Fokker Scourge - Background

Background

Aircraft were still a primitive weapon by the outbreak of the First World War. Only 11 years earlier, in 1903, the Wright brothers had undertaken the first powered flight. The limitations of the flying contraptions were many and dangerous. Although aircraft had travelled above the 10 0mph mark, most held a speed of 60 to 80mph. Methods of controlling flight were not yet known or understood and consequently aerial manoeuvres were executed on the basis of guesswork—simply repeating actions which had not resulted in disaster the last time they were tried.

The limitations, in power, meant that the loads that aircraft could lift were very light. The circumstances hindered any attempt before 1914 to try and develop bomber aircraft or strike aircraft carrying bombs and machine guns. The interest in aircraft centred on the most obvious—aerial reconnaissance. The military powers in Europe viewed the Airship as a more promising device. Their great range allowed them a large operational radius and they could also lift significant bomb loads.

The British RFC under the command of David Henderson began the war with just four Squadrons and 63 serviceable aircraft. It was still considered a remarkable feat that these machines were able to fly across the English Channel under their own power. The new technology soon proved its worth when aerial intelligence reports identified the German dispositions at the First Battle of the Marne in 1914. On 15 September 1914 the first photo-reconnaissance mission was flown by Lieutenant G. F Pretyman above German trenches in the Aisne hills. The plates were examined on the ground and photographic interpretation was born. The RFC soon began using wireless sets to help British artillery range onto to targets and small bombs had been fitted to aircraft for ground attack missions within two months of the war’s start.

The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) began strategic bombing against German targets. Though ineffectual the first steps had been taken towards the development of modern air warfare. The Germans were practicing the same operations. Two days after the Battle of Mons a German aircraft was forced down. On 22 September the first British aerial casualty—G.W. Mapplebeck—was taken; the man was wounded. The period saw the tentative beginnings of air-to-air combat, at first using improvised armament of pistols, rifles and free–mounted adapted machine guns. The French scored the first aerial victory on 5 October 1914 and it soon became clear that each side would be wise to prevent enemy aircraft reconnoitering their lines. The first purpose—designed fighter aircraft included the British Vickers F.B.5, the Morane-Saulnier L and N. The French fighters were monoplanes and similar to the later Fokker but had no armament unless a small arm was carried by the pilot. The British employed some Bristol Scouts, but their mounted armament had to be fired obliquely to avoid the propeller. The British used the Martinsyde S.1 for this purpose. It proved to be too unstable, and despite its 90mph speed was withdrawn from service by the summer, 1915. Initially the German Air Service lagged behind the Allies in this respect with no purpose built fighting aircraft.