One hundred eleven years ago today, on October 5, 1914, during the First World War, the first recorded aerial victory in history was achieved. This event marked the emergence of a new dimension of warfare—the skies. While technology and tactics have evolved dramatically since World War I, the core principles of aerial combat—staying composed, focused, and unpredictable—remain as vital today as they were more than a century ago.
The first “dogfight” occurred over Jonchery, near Reims, France. A French Voisin III from Escadrille VB24 engaged a German Aviatik B.II from FFA 18. Piloting the Voisin were Sergeant Joseph Frantz and his observer, Corporal Louis Quénault. The German Aviatik was flown by Oberleutnant Fritz von Zangen and Sergeant Wilhelm Schlichting. As the Voisin closed in, Frantz unleashed the aircraft’s Hotchkiss M1909 8 mm machine gun, firing two 48-round magazines at the German reconnaissance plane. The German crew, contending with a jammed machine gun, attempted to return fire using their rifles, but were unable to stop the attack. The Aviatik ultimately crashed, and both German aviators were killed. This encounter secured the first officially recognized aerial victory in combat aviation history.
The French Voisin III was a versatile biplane with a pusher configuration. Its 130-horsepower Salmson M.9 nine-cylinder radial engine was mounted behind the two-person crew, propelling the aircraft to a maximum speed of 65 mph. The Voisin was armed with a single machine gun. In contrast, the German Aviatik B.II was a conventional biplane powered by a 120-horsepower Mercedes D.II six-cylinder inline engine, with a top speed of 62 mph. Initially unarmed, the Aviatik relied on personal rifles for self-defense, highlighting the rudimentary nature of early aerial combat.
