Military aviation took off early in the First World War. The pilots take with them a rifle that will allow them to defend themselves if they have to land behind the lines.
But, very quickly, real duels take place in flight when the pilots or the crews of the belligerent planes exchange shots. Then, we install on the aircraft automatic weapons with the sole purpose of shooting down the enemy, the fighter aviation was born!
Bombers are also armed to defend themselves, but their size allows them to carry heavy weapons. Thus the first guns are installed to hunt for airships and submarines.
During the conflict, the armament develops, in particular with synchronized shooting through
of the helix field. The system is perfected between the two wars and it is perfectly
to the point when the Second World War breaks out.
In the course of this one, the equipment becomes more sophisticated with, for the offensive, the installation of machine guns of big caliber or guns; while multi-support and electrically or hydraulically controlled turrets are installed for the defense of bombers.
At the end of the conflict, we see appear jet aircraft systematically equipped with guns, their generalization will be studied in the second volume of this book, with the armed helicopters.
