How did the aerial camerawork in Wings create a documentary-like style?

In the 1927 film Wings, director William Wellman utilized his personal experience as a pilot during World War I to achieve a high degree of authenticity.1

The film's documentary-like style was primarily established through its groundbreaking aerial camerawork and the spectacular staging of airborne combat sequences. By placing cameras directly in the aircraft, Wellman captured the visceral reality of flight and dogfighting, moving beyond the static or studio-bound techniques common at the time. This immersive approach, combined with his deep technical knowledge of aviation, allowed the film to set a new standard for realism in cinema, effectively bridging the gap between dramatic storytelling and the raw, observed quality of documentary footage.1