In the beginning the belligerent nations had collected the most heterogeneous group of all the airplane models then available.  But the methodical Germans, without delay, supplied their constructors with definite types of machines in order to make their escadrilles harmonious.  At that time they used monoplanes for reconnaissances, without any special arrangement for carrying arms, and incapable of carrying heavy weights; and biplanes for observation, unarmed, and possessing only a makeshift contrivance for launching bombs.  The machines of both these series were two-seated, with the passenger in front.  These were Albatros, Aviatiks, Eulers, Rumplers, and Gothas.  Early in 1915 appeared the Fokkers, which were one-seated, and new two-seated machines, Aviatiks or Albatros, which were more rapid, with the passenger at the rear, and furnished with a revolving turret for the machine-gun.  The German troops engaged in aerostation, aviation, automobile and railway service were grouped as communication troops (Verkehrstruppen), under the direction of the General Inspection of Military Communications.  It was not until the autumn of 1916 that the aerostation, aviation, and aerial defense troops were made independent and, under the title of Luftstreitkraefte (aerial combatant forces), took their position in the order of battle between the pioneers and the communication troops.  But early in the summer of 1915 the progress realized in aviation resulted in its forming a separate branch of the army, with campaign and enemy-chasing escadrilles.

Guynemer was now on the straight road toward aerial combat.  Most of our pilots were still chasing enemy airplanes with one passenger armed with a simple musketoon.  More circumspect than the others, Guynemer had his airplane armed with a machine-gun.  Meanwhile the staff was preparing to reorganize the army escadrilles.  The bold Pegoud had several times fought with too enterprising Fokkers or Aviatiks; Captain Brocard had forced down one of them in flames over Soissons; and the latest recruit of the escadrille, this youngster of a Guynemer, was burning to have his own Boche.

The first entries in his notebook of flights for July, 1915, record expeditions without result, in company with Adjutant Hatin, Lieutenant de Ruppiere, in the region of Noyon, Roye, Ham, and Coucy-le-Chateau.  On the 10th, the chasseurs put to flight three Albatros, while a more rapid Fokker attempted an attack, but turned back having tried a shot at their machine-gun.  On the 16th Guynemer and Hatin dropped bombs on the Chauny railway station; during the bombardment an Aviatik attacked them, they stood his fire, replying as well as they could with their musketoon, and returned to camp uninjured.  Adjutant Hatin was decorated with the Military Medal.  As Hatin was a gourmet, Guynemer went that same evening to Le Bourget to fetch two bottles of Rhine wine to celebrate this family fete.  At Le Bourget he tried the new Nieuport machine, which was the hope of the fighting airplanes.  Finally, on July 19—­memorable date—­his journal records Guynemer’s first victory: