What was the first fighter plane used?

At the beginning of WW1 planes were first starting to be used by the military of all sides. Popular imagination saw the aeroplane being used as a bomber (HG Wells 'The Shape of Things to Come' was written before the Wright brothers first flight but predicted cities flattened by aerial bombardment). The poor performance of early aircraft ment that bomb loads were small and at the outbreak of WW1 the only practical use was a obervation platforms especailly for artillery spotting. It was noted that artillery fire became much more accurate and effective when aeroplanes were used to spot. It became important therefore to send up other aircraft to remove them.

Thus the first 'fighters' were born. At first these aircraft were similar observation aircraft but pilots would use pistols, rifles grenades and machine guns with varing effects even grappling hooks were tried. The French Morane-Saulnier monoplane, armed with forward firing machine guns through the propeller (protected by armour plates) was introduced in April 1915. This innovating made the scouting aircraft a more effective fighter.
However probably the first true fighter (ie designed only to shoot down other aircraft)was the the German Fokker E1 monoplane with synchronized forward firing machine guns (the guns did not fire when the propeller was in front of the muzzel). This was introduced later that summer. The British adapted the De Havilland DH2 and the Royal Aircraft Factory FE2 with some success later still. The British designs used a "pusher engine" which meant the engine and propeller was in back. This allowed the pilot or a 2nd gunner to fire a machine gun forward without being obstructed by the propellor.

First answer by ID1378597787. Last edit by Custermen. Contributor trust: 314 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 146 [recommend question]