100 Years Ago (Plus One Day) in WW! Aviation History: 25 August 1914

[usmc1855]

100 Years Ago: First Air Victories, 25 August 1914

On 25 August 1914 a Russian pilot by the name of Pyotr Nesterov rammed his unarmed Morane Saulnier Type G aircraft into an Austrian Albatross B. Most likely Nesterov was trying to damage the enemy plane with his own landing gear. The two machines collided, became entangled and fell from the sky. Although both fliers were killed in the crash, the Russian aviator had in fact scored history’s first air combat kill.

Britain’s first-ever air-to-air victory came later that same day, when two Avro 504 pilots used their aircraft to force a German Etrich Taube monoplane down into a field near Mons. The German pilot leapt from the cockpit and fled on foot into a nearby forest evading capture. On 5 October a French pilot named Louis Quenault would become the first in history to actually shoot down another aircraft in midair with a blast of gunfire.

[ptownhiker]

Wow. Those are the very early days of air combat. Ramming and forced landings...I had no idea.

[gully_raker]

More great info Brian.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Well done Brian, that's one I missed in my report yesterday.
Rob.

[Naharaht]

It is sad but we must salute his patriotism and courage.