Bruce Caldwell writes 
> 
>Can anyone provide a reference for Tennyson's vision of "battle of the air"? 
> 
 
It's from 'Locksley Hall' 
(source: Poetry X -  http://poetry.poetryx.com/poems/1831/ ) 
 
... 
 
For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, 
Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; 
 
Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails, 
Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales; 
 
Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew 
>From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue; 
 
Far along the world-wide whisper of the south-wind rushing warm, 
With the standards of the peoples plunging thro' the thunder-storm; 
 
Till the war-drum throbb'd no longer, and the battle-flags were furl'd 
In the Parliament of man, the Federation of the world. 
 
Chris R. Tame