A large German bomber, capable of bombing England. The plane is powered by two engines, and holds a crew of three with a pilot and front and rear gunners. The plane is likely a Gotha bomber, originally built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik, then built under license by Siemens-Schukert Werke and Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (LVG). Note the ground crew pushing on the lower wing and the men holding the tail up as the plane is moved backwards. Sanke postcard number 1040.

Deutsches Riesen-Flugzeug

(Englandflieger)



1040

Postkartenvertrieb W. Sanke

Berlin No. 37

Nachdruck wird gerichtlich verfolgt



German giant aircraft

(England flyer)



1040

Postcard distributor W. Sanke

Berlin No. 37

Reproduction will be prosecuted

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Friday, May 25, 1917

"As the nights grew shorter, even the prospect of Zeppelin raids seemed remote. The people of England trustingly turned their thoughts to more pleasant things, such as the coming of summer and the approaching Whitsun holiday.

This supreme but misguided sense of security was completely shattered when German bombs tumbled down on Tontine Street in Folkestone late in the afternoon of 25 May 1917. The shoppers in the crowded street were given no warning. Earsplitting explosions smashed shop windows, splintered beams, and sent bricks and rubble cascading into the roadway. Then all was quiet except for the cries and moans of the injured."

Quotation Context

Zeppelin raids England had killed civilians, but the airships increasingly fell victim to bad weather and improved British defenses. Six new high-altitude Zeppelin capable of climbing to four miles targeted London the night of May 23/24, 1917, but turned back before reaching their goal. The attack on Folkstone, west of Dover on the English Channel coast, by 21 twin-engine Gotha G.V bombers on May 25 caused more damage than any Zeppelin raid: 95 killed and 195 wounded. Whitsun or Whitsunday is the name used in the Anglican and Methodist churches for Pentecost, the moveable feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his death. Pentecost fell on May 27, 1917.

Source

The Sky on Fire by Raymond H. Fredette by Raymond H. Fredette, page 19, copyright © 1966, 1976, 1991 by Raymond H. Fredette, publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press, publication date: 1991

Tags

1917-05-25, 1917, May, Folkestone, Gotha, Gotha G.V Bomber, Gotha G.V