Supply of air warfare vehicles in the establishment process of Turkish military aviation (1911-1914)

The Turkish military aviation organization began to be established in the same period as other European states. During the establishment process of aviation, it was acted in line with the reports of the attaché-military. The use of airplanes for the first time in the Turkish- Italian War brought a new dimension to the wars. The Ottoman Empire started to search for air warfare elements to use airplanes and balloons in this war. Various attempts have been unsuccessful. Moreover, the state was defrauded during these searches. It was not possible to develop the air power organization in a more favorable environment. The fact that the Ottoman Empire was an importer of airplanes and the obligation to send officers to Europe for pilot training caused economic problems. It was decided to establish an airplane school and center in Ayastefanos in order to eliminate the pilot training deficiency. However, the efficient use of the donations collected for the purchase of aircraft was only possible when Süreyya (İlmen) Bey went on a trip to Europe. Inspections were made in many airplane and balloon factories in Europe. The insistence of the Minister of War, Mahmut Şevket Pasha, for the supply of aircraft and balloons was very effective in the process. The first air fleet created as a result of these investigations was used as a combat element in the Balkan War. The aircraft, which could not be used effectively in the first phase of the war, then successfully performed their reconnaissance missions. After the end of the war, a prestige trip was organized to increase the interest in the donations collected from the public. Military air travel to Istanbul Cairo-Alexandria resulted in the loss of three Turkish aviators.