RE.8 WWI Aircraft Aviation Art Print by Aircraft Artist Stephen Chard GAvA

The importance of aerial reconnaissance during the First World War cannot be underestimated and while it is often the fighter aces of the numerous air arms that gain the spot-light, it was actually the spotting machines that gave the Generals the information required to fight a battle.

Britain's Royal Aircraft Factory produced two aircraft for the purpose of Artillery Spotting and General Reconnaissance, the first being the B.E.2 family, first flying in 1913 and the R.E.8, as shown here. The R.E.8  corrected many of the faults of the earlier machine, the most important of which being the re-positioning of the crew with the pilot in front and the gunner/ observer in the rear. 

While considerably better than the earlier B.E, the "Harry Tate" was still a vulnerable aircraft and crews considered the Bristol F.2b to be a much safer aircraft in which to go about their dangerous work.