<P> World War I was the first major conflict involving the large - scale use of aircraft . Tethered observation balloons had already been employed in several wars, and would be used extensively for artillery spotting . Germany employed Zeppelins for reconnaissance over the North Sea and Baltic and also for strategic bombing raids over Britain and the Eastern Front . </P> <P> Aeroplanes were just coming into military use at the outset of the war . Initially, they were used mostly for reconnaissance . Pilots and engineers learned from experience, leading to the development of many specialized types, including fighters, bombers, and trench strafers . </P>

Were there planes in the first world war