Ottoman Aviation Squadrons

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The Aviation Squadrons of the Ottoman Empire were the military air units of the Ottoman Army and Navy, active from 1909 to 1918. The effort began with early flights and demonstrations in 1909–1911 and the establishment of the Aircraft School in Yeşilköy near Istanbul in 1912, to train Ottoman pilots.

By the end of 1912, the empire had gathered its first pilots and aircraft, many donated or privately funded. The Ottoman air force fought for the first time in the Balkan Wars (1912–1913), mainly performing reconnaissance as the force gained experience and expanded.

World War I accelerated modernization, with German officers and aircraft helping the Ottomans. By 1916 the air force had grown to about 90 airplanes and around 81 pilots and observers. Germany transferred hundreds of planes and a significant number of personnel, and the Ottoman fleet used a wide mix of aircraft from Germany, France, Russia, and Britain, including many models such as Albatros, Fokker, and Gotha types.

Ottoman aviation saw action on several fronts, including Gallipoli (where reconnaissance and attacks were important) and campaigns in Mesopotamia, Western Thrace, Istanbul, and the Caucasus. In July 1918, the squadrons were reorganized as the General Inspectorate of Air Forces (Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettiş-i Umumiliği).

With the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October 1918, Ottoman military aviation effectively ended. At that time there were about 100 pilots, 17 land-based airplane companies (four planes each), and 3 seaplane companies (four planes each), totaling roughly 80 aircraft.