The War in the Air - Bombers: Germany, Gotha and Giant - Helpers

A more successful bomber force of 36 airplanes was organized in the Bruges region, which carried out its first night raid, against Dunkirk, in January of 1915.? This unit was planning to run raids against Britain, but before they could about half of them were transferred to the Eastern Front and provided tactical support to the German breakthrough at Gorlice-Tarnow.

The Germans then concentrated their bomber activities on the Zeppelin fleet, until by mid 1916 it was clear to all (excluding Strasser, the naval airship fleet commander) that the airships were not succeeding as expected.

In the autumn of 1916 the Germans began to equip with the Gotha twin engined bomber.? Of a pusher layout, these aircraft could fly at 15,000 feet, above contemporary fighter's maximum height.? With a range of 800 km (500 miles) and a bomb load of up to 500 kg (1,100 lb), the Gothas were designed to carry out attacks across the channel against Britain.

A group of four squadrons was established in Belgium, and they carried out their first bombing raid towards the end of May, 1917.? This 22 plane sortie, against the town of Folkestone, caused 95 deaths.? In mid June a force of 18 Gothas attacked London in broad daylight.? They were met by over 90 British fighters, but not one Gotha was brought down.? This bombing raid caused 162 deaths.

On the 7th of July 1917 over a hundred defensive sorties were flown against a 22 plane Gotha raid.? In this case one Gotha was shot down, and three were damaged, at the cost of two fighters shot down by the Gotha's defensive gunners.? It was only when the RFC began to equip their home defences with Sopwith Camels that the Gothas began to suffer serious losses and were forced to switch to night attacks.