There can be little doubt that the rate of progress in the development of aviation which was achieved in the years between 1915 and 1918 has never been exceeded in any period since that time.

The few “flying machines” with which the Royal Flying Corps went to war in 1914 were of many types, of primitive design and unreliable, having little relevance to war with the possible exception of reconnaissance duties. In 1914 there was no aircraft industry worthy of the name. The potential value of aircraft was only beginning to be fully realised by the middle of 1915.