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First Military Balloon Launched
On August 2nd in 1861, The first military balloon was launched and used for limited observation. (Text source: http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Lighter_than_air/Civil_War_balloons/LTA5.htm) (Image source: http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Lighter_than_air/Civil_War_balloons/LTA5.htm) -
Launch Of Balloon From Ship
On the 3rd of August, the vessel "Fanny" became one of the first ships to launch a balloon. This became the beginning of the use of "Aircraft Carriers". (Text source: http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Lighter_than_air/Civil_War_balloons/LTA5.htm) (Image source: http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Lighter_than_air/Civil_War_balloons/LTA5.htm) -
First Aeronautical Division Established
U.S. Army Signal Corps establishes the Army's first Aeronautical division (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Flight of British Army Dirigible
The dirigible Nulli Secundus makes it's first flight at Farnborough for the British Army -
U.S. Army Purchases It's First Powered Aircraft
The U.S. Army buys it's first Baldwin dirigible. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Military Trials Of Airplanes
The U.S. Army agreed to to begin trials on the use of airplanes from Wilbur Wright. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Wichester) (Image source: http://www.first-to-fly.com/Information%20Images/Photos/1908%20Military%20Flyer%20in%20Flight.jpg) -
First Zeppelin Delivered To German Army
The German Army takes delivery of it's first Zeppelin designated LZ3. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Wireless Messages Sent While In Flight
The U.S. Army sends it's first messages while in flight using a wireless telephony. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Aerial Photo Reconnaissance Conducted
French pilots demonstrate that aerial photoreconnaissance could be achieved. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Wartime Reconnaissance Mission Conducted
Italian pilots conduct the first wartime reconnaissance mission during the fighting of Turkish forces in Libya. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Bombs Dropped In War From Flight
Italian pilots drop bombs durring war for the first time in Libya. -
Royal Flying Corps Is Established
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) is established on 13 April, 1912 -
Aerial Machine Guns Tested
The U.S. Army conducts tests to study the effectiveness of using machine guns in flight. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
U.S. Army Signal Corps Uses Airplanes In Military Maneuvers
On the 10th of August, the U.S. Army Signal Corps used airplanes for the first time in military maneuvers. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First German Zeppelin To Crash
Zeppelin LZ14 from the German Army crashes into the North Sea on September 9, 1913. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester)
(Image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Crash_Zeppelin_LZ18_%28LII%29.jpg/387px-Crash_Zeppelin_LZ18_%28LII%29.jpg) -
Americans Conduct First "Form" Of Aerial Combat.
On November 30th, American pilots flying in Mexico proceeded to fire their pistols at each other, there fore conducting the first "form" of aerial combat. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Strategic Bombing Raid Recorded
The first recorded strategic bombing raid was conducted against Zeppelin hangars by the French. -
First Air Combat Recorded Between French and German Planes
On August 15, 1914...The first act of combat between French and German aircraft was recorded. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Royal Flying Corps Conduct Artillery Spotting.
The RFC first used aircraft to spot the fall of artillery using wireless telegraphy and photography during the Battle of the Aisne. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
RFC Avro Biplane Downs German Aircraft
On the 22nd of November, an Avro biplane from the RFC shot down the first German aircraft in aerial combat. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Bombing Attacks on Britain
The German army conducted it's first bombing attacks with Navy seaplanes on British targets. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Airship Raid on Britain
The first airship raid was conducted against Britain during the 19th and 20th of January. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Zeppelin LZ37 First To Be Brough Down By An Aircraft.
On the 4th of March, Zeppelin LZ37 is the first zeppelin to be brought down by a Royal Navy aircraft. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Forward Firing Machine Gun Downs German Aircraft
On April 1st, 1915...Pilot Roland Garros downs a german aircraft with a forward firing machine gun for the first time. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Victoria Cross Awarded
The first Victoria Cross is awarded to airman William Rhodes-Moorhouse. -
First Zeppelin Raid Conducted on London
The first Zeppelin raid was conducted on London by the German Army on the 31st of May, 1915. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Appearance Of The Fokker El Monoplane On The Western Front
The Fokker Ei monoplane makes it's debut to the western front on the 1st of July, 1915. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Royal Navy Plane Sinks Turkish Ship With Torpedo
On 12 August, the Royal Navy Air Service first sank a Turkish ship using a torpedo. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Junkers J1 Flight
On the 2nd of December 1915, the germans conduct the first flight of the Junkers J1 monoplane. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
RFC Aircraft Conduct Wartime Supply Drop
On the 3rd of January in 1916, the Royal Flying Corps conducted the first supply drops during wartime to British forces in Iraq. -
First SustainedResupply By Air
The first sustained resupply of ground troops by aircraft was conducted between the 15th and 29th of April 1916. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
American Volunteers Form Part Of The French Air Service
American volunteers form a squadron called "Lafayette Escadrille" with in the French Air Service. -
The Red Baron Draws First Blood
On the 17th of September...Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen (The Red Baron) scores the first of his overall 80 victories. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
French Submarine Sunk By Austrian Lohner Flying Boats.
On the 15th of September...Austrian Lohner flying boats sank a French submarine. -
Germans Score First Aerial Night Victory
During the 11th and 12th of February, a German crew scored the first aerial victories durring night time. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Massive Allied Aircraft Losses Durring Battle
Througout the month of April in 1917, over 350 Allied aircraft were lost in air battles durring what is known now as "Bloody April" -
First Recorded Use Of Aircraft For Close Air Support
On the 3rd of May in 1917, The RFC used aircraft for the first time to conduct "Close Air Support" missions during the Arras Offensive. -
First Landing Of An Aircraft On A Ship
RNAS pilot Edwin Dunning makes the first landing on a ship at sea. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Fokker Dr1 Triplane Enters Service
The Germans introduced the Fokker Dr1 Triplane to the western front on the 21st of August, 1917. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Production Begins On The Airco DH4
During the month of February in 1918....Production begins on the Airco DH4. (Text Source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester)
(Image Source: http://www.earlyaviator.com/archive/image7/AircoDH4.jpg ) -
Royal Air Force Is Created
Created from both the RFC and the RNAS, the Royal Air Force begins it's first year. -
Parachute Saves First Pilot
A German pilot is the first to save himself by using a parachute in combat on the 1st of April, 1918. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
The Red Baron Is Killed
Manfred von Richthofen "The Red Baron" is shot down and killed on the 21st of April, 1918. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
First Carrier-Launched Airstrike
RAF Sopwith Camels conduct the first carrier launched air-strike against Zeppelin sheds. (Text source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Proves Ships Can Be Sunk By Aerial Bombing.
Brigadier General Billy Mitchell Proves Ships Can Be Sunk By Aerial Bombing. -
First American Aircraft Carrier Commissioned.
The USS Langley is converted and commissioned as the Americans first aircraft carrier. -
Japan Begins Trials Of First Aircraft Carrier
Japan began trials of their First Aircraft Carrier on the 30th of November 1922. -
Airship Shenandoah Makes It's Maiden Flight.
The US Navy's rigid airship "Shenandoah" completes it's maiden flight. -
U.S. Navy Airship "Shenandoah" Crashes.
The U.S. Navy Airship "Shenandoah" crashes in Ohio. -
The Itallian Army Experiments With Dropping Parachute Troops
The Itallian Army Experiments With Dropping Parachute Troops (Text Source: The Timeline of Aviation by Jim Winchester) -
Radio Radar Trials Are Conducted In The U.K.
The U.K begins trials to detect aircraft with radio radar waves. -
Exsistence Of The Luftwaffe Is Announced.
Disreguarding the Versailles Treaty, the exsistance of the German Luftwaffe is announced.
