1-144 WWI French Armée de l'Air Roundels

The French WWI air service, initially part of the Army (Aéronautique Militaire), grew from a small reconnaissance force into the world's largest air force by 1918, pioneering aerial tactics, developing fighter planes, and forming legendary units like the Lafayette Escadrille (American volunteers), eventually becoming the independent Armée de l'Air later in 1934, but it was crucial in early innovation like Roland Garros's propeller gun-shield before the synchronized machine gun took over.