How the Airplane Changed War
In many ways World War II presents post Civil War American attitudes about technology and science. Trace either the most relevant technology or scientific assumption from 1865 to 1945 showing how it changed or why it stayed the same from the Civil War for the end of World War II. (Length 3 pages)
America has faced several major wars including the Civil War, World War I and II. These wars have cause great advances in technology and different techniques of fighting. The Civil War was based on men fighting men with muskets and swords as the only fighting tool, this war cause over 600,000 Americans to loose their lives. World War I technology played a larger role with the introduction of the airplane, explosives and armored vehicle. By the end of World War II technology was fighting the war, less men were needed to fight on the ground and battles were taken to the air.
The airplane has been modified from the balloons used in the Civil War to have a powerful role in combat. During the Civil War battles were fought on the ground and people rarely took to the air. Most aircraft of the late nineteenth century were made of mechanical wings or lighter than air. Observers used balloons on the battlefield to report the status of advancing troops. Gliders were used for observations but were limited to where they could be used. During the late 1890s the American war department placed more of a focus on developing a heavier than air flying machine. In 1903 Orville Wright in North Carolina made the first fight of the modern aircraft which resulted in more research in the development of the airplane.
Before World War I European designers were working with the information of Wright brothers to ma...
... middle of paper ...
... This firestorm caused severe destruction with extreme heat at the center, which turned buildings into dust and caused hurricane force winds that effected the land for miles around the focus of the attack. These attacks devastated huge cities that supported the Japanese military.
America always wanted to be the biggest, fastest and powerful. World War II forced America to catch up rapidly to gain this rank. At the end to World War II the United States gained this rank with the severe defeat of Japan’s airforce. At the end of the war there was a large surplus of planes that were used to boost the fleet of commercial aircraft. Wars have caused death and devastation but there are some positive effects, war causes a boost of support for scientific development. Without World War I and II it is hard to say where the status of planes could be in American society.
By the end of World War I the world was beginning to realize the ability air combat presented. When World War II started planes became much more effective. Though still fabric covered, the aircraft were faster and more agile than the variants used in the Great War. In 1938, the first year of the Second World War, Curtiss unveiled their P-40 Warhawk. This aircraft was one of the best of its time and laid the foundation for modern aircraft engineering. But by 1940 the German Luftwaffe had begun to develop faster, long-ranged fighter-bombers. All current Allied aircraft could not keep up with the long range of the B-17 bombers who needed escort. In 1940, North American Aviation received an order from Britain requesting another shipment of
Armies and Navies have clashed since antiquity, but the airplane that enables aerial combat is barely a century old. Airplanes saw widespread combat in the First World War, and, despite the doubts and financial concerns of military leaders of the time, the brave men who fly them have gained their own dedicated military division, the United States Air Force. Billy Mitchell, through his charisma and an image that endeared him in American culture, was an instrumental figure in developing the modern Air Force.
World War One was known as the war that would end all wars. At first, airplanes in the war were thought to have just little combat use. An unknown British general even commented, " The airplane is useless for the purpose of war." In the beginning of the First World War, the airplanes were pretty simple and raw. By the end of the war, aircraft had become more advanced and had split off into fighters, bombers and long-range bombers. The specifications of the airplanes were changed to meet the war's requirements. When the War started in August of 1914, British airmen were associated with the British army and their commissioned officers had army ranks. Before the United State’s declaration of war in 1917, American nationals had enlisted in British and French air services including the Lafayette Escadrille. By the time the war ended in November of 1918, the Royal Flying Corps no longer prevailed and was absorbed into the recently developed Royal Air Force. The Royal Air Force now had its own command structure away from the army and provided its own ranks.
The Wright brothers made their first air worthy plane in 1903, since then, planes have come a long way. During the war, planes were used to drop bombs and cargo. The United States used a plane to drop atomic bombs. They were also used to spy on other countries before satellites were conventional. Planes were getting faster and more complicated. Now we have planes that can fly themselves and take photos. But until now no plane has been better than the SR-71, also known as the Black Bird.
...gs Left Legacy of Terror, Pain.” Associated 10 Mar. 2005: n. pag. Web. 26 Feb. 2010. . The firebombings of Tokyo was a event that impacted Japanese civilian morale, and destroyed several factories. This secondary source helped me see the impact of the bombings,
The first World War expedited the evolution of aircraft technology, which continued through World War II. These developments revolutionized military strategy and contributed greatly to the final outcomes.
To some, World War II may seem like a great war that happened a long time ago, a war where however great the innovations during the war were, they are much out of date now, and so they have no impact on today’s world. But to another, who understand the world and how it grows, realize that wherever a nation is, it is in that position because of its history. This means that without all of the improvements of technology during World War II, the world as we know it today would be very much different on many levels. One of the levels which has a great impact on today’s world would be the improvements of technology. But as what was said before, almost anything new cannot be created without first developing the old. Therefore, one must look back at the past to not only find the origins of World War II, and its impact, but also to World War I, and not only did it set the groundwork this massive growth of advancement, but without these technologies, then those who won, may have lost, therefore altering history.
World War II was one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. There were many different battles that took place within this war; some more important than others. World War II began once Germany’s new dictator, Adolf Hitler, decided that he wanted to gain power for Germany and for himself. One of Hitler’s first moves in power was invading Poland on September 1, 1939. Many other countries became involved in this war because of the alliance system. The two sides during this war were the Allies and Axis powers. German, Italy and Japan were on the Axis powers; France, Britain, and the United States were on the Allies. Germany first began with the Blitzkrieg tactic meaning “lightning war”. This tactic is based on speed, surprise and was the most popular tactic. It is set up with military forces based around tanks which are supported by planes and infantry. The Blitzkrieg tactic lead to air wars with airplanes between countries. All of the countries were allowed to participate in the air wars but the four main countries were United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany. During the 1920’s and 1930’s airplanes grew in size and structure giving them more power, and making planes more effective. Planes made it easier to drop bombs, or plan attacks. All of these countries fought over air superiority. Air superiority is the position in which the air force has control over all of the air warfare and air power of the opposing forces. Germany began with air superiority but they lost it when Britain defeated them at the Battle of Britain. Gaining control over the air is a very big advantage because it is easier to plan an attack on an opposing country. All of the countries relied on their aircrafts during this war. The issue about the use of...
"Science & Technology in World War I." Shmoop: Study Guides & Teacher Resources. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. .
Today, Americans do use aeronautical technology to fight in war such as planes and jets. Planes have been created to transport equipment back and forth from base to base and fighter jets were also created to fire missiles at the oncoming enemy. The technology in the jets gives the soldier the opportunity to see the movement of the enemy as well as have headsets to communicate with the base and the soldiers that are in other aircrafts. Military ballooning may have been an unsuccessful development in 1700-1800’s, but the lessons learned gave the American military today a drastic rise in freedom because of the aircrafts developed to fight and transport equipment overseas to other countries.
Since the time of the World Wars and the Wright brothers, aviation has become a huge part of global society. The Orville and Wilbur Wright’s names will forever be remembered into United States history as the first men who were the first to fully realized human flight. Their successful invention of a working, powered airplane brought about whole new ways of wars, including new strategies for both offense and defense. Many technological advances might not have occurred without the need for new weapons and systems for airplanes. Travel and commerce would be much slower without the usage of airplanes. Orville and Wilbur have made a lasting impact on the world with their invention of a working, human-controlled, powered airplane; who knows what the world would be without it.
The Airplane was first invented in 1903; it amazed everyone but never really took off because of how dangerous it still was. They used planes in WWI but they threw them aside. After WWI (around mid 1920’s) the Federal Government had the idea of airmail. This was readily accepted; instead of receiving mail in two weeks it would only take a couple of days. Soon after this, transporting people quickly caught on although only the upper-class people could afford it, it soon became accessible to almost everyone. (Inventions: Airplane)
New advances in technology changed warfare in WW2. The change in technology since WW1 has produced such things as Atom Bomb, and new and improved sea and air warfare. New techniques had to be used because of technology, techniques such as 'mouseholing'. More people were killed because of technology, as more people died in WW2 than WW1.The technological advances in WW2 changed the battlefield completely as more deadly auxiliary was introduced.
The history of flying dates back as early as the fifteenth century. A Renaissance man named Leonardo da Vinci introduced a flying machine known as the ornithopter. Da Vinci proposed the idea of a machine that had bird like flying capabilities. Today no ornithopters exist due to the restrictions of humans, and that the ornithopters just aren’t practical. During the eighteenth century a philosopher named Sir George Cayley had practical ideas of modern aircraft. Cayley never really designed any workable aircraft, but had many incredible ideas such as lift, thrust, and rigid wings to provide for lift. In the late nineteenth century the progress of aircraft picks up. Several designers such as Henson and Langley, both paved the way for the early 1900’s aircraft design. Two of the most important people in history of flight were the Wright Brothers. The Wright Brothers were given the nickname the “fathers of the heavier than air flying machine” for their numerous flights at their estate in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville and Wilbur Wright created a motor-powered biplane in which they established incredible feats of the time. The Wright Brothers perfected their design of the heavier than air flying ma...
The invention of the airplane, ever since it was invented in 1903 has impacted the world in many ways. It has increased the job rate, boosted the economy, created cultural diversion, and created less pollution than most means of travel. Orville Wright once said, “The airplane stays up because it doesn't have time to fall.” The airplane never did fall and excelled in everything it did, not falling once. The airplane, one of the most important inventions created in the 20th century, impacted travel ways across the world.