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

Other views: Larger, Larger

On June 13, 1917, fourteen Gotha bombers of Bombing Squadron No. 3 - the Englandgeschwader (English Squadron) - conducted the first daylight raid on London. After an attack with 22 planes on July 7, the Squadron began night raids as the English defenses improved. Bombing runs of England were ended in May 1918.

The Gothas bombed Paris repeatedly in early 1918.

The planes were built by the Gothaer Waggonfabrik A.G. of Berlin and first produced in late 1916.

Engine: two Mercedes 260hp, rear-facing (pushers)

Maximum speed: 141kph/87.5mph at sea level; 116kph/72mph at 12,000ft; ceiling: 6,492m/21,300ft; endurance 4hrs; range: 486km/302mi

Length: 23.7m/77ft 9 in. Wingspan: 23.7m/77ft 8in

Armament: Front and rear 7.92mm Maxim IMG Parabellum machine guns; eight 220 lbs/100 kg. bombs. Some versions of the plane had a 'gun tunnel,' an opening in the bottom of the fuselage through which the rear gunner could fire at a plane attacking from below.

Crew: three: pilot, front and rear gunners

Gotha G.V is an aircraft: heavy bomber.

Some books about Gotha G.V (1)

Title	Author
German Bombers of WWI in Action	Peter Cooksley