The Military Air-Scouts (1911)

The story takes place three years into the future. Events represented take place in 1914 when supposedly there is a war between the United European States and the United States of America. The hero is commissioned to fly over the enemy's fleet in a war aeroplane and destroy them. This he does by dropping bombs. He is then told to spy upon their land forces, but his aeroplane is brought to earth by a portable gun of the enemy that shoots directly into midair.