Pilots as More than Knights of the sky?

I've heard off hand the the pilots of WW1 served more than just as combattants of the air but as sources of propaganda for people of the home front. Thoughts or comments?

[EdStevens]

I would say that this is true without question. The German and French governments and media recognized early on that the air war had the potential to be glamorous, especially in contrast to what was happening on the ground. The British high command tried to downplay the actions of their pilots in the media for quite some time, and refused to provide details in the form of names, but the media would not be denied, and the public soon learned of its "knights of the air," too.

Initially, it made a good story because of the sheer novelty of aircraft --- the most inspiring invention of its time -- being used for combat. Flyers actually being able to down an opponent qualified them for instant celebrity at first. The German penchant for awarding the Pour le Merite for ever-increasing numbers of enemies downed reflected the status that this achievement played at official levels, and the proliferation of Sanke cards and stories in the papers on the German side made them, in my opinion, the most fervent national "fans" of the aces. The French, with their romanticized ideals for Garros, Guynemer and Nungesser, and other defenders of the homeland, were a close second. The public could find honour and glamour in the air war that the ground war, with its mud and blood and horrific casualties, could never provide.

This fascination evolved into a celebrity status, in the press and public imagination, for successful fighter pilots that continues to this day.

[Volker_Nemsch]

The use of pilots for the national propaganda was so successful that it still influences our view on WW1 aviation today.

Just have a look on various websites. You will surely find lots of informations about Jastas or Squadrons and the different national aces. Loads of informations can be found about fighter aircraft and their often colourful markings.

But much more of the crews were not flying a Camel, a Fokker or a Nieuport. They flew the aircraft of the "victims": Albatros C-class, R.E.8, F.E.2, Farmans, etc. and many of the names are only known because they were shot down by an ace. The names of the average pilots are often forgotten.

So old propaganda is still working today although in a different way.

As in the first so too the second.Witness "cats-eyes" Cunningham,the bloody Hundreth,the mighty Eigth,D-S[Drunken Duncan-Sqdn Ldr Duncan-smith] et al.

[Vigilant]

Andy,

Was drunken Duncan-Smith any relation to the illustrious leader of the present Tory party?

Vig.

PS - 'Douglas Bader the legless hero' always reminds me of the Tom Baker characte in Blackadder: 'I'm not legless - I haven't touched a drop all day!' 'No, I mean you haven't got any legs' [looks under table] 'Oh, you're right there'

Vig you will LOVE this . Drunken Duncan is indeed IDS`s poppa Just think;one led Spitfires-t`other bugger leads damp squibs.