First Strike!: The Cuxhaven Raid, Christmas Day 1914

First Strike looks at, well, the «first strike» by British airplanes. On Christmas Day, 1914, float planes were brought near land by the earliest «seaplane tenders» and turned loose on an «air reconnaissance» by planes which just happened to be carrying bombs and looking for Zeppelin sheds. There was also hope of luring out the German fleet, and an unexpected result of having the British naval force attacked by German airplanes.

Who would guess the very first «carrier-based air attack» would happen on Christmas Day, 1914? Yes, it happened! British seaplane tenders supported a «reconnaissance» against the German naval base at Cuxhaven . . . carrying bombs in the hopes of destroying the Zeppelin sheds that were there also. The fleet was attacked by German seaplanes in turn, and a remarkable adventure ended with few casualties on either side. It would make a great movie, but for now, it’s a great game!