The French Army Air Service was formed in October 1910. France led the world in early aircraft design and by 1912 five squadrons were in service with field armies, each equipped with six aircraft. By August 1914 the French had 132 aircraft (Farman MF7, Farman HF-20 and Bleriot XI).

In the early months of the First World War the French Army Air Service provided accurate reconnaissance before the Battle of the Marne. Heavy losses forced the French government in 1915 to order another 2,300 machines. This included the Nieuport II, Farman MF-II, the Voisin V and the Morane-Saulnier.

By 1916 French aircraft manufacturers were producing nearly 500 machines a month. However, losses were so heavy that by the start of the summer offensive France had only 1,149 aircraft on the Western Front. Production was increased and in April 1917, numbers of available aircraft had reached 2,870. By the Armistice the French Army Air Service had 3,222 aircraft and 127,630 men.

Leading French Air Aces of the First World War included Rene Fonck (75 victories), Georges Guynemer (53 victories), Charles Nungesser (43 victories) and George Madon (41 victories).