  We introduce a new survey of massive stars in the Galaxy and the Magellanic
Clouds using the Fibre Large Array Multi-Element Spectrograph (FLAMES)
instrument at the Very Large Telescope (VLT). Here we present observations of
269 Galactic stars with the FLAMES-Giraffe Spectrograph (R ~ 25,000), in fields
centered on the open clusters NGC 3293, NGC 4755 and NGC 6611. These data are
supplemented by a further 50 targets observed with the Fibre-Fed Extended Range
Optical Spectrograph (FEROS, R = 48,000). Following a description of our
scientific motivations and target selection criteria, the data reduction
methods are described; of critical importance the FLAMES reduction pipeline is
found to yield spectra that are in excellent agreement with less automated
methods. Spectral classifications and radial velocity measurements are
presented for each star, with particular attention paid to morphological
peculiarities and evidence of binarity. These observations represent a
significant increase in the known spectral content of NGC 3293 and NGC 4755,
and will serve as standards against which our subsequent FLAMES observations in
the Magellanic Clouds will be compared.
