Air power has come to be seen as a country's first line of defence, but in the First World War views were vastly different. Aircraft was a novelty not always welcomed by the traditionalist military and there were no tactics, doctrine or strategies available for the deployment of air power. Yet, within four years, proponents of the new force were making claims, often extravagant ones, about what aircraft could achieve.

In this book, Robert Grattan traces the remarkable history of the emergence of air power as a force to reckoned with and discusses its dramatic impact on military strategy in the First World War. Discussing the details of aircrafts, their engines and manufacture, including the Fokker, Bristol Fighter, the Zeppelin and the DH2, the weaponry and prominent figures, such as Albert Ball and Werner Voss, The Origins of Air War is indispensable for military historians, aviation and military enthusiasts as well as those interested in strategy.