The first air campaign

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The skies over Europe during World War I witnessed a modern contest for tactical and technological supremacy, with each new strategy or invention prompting a swift response from the opposing side. Combat pilots, often facing a life expectancy of just 21 flying days, became enduring legends of the conflict. Eric and Jane Lawson present the air actions of World War I as a grand campaign, highlighting the shifting balance of power with each innovation. The war began in August 1914, shortly after the Wright brothers' first flight, leading nations to assemble makeshift air forces of civilian aircraft flown by amateur pilots primarily for reconnaissance. By the end of 1915, rudimentary tactics evolved into specialized air squadrons with designed aircraft, bomb racks, aerial cameras, and mounted machine guns. By the war's conclusion, advancements included long-range bombing, rudimentary aircraft carriers, and ground-attack tactics. The Lawsons emphasize the human dimension, profiling key commanders and pilots, including the first African-American combat pilot and women flying military missions. They detail Billy Mitchell's advocacy for air power alongside his role in the St. Mihiel offensive, where he assembled a massive air armada. The narrative is fast-paced and enriched with information on unit organization, aircraft performance, innovative maps, and unique wartime photographs, some unseen for 75 years, illustrating the evolvin