World War One?

Question

Does any one know how the airplane pilots communicated with people on the gound during world war one?

Answer 1

Early in World War One.
The control tower was able to communicate with the aircraft using an Aldis Lamp:

Signal lamp, also called Aldis lamp, is a visual signaling device for optical communication (typically using Morse code) – essentially a focused lamp which can produce a pulse of light.
The lamps were usually equipped with some form of optical sight, and were most commonly used on naval vessels and in airport control towers (using color signals for stop or clearance).
Semaphore was also used:
a system of signaling, esp. a system by which a special flag is held in each hand and various positions of the arms indicate specific letters, numbers, etc.

Later In World War One.
They used radio communication.

American Air Service In World War One.
The pursuit aviation, assigned for the protection of the Corps observation aviation, had as its primary duty what we called a barrage -- a constant stream of patrols moving back and forth, parallel to the front, at altitudes ranging from the ground up to 16,000 feet.
The Pursuit Groups charged with barrage duty kept in the closest liaison with the anti-aircraft artillery, and, in fact, were in constant radio communication with them. In addition, shots of the anti-aircraft artillery were so arranged as to form signals for the pursuit patrols acting at great altitudes, or even closer to the ground, so that they might know in which direction the enemy was to be found, as it is very difficult in many instances to pick up an enemy unaided by the anti-aircraft artillery.

Answer 2

At first it was with flags and dropped notes. sometimes just land back at base and tell then ,or fly low to speak or use hand-signals. Later on some recon planes were given wireless Telegraphs to talk with Ground Personal. The problem was that the ground crew could not send a telegram to the pilots, thanks to the plane not having a receiver system only a sender. The ground Crews still had to use flags to tell the pilot were to go. Just how ships talked to each other at sea.

Looked into it more: the Aldis Lamp was also used in planes. It was used like a telegraph, communicating with mores code

Answer 3

well they didnt have radios so they probably would use some kinda basic hand signals for any communications...interesting side note on the old wood and canvas planes. if you were "going down" to jump out (because there were no ejector seats) they would have to release a small wooden latch door beside the cockpit so they could climb out BUT due to the massive forces of the wind rushing past at high speed this was incredibly difficult to do due to the streamlined shape of the plane the pressure forced the door to stay up instead of folding down so sadly alot more people died than should have. but nonetheless interesting to think something like that went unnoticed during construction/design etc

Answer 4

Very poorly. For artillery spotting and observation balloons were popular, as they could have a telephone link along the tether.

Photographic reconnaissance rapidly become of value, but involved returning to base.

A quicker reporting method for aircraft involved dropping messages in canisters with a coloured streamer ribbon.

Artillery spotter aircraft carried morse wireless *transmitters*, at such severe weight penalty that they could not also carry *receivers*.

Answer 5

they use walkie-talkie..... american used indians to do their communication to disguise the communication from the japanese. because japanase assume americans to make use of english.... During the world war I... there is so few communication made exept for encripted one. which have been so secretive. Important commucation was given personally before the deploy or mission. In the battle field the radio monitored the position of the battalions as with reference for the pilots, although this ahve to be less accurate. unlike today, that the pilot can now easily monitor the positions of their battalions by using satelite tracking anytime.

Answer 6

They didn't have radios or radar during the first world war.
The pilots reported their 'hits' when they landed and the other side confirmed them
tp

Answer 7

The airplane pilots communicated by using radios i think if my memory is good.

Answer 8

Hand signals only. No radios

Answer 9

Simple, they did not.