The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat biplane dive bomber and close-support aircraft flown by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War and the early to middle of World War II. It proved to be robust, durable and effective especially in severe conditions. It continued to see front-line service until 1944, only to be withdrawn due to a lack of serviceable airframes and spare parts.
Henschel Hs 123
A squadron of Luftwaffe Henschel Hs 123As in flight before the Second World War
Henschel Hs 123 on the Eastern Front
Hs 123A-1
In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as aerial warfare actions—often air-to-ground actions such as strafes or airstrikes—by military aircraft against hostile targets in close proximity to friendly forces. A form of fire support, CAS requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of all forces involved. CAS may be conducted using aerial bombs, glide bombs, missiles, rockets, autocannons, machine guns, and even directed-energy weapons such as lasers.
U.S. Air Force joint terminal attack controllers watching an A-10 Thunderbolt II provide close air support during a live fire exercise
The F.E 2d was one of the first aircraft to be used for close air support in 1917 (the observer is demonstrating the use of the rear-firing Lewis gun).
The Junkers J.I, a First World War German ground-attack aircraft
The British used air power extensively during the interwar period to police areas in the Middle East.
