Gotha G Series Bombers
The Gotha line of "heavy" bombers was a most important development for bomber aircraft. The Gotha Ursinus GI first flew in 1915, the one pictured above is a GII. The aircraft were improved throughout the war until the GIV series. It was the mainstay of the German strategic bomber program. It was the GIV that participated in the bombing of London and other locales in southern England once the Zeppelins were countered by better aircraft and incendiary bullets. Later versions had biplane tails with twin fins and eliminated the position for the nose gunner. The blunt nose made it possible to place the engines closer together, and, coupled with placing the tailfins in the slipstream, gave better one-engine performance -- making it possible to run the engine at full power. But none of the type G twin-engined biplanes could fly level on one engine. Another feature of the Gotha GIV was a 'tunnel' in the bottom of the tail, that made it possible for the tail gunner to cover the lower rear of the aircraft, making it a most difficult aircraft to successfully attack. The first Allied pilot to down a Gotha did so from directly behind where the gunner was blinded by the tail. However, this manouever would not work well with a good pilot in the Gotha. Barker downed one by firing at long range and damaging an engine, he then swooped down on it. However, there was still a "spirited defence" from both gunners. So it was no easy task to down one, especially when they flew in a tight formation for overlapping defensive fire.
Technical Details
The Gotha G IV carried a crew of three. It was powered by two 260hp Mercedes D IVa engines carried on nacelles between the wings. It's maximum speed was only 88 mph, with a ceiling of 21320 ft and a range of 522 miles. It came armed with two machine guns, one in the nose position, the other in the rear to guard above and below the aircraft. It carried up to 1,100 pounds of bombs.
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Image From: Aircraft of the German Army Air Service. Permission to be requested.