What was a primary use of aircraft in the early 20th century military contexts?

In the early 20th century, one of the primary uses of aircraft in military contexts was surveillance and reconnaissance. This period marked the infancy of military aviation, where the primary objective of using aircraft was to gather intelligence and conduct observations of enemy movements and positions. The ability to fly at altitudes that provided a bird's-eye view was revolutionary, enabling armies to assess battlefields, locate troop concentrations, and identify supply lines that were previously hidden from ground forces.

While combat missions against enemy aircraft began to emerge later in World War I, and transporting troops became more relevant in later conflicts, the early utility of military aircraft was largely focused on reconnaissance. This function laid the groundwork for the development of more advanced military aviation tactics and strategies, emphasizing the crucial role of aerial observation in achieving operational success. Aerial refueling operations were not developed until much later, as they required advancements in technology that were not available during the early 20th century.