Royal Flying Corps flies to France
On 13 August 1914 aircraft of the Royal Flying Corps, the air arm of the British Army, took off from Dover and flew across the English Channel to France. They were the first British military units to cross to the Continent by air. They were to support the British Expeditionary Force, which was arriving in France by ship in those days.
First to arrive
The first to take off, at 6.25 a.m., was Lieutenant Hubert Harvey-Kelly of No. 2 Squadron. After a flight of less than two hours he landed near Amiens, which had been designated as the assembly point for the aircraft. His was the first British aeroplane to arrive in France in wartime. According to accounts, Harvey-Kelly took a short cut and landed ahead of his commanding officer, who had intended to be first.
In the course of the day further aircraft of Nos. 2 and 3 Squadrons and part of No. 4 Squadron reached Amiens. No. 5 Squadron soon followed. There were accidents: some machines broke down, and several airmen were killed in crashes even before reaching the front.
Modest beginnings
British military aviation was small in 1914. A few dozen aircraft of various types were sent to France, most of them underpowered and unreliable. Nobody yet knew exactly how to use them in war. It was assumed that the airmen’s most important task would be reconnaissance: watching enemy movements and passing information to the command.
Significance
It was in precisely this role that aviation quickly proved its worth. At the end of August British airmen spotted the movements of German columns, which helped the command during the retreat from Mons. In September air reconnaissance revealed the change in the direction of march of the German First Army, which contributed to the victory on the Marne. In the following years the small formation of 1914 grew into a powerful air force, and in 1918, after its merger with the naval air service, the Royal Air Force was created.
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Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
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- 12 August 1914 · Balkan FrontThe Austrians cross the Sava and take ŠabacOn 12 August 1914 Austro-Hungarian troops crossed the Sava and occupied the Serbian town of Šabac. The first invasion of Serbia had begun.
- 14 August 1914 · Eastern FrontGrand Duke Nicholas issues a proclamation to the PolesOn 14 August 1914 the Russian commander-in-chief urged the Poles to fight Germany, promising to unite the Polish lands under the Tsar with autonomy.
- 11 August 1914 · SocietyFrance publishes its first contraband listOn 11 August 1914 the French government published its lists of war contraband. Aircraft and balloons were classed as absolute contraband.
Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 25 August 1914 · Western FrontFirst air patrol over the British retreatOn 25 August 1914 British airmen patrolled the skies over the retreating army and forced a German aircraft to land. It was one of the first air combats.
- 22 September 1914 · Western FrontFirst wireless link between an aircraft and artilleryIn September 1914 Royal Flying Corps airmen over the Aisne first directed artillery fire by wireless. It was the beginning of aerial artillery observation.
- 12 November 1914 · Western FrontMarkings on British aircraftOn 12 November 1914 an order required all Royal Flying Corps aircraft to carry identification marks. The Union flag gave way to a French-style roundel.
- 16 August 1914 · Western FrontBritish Expeditionary Force completes its landing in FranceOn 16 August 1914 the landing of the original British Expeditionary Force in France was completed. The crossing was made without loss.