Page 323 - Airpower in 20th Century - Doctrines and Employment

turkIsh AIr cAmpAIgns durIng the bAttles of ÇAnAkkAle mArch 1915 - JAnuAry 1916 323

Phases of the
campaign

The main task of
Turkish-German avia-
tion services was to
conduct reconnais-
sance, but both sides
performed bombard-
ment missions at the
beginning of the land-
ing. However, a few
missions were success-
fully completed due to
the limited bombing Albatros B.I Aircraft.
capacity and unsophis-
ticated fire directing
methods. Air combat rarely occurred between the aircraft of both sides towards the
end of the landing and many of the damages suffered by the aircraft resulted either
from mechanical failures or pilot’s error. 4

First Phase: Attack by Allies on the Strait of Çanakkale

Of the four aircraft (3 Albatros B. I and 1 Rumpler B.I type aircraft), three were
assigned to Çanakkale front and the other was deployed the Fortress Command since
there was a special requirement for air reconnaissance reports. This Rumpler B.I
type aircraft arrived at the airport in the night of March 17, which was built three kil-
ometers from the Strait of Çanakkale. Commander of the Fortress sent this aircraft
to the Allied Naval Force
in Tenedos in the morning
of March 18.
The reconnaissance
flight conducted by Cap-
tain Serno in the morning
of March 18 played a deci-
sive role in the naval cam-
paign. The vessels group
observed by Schneider was
the joint British-French ar-
mada. Aircraft, returning

4
Whıstler, p. 230.