Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0141Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of two biplanes parked near two large tents. Above the image "W153 (Star)" is printed, below the image "19191 U.S. Observation Airplane on West Front - France." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
19191 U.S. OBSERVATION AIRPLANE ON WEST FRONT
Here, waiting the call to action, are two of our observation airplanes. Airplanes of this type perform services of the utmost importance. The development of modern firearms has made cavalry reconnoissance impossible : the daring raids which this branch of the service made in former wars to discover the enemy alignment, dispostion of reserves, supply depots, and to secure other needed information, are no longer attempted. Today the observation airplane is the eye of an army.
Observation planes carry two men, a pilot and an observer. The pilot runs the machine ; the observer, telescope in hand, scans the enemy trenches and the terrain for miles in their rear. The observer is ever on the look-out for enemy troops on the move, or for any indication of reserves strategically hidden in forest or trench. Sometimes he will see, far off in the distance, long columns of soliders moving along the winding roads, sometimes he will see batteries changing position under his eyes ; and sometimes long trains of troops pulling in on the enemy's interior railways. This information he must carry at once to headquarters for there, after comparing with reports from other observers, the infromation recieved often gives a clue to the foe's intentions.
The observation plane supplements the work of the observation balloon. The latter, form its stationary position, obtains a genrl idea of the dispoition of the foe's forces. With this as a basis, the airplane is sent to make a detailed reconnoissance, in the course of which it will secure information which the ballon could by no means obitain.
Copyright by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection