The Great War In The Air

"...I must say it impressed me very deeply when I saw the first Englishman fall and I have often seen the event again in my dreams."

- Manfred von Richthofen

"At 150 yards I pressed my triggers. The tracer bullets cut a streak of living fire into the rear of the Pfalz tail."

- Eddie Rickenbacker

"For seconds, I forget that the man across from me is Guynemer, my enemy. It seems as though I were sparring with an older comrade over our own airfield."

- Ernst Udet

"Flamerinoes! Four!! Sizzle, sizzle, WONK!"

- Edward "Mick" Mannock

"I hate to shoot a Hun down without him seeing me, for although this method is in accordance with my doctrine, it is against what little sporting instincts I have left."

- James McCudden

"I fly close to my man, aim well and then of course he falls down."

- Oswald Boelcke

The Great War or World War will forever be linked with gruesome trench warfare were millions of ordinary men were killed or maimed. Although of minor strategic significance to the outcome of the war, the aerial battles that took place high above the trenches have been an inspiration for several generations of aviation enthousiasts.

The men

The Aircraft