Editing Attack aircraft (section)

=== World War I ===

The attack aircraft as a role was defined by its use during [[World War I]], in support of ground forces on battlefields. Battlefield support is generally divided into [[close air support]] and battlefield air interdiction, the first requiring strict and the latter only general cooperation with friendly surface forces.<ref name=sfts>Hallion [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZAdtAIMTReEC&pg=PA5 2010, pp. 3–6.]</ref> Such aircraft also attacked targets in rear areas. Such missions required flying where light anti-aircraft fire<!-- Is it the frequency of AA fire light, or is the AA caliber light? --> was expected and operating at low altitudes to precisely identify targets. Other roles, including those of [[light bomber]]s, [[medium bomber]]s, [[dive bomber]]s, [[Aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance]], [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]]s, [[fighter-bomber]]s, could and did perform air strikes on battlefields.<ref name=cs>Cooling [https://books.google.com/books?id=_mIq1PP0nCEC&pg=PA123 1990, pp. 101, 123.]</ref> All these types could significantly damage ground targets from a low level flight, either by bombing, machine guns, or both.

Attack aircraft came to diverge from bombers and fighters. While bombers could be used on a battlefield, their slower speeds made them extremely vulnerable to ground fire, as did the lighter construction of fighters. The survivability of attack aircraft was improved by their speed/power, protection (i.e. armor panels) and strength of construction;<ref name=cs/>

Germany was the first country to produce dedicated ground-attack aircraft (designated [[Idflieg aircraft designation system|CL-class]] and [[Idflieg aircraft designation system|J-class]]). They were put into use in autumn 1917,<ref>Thetford 1954, p. 56.</ref> during World War I. Most notable was the [[Junkers J.I]], which pioneered the idea of an armored "bathtub", that was both fuselage structure and protection for engine and crew. The British experimented with the [[Sopwith Salamander|Sopwith TF series]] (termed "trench fighters"), although these did not see combat.

The last battles of 1918 on the Western Front demonstrated that ground-attacking aircraft were a valuable component of [[Combined arms|all-arms]] tactics. [[Close air support|Close support]] ground [[strafing]] ([[Machine gun|machine-gunning]]) and tactical bombing of [[infantry]] (especially when moving between trenches and along roads), [[machine gun]] [[Pillbox (military)|post]]s, [[artillery]], and supply formations was a part of the Allied armies' strength in holding German attacks and supporting Allied counter-attacks and offensives. Admittedly, the cost to the Allies was high, with the [[Royal Flying Corps]] sustaining a loss rate approaching 30% among ground-attack aircraft.