Aerial reconnaissance using heavier-than-air aircraft was an entirely new science during World War I that had to be developed step-by-step.
Notes on verification
Well corroborated by Smithsonian, academic WWI encyclopedia, and historical monographs describing the incremental, improvised development of aerial reconnaissance during WWI.
Sources
- Aerial reconnaissance in World War I (en.wikipedia.org)
- https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/reconnaissance-and-observation/ (encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net)
- https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Aerial_reconnaissance_in_World_War_I (military-history.fandom.com)
- https://infogalactic.com/info/Aerial_reconnaissance_in_World_War_I (infogalactic.com)
- https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/world-war-i-laboratory-air (airandspace.si.edu)
- https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/shooting-front-allied-aerial-reconnaissance-and-photographic-interpretation-western-front (bookstore.gpo.gov)