مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - TURKISH AIR EXPEDITION IN PALESTINE FRONT

Abstract :

Aviation is one of the first of the developments in the world which would cause a dramatic change in military service in the last years of Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman, focused on the technical developments to survive while trying to protect its unity and send away the aims of countries which were coveting its lands. Taking a big hit from the Balkan and Tripoli Battles, Ottoman Army initiated a reconstruction for the modernization of the troops. It was a huge deficiency that The Ottoman had to go to World War I without having enough time for these modernization endeavors. Ottoman Empire had to fight in this big war in a 5 million km² square field in lots of fronts. Palestine front is one of those fronts. It was opened as “Channel Front” and was called as “Sina-Palestine” and “Syria-Palestine”. 4th Army Commander was assigned under the command of Cemal Pasha for the front. Channel expedition and Gazze Battle were the most important struggles. During war, lots of aircraft troops were assigned. These troops are; 3rd, 4th and 14th aircraft troops and 6th plane troop described as German Pasha Troop. Palestine front is still alive from today’s perspective and consists of important things to be learned when investigated. It is possible to see how successful a trained and technologically advanced army can be is seen in actions of both sides. Palestine is a front in which Turkish air units recorded great victories in its history and on basis of this; they hit 104 enemy aircrafts and held the air supremacy until the last year of the war. Palestine front, at the same time, is a place where heroic army of Ottoman Empire which could not complete its financial and industrial development and establish air industry was defeated in deep grief.