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When the U.S. joined World War I in 1917, what planes did its pilots fly in combat?

British and French planes; no American-designed combat plane saw action.

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  1. British and French planes ✔
  2. Brand new American fighters
  3. Mostly German planes they captured

Why: The U.S. had very few military planes when it entered the war. Congress promised thousands of new aircraft, but American squadrons ended up flying planes built in Britain and France.

Huh, didn't know that: By 1912 the world's major countries had all formed military flying services.

The dad joke
Why did the American pilots borrow planes? They forgot to pack their wings.
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References

Answer: British and French planes. The U.S. had very few military planes when it entered the war. Congress promised thousands of new aircraft, but American squadrons ended up flying planes built in Britain and France.

  1. CAP Teacher's Guide for Aerospace: The Journey of Flight (lesson outlines) www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/2nd_edition_Teachers_Guide_5D3166D76F9B1.pdf
    they were all flying British and French aircraft
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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