How The Air War Era Began In 1911

Photo: Giulio Gavotti at the controls of a Farman biplane, Rome 1910

Libya 1911: How An Italian Pilot Began The Air War Era -- BBC

Italy recently said it was ready to join in Nato's air attacks on targets in Libya - and with the announcement came a sense of history repeating itself.

It was in Libya, almost exactly a century ago, that a young Italian pilot carried out the first ever air raid.

During fighting in November 1911 between Italy and forces loyal to the Turkish, Ottoman Empire, Lieutenant Giulio Gavotti wrote in a letter to his father: "Today I have decided to try to throw bombs from the aeroplane.

"It is the first time that we will try this and if I succeed, I will be really pleased to be the first person to do it."

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My Comment: We have certainly gone a long way since 1911.