"Basic WW1 aerial combat information" Topic

My pals and I have recently started on WW1 gaming: specifically using 'Great War Spearhead'.

The rules allow for aircraft but the information is scant & sometimes contradictory. I've undertaken to organise some "bolt-on" rules. I will readily acknowledge my grasp of the subject is scanty.

Clearly, the main point of the game is land based and any rules for aircraft should be simple.
So am I correct in surmising I should allow for the three roles of air warfare in the period: observation, bombing and fighter-interception?

Were mid & late war planes designed solely for one task or the other? Is there a website with some clear information on aircraft types, function, capabilities?

Any references that you could steer me towards would be gratefully accepted.

Sopwith Salamander was explicitly designed for the ground attack role with extensive armor and strengthened structure.

Try to google canvas eagles and find the blue max/canvas eagles web site. Lots of good info there.

Second the recommendation for checking out Canvas Eagles/Blue Max.

We use them all the time at the local club for WWI aerial combat, with 1/144th scale minis.

A site which has a bit (small bit) of info about
over 200 different types of WWI aircraft (some
are one only prototypes):

link

The following URL goes to a site which has a number
of accessible pages with different info on some of
the major aircraft, some of the better known 'names'
involved in the air war and similar items:

link

Thanks for this. It'll certainly be enough to begin with.

A 4th role was trench strafing.

Interception was as likely to be of observers or bombers, the fighters were what you had to fight to get to the observers or bombers.