Specialised aeroplanes for aerial combat were introduced in 1915. Aircraft were already in use for scouting and on 1 April, the French pilot Roland Garros became the first to shoot down an enemy aircraft by using a machine-gun that shot forward through the propeller blades. This was achieved by crudely reinforcing the blades to deflect bullets. Several weeks later Garros force-landed behind German lines. His aeroplane was captured and sent to Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker, who soon produced a significant improvement, the interrupter gear, in which the machine gun is synchronised with the propeller so it fires in the intervals when the blades of the propeller are out of the line of fire. This advance was quickly ushered into service, in the Fokker E.I (Eindecker, or monoplane, Mark 1), the first single seat fighter aircraft to combine a reasonable maximum speed with an effective armament. Max Immelmann scored the first confirmed kill in an Eindecker on 1 August. Both sides developed improved weapons, engines, airframes and materials, until the end of the war. It also inaugurated the cult of the ace, the most famous being Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron). Contrary to the myth, anti-aircraft fire claimed more kills than fighters.
specialised aeroplanes for aerial combat were introduced in 1915 aircraft were already in use for scouting and on 1 april the french pilot roland garros became the first to shoot down an enemy aircraft by using a machine-gun that shot forward through the propeller blades this was achieved by crudely reinforcing the blades to deflect bullets several weeks later garros force-landed behind german lines his aeroplane was captured and sent to dutch engineer anthony fokker who soon produced a significant improvement the interrupter gear in which the machine gun is synchronised with the propeller so it fires in the intervals when the blades of the propeller are out of the line of fire this advance was quickly ushered into service in the fokker ei (eindecker or monoplane mark 1) the first single seat fighter aircraft to combine a reasonable maximum speed with an effective armament max immelmann scored the first confirmed kill in an eindecker on 1 august both sides developed improved weapons engines airframes and materials until the end of the war it also inaugurated the cult of the ace the most famous being manfred von richthofen (the red baron) contrary to the myth anti-aircraft fire claimed more kills than fighters