in the World. Helicopters, Autogyros, Tilt-rotors, Tilt-wings Etc. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.aviastar.org/air/germany/friedrichshafen_g-3.php>. "A History of Fighter Aircraft." United States Air Service - USAS. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://usaww1.com/World_War_1_Fighter_Planes.php4>. Imperial War Museum. London: Imperial War Museum, 2001. Print. "Manfred Von Richthofen - New World Encyclopedia." Info:Main Page - New World Encyclopedia. Web. 23 Mar. 2011. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Manfred_von_Richthofen>.

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