German strategic bombing during World War I
Encyclopedia
As the First World War unfolded, aircraft, which had previously been dismissed as having little military value, began to prove their critics wrong. As a result of these initial experiences, the armed forces on both sides began to put considerable thought into concepts for highly specialized types of combat aircraft. Not all of these concepts survived the test of combat. One such concept was that of a "battle-plane:" a large, heavily-armed, multi-engined aircraft designed to be a fighter aircraft
. The battle-planes proved to be unable to fight more maneuverable single seat fighters such as the German Fokker Eindecker
, the British Airco DH.2
and the French Nieuport 11
but they did prove highly successful when they were fitted with bomb racks and pressed into service as medium bombers. In Germany, these battle-planes were assigned the designation "K" (Kampfflugzeug) but once they had been re-assigned to the bomber role they were assigned the designation "G" (Großflugzeug) to identify them as bombers.
s (airships) performed about 50 strategic bombing raids during World War I.
The "Gotha Raids" were specific to a phase of aeroplane bombing raids conducted by Germany into Great Britain during the First World War.
In late 1916, Germany began planning a daylight bombing offensive against England called Operation Türkenkreuz. In anticipation of the campaign, Kagohl (Kampfgeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung) 3 (also nicknamed the "England Geschwader"), comprising six Kastas (Kampfstaffel) under the command of Hauptmann Ernst Brandenburg was formed. By this time, England had succeeded in dealing with the Zeppelin
s threat when six were destroyed over England. Taken together with the reduction in Zeppelin raids over the winter, by the spring of 1917 there was a general lessening of concern in the country over German air raids
. This was not unanimous, as there continued to be calls in Parliament for retaliation against German military targets.
Due to increasing losses at the Western Front
and a resurgence of unrestricted German submarine warfare, resources were moved from raid protection.
Politically, a long-standing problem with regard to the means of aircraft production had largely been resolved by early 1917. The result was an increase in the numbers of aero-engines being produced but this contributed to complacency regarding attack from the air in the period.
For German planners, the bombing of targets in Britain had been a long term goal. Shortages of suitable long-range aircraft, the distance of bases from the targets and the demands of the front had limited operations to occasional 'tip and run' raids which by the end of 1916 had killed 25 people.
With the availability of the Gotha G.IV
in March 1917, Germany had a suitable aircraft. Kagohl 3, now known informally as the Englandgeschwader operated from Sint-Denijs-Westrem and Gontrode in the Ghent
area of German-occupied Belgium
. British raids on these bases forced Kagohl 3 to move to Mariakerke and Oostakker. In March and April, the unit was equipped with the first batch of G.IV aircraft.
due to mechanical difficulties. Poor weather forced the remaining bombers to divert to secondary targets at the Channel port of Folkestone
and the nearby Army camp at Shorncliffe
. The raid resulted in 95 deaths and 195 injuries, mostly in the Folkestone area. In Shorncliffe, 18 soldiers (16 Canadian and two British) were killed, 90 were wounded.
Nine Royal Naval Air Service
(RNAS) Sopwith Pup
s engaged the returning bombers near the Belgian coast, shooting one down.
A second attack on 5 June 1917 was diverted to Sheerness in Kent but in a third attack on 13 June, resulted in the first daylight raid on London, causing 162 deaths and 432 injuries. Among the dead were 46 children killed by a bomb falling on a kindergarten
in Poplar
. This was the deadliest air raid of the war; no Gothas were lost. In 1938, Air Commodore Lionel Charlton
described the raid as "the beginning of a new epoch in the history of warfare."
The reason for the relatively large numbers of casualties seems to have been ignorance as to the threat posed by aerial bombardment of a city in daylight. An Royal Flying Corps (RFC) pilot on leave recorded that: ...Raids hadn't become a very serious thing and everybody crowded out into the street to watch. They didn't take cover or dodge. Lt Charles Chabot, 39 Squadron RFC.
As there had been little planning, early attempts to intercept the Gothas were ineffectual. Large numbers of British aircraft were put into the air but were unable to climb high enough to engage the bombers.
Captain James McCudden
was part of the engaging force of 92 aircraft in the London raid but due to the performance of his machine had no success in intercepting the force.
A further Gotha raid of 22 aircraft was made on 7 July 1917, resulting in 54 deaths and 190 injuries. Many of these casualties were caused by falling anti-aircraft shells
.One hundred sorties were flown against the formation, resulting in one Gotha shot down and three damaged. Two fighters were shot down by the Gothas.
Between May and August 1917, Kagohl 3 carried out eight daylight raids over England, including three raids on London.
s and anti-aircraft fire, they greatly complicated navigation
and landing. Many damaged aircraft limped back to their airfields, only to be lost in landing accidents.
In December 1917, Kagohl 3 was renamed Bogohl 3 . Unlike other Bogohls, which consisted of three Bostas (Bombenstaffel), Bogohl 3 retained its original strength of six staffeln.
Heavy losses forced Bogohl 3 to stand down from combat operations in February 1918. On the night of 19 May 1918, the Gothas returned to England for the last and largest raid of the war. Bogohl 3 sent 38 Gothas against London but suffered heavy losses. Six Gothas were shot down by interceptors and anti-aircraft fire and a seventh aircraft was lost in a landing accident. After this raid, Gothas were restricted to tactical strikes along the Western Front.
Gothas carried out 22 raids on England, dropping 186830 lb (84,744.7 kg) of bombs for the loss of 61 aircraft.
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
. The battle-planes proved to be unable to fight more maneuverable single seat fighters such as the German Fokker Eindecker
Fokker Eindecker
The Fokker Eindecker was a German World War I monoplane single-seat fighter aircraft designed by Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker. Developed in April 1915, the Eindecker was the first purpose-built German fighter aircraft and the first aircraft to be fitted with synchronizer gear, enabling the pilot...
, the British Airco DH.2
Airco DH.2
|-DH.2 aces:Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included Victoria Cross winner Lanoe Hawker , who was the first commander of No 24 Squadron and ace Alan Wilkinson. The commander of No. 32 Squadron, Lionel Rees won the Victoria Cross flying the D.H.2 for single handedly attacking a formation of 10...
and the French Nieuport 11
Nieuport 11
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzio, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. New York: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4....
but they did prove highly successful when they were fitted with bomb racks and pressed into service as medium bombers. In Germany, these battle-planes were assigned the designation "K" (Kampfflugzeug) but once they had been re-assigned to the bomber role they were assigned the designation "G" (Großflugzeug) to identify them as bombers.
Zeppelin bombings
ZeppelinZeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
s (airships) performed about 50 strategic bombing raids during World War I.
Operation Türkenkreuz – the Gotha Raids
In late 1916, Germany began planning a daylight bombing offensive against England called Operation Türkenkreuz. In anticipation of the campaign, Kagohl (Kampfgeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung) 3 (also nicknamed the "England Geschwader"), comprising six Kastas (Kampfstaffel) under the command of Hauptmann Ernst Brandenburg was formed. By this time, England had succeeded in dealing with the Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
s threat when six were destroyed over England. Taken together with the reduction in Zeppelin raids over the winter, by the spring of 1917 there was a general lessening of concern in the country over German air raids
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
. This was not unanimous, as there continued to be calls in Parliament for retaliation against German military targets.
Due to increasing losses at the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
and a resurgence of unrestricted German submarine warfare, resources were moved from raid protection.
Politically, a long-standing problem with regard to the means of aircraft production had largely been resolved by early 1917. The result was an increase in the numbers of aero-engines being produced but this contributed to complacency regarding attack from the air in the period.
For German planners, the bombing of targets in Britain had been a long term goal. Shortages of suitable long-range aircraft, the distance of bases from the targets and the demands of the front had limited operations to occasional 'tip and run' raids which by the end of 1916 had killed 25 people.
With the availability of the Gotha G.IV
Gotha G.IV
|-See also:...
in March 1917, Germany had a suitable aircraft. Kagohl 3, now known informally as the Englandgeschwader operated from Sint-Denijs-Westrem and Gontrode in the Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
area of German-occupied Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. British raids on these bases forced Kagohl 3 to move to Mariakerke and Oostakker. In March and April, the unit was equipped with the first batch of G.IV aircraft.
Early daylight Gotha raids
On 25 May 1917, Kagohl 3 sent 23 Gothas for a daylight raid on London but two were forced to turn back over the North SeaNorth Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
due to mechanical difficulties. Poor weather forced the remaining bombers to divert to secondary targets at the Channel port of Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
and the nearby Army camp at Shorncliffe
Shorncliffe
Shorncliffe can refer to:* Shorncliffe, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane in Australia** Shorncliffe railway line, to the suburb** Shorncliffe railway station, Brisbane, in the suburb...
. The raid resulted in 95 deaths and 195 injuries, mostly in the Folkestone area. In Shorncliffe, 18 soldiers (16 Canadian and two British) were killed, 90 were wounded.
Nine Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
(RNAS) Sopwith Pup
Sopwith Pup
The Sopwith Pup was a British single seater biplane fighter aircraft built by the Sopwith Aviation Company. It entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service in the autumn of 1916. With pleasant flying characteristics and good maneuverability, the aircraft proved very...
s engaged the returning bombers near the Belgian coast, shooting one down.
A second attack on 5 June 1917 was diverted to Sheerness in Kent but in a third attack on 13 June, resulted in the first daylight raid on London, causing 162 deaths and 432 injuries. Among the dead were 46 children killed by a bomb falling on a kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
in Poplar
Poplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
. This was the deadliest air raid of the war; no Gothas were lost. In 1938, Air Commodore Lionel Charlton
Lionel Charlton
Air Commodore Lionel Evelyn Oswald Charlton CB, CMG, DSO, RAF was a British infantry officer who served in the Second Boer War. During World War I, Charlton held several command and staff posts in the Royal Flying Corps, finishing the war as a brigadier-general...
described the raid as "the beginning of a new epoch in the history of warfare."
The reason for the relatively large numbers of casualties seems to have been ignorance as to the threat posed by aerial bombardment of a city in daylight. An Royal Flying Corps (RFC) pilot on leave recorded that: ...Raids hadn't become a very serious thing and everybody crowded out into the street to watch. They didn't take cover or dodge. Lt Charles Chabot, 39 Squadron RFC.
As there had been little planning, early attempts to intercept the Gothas were ineffectual. Large numbers of British aircraft were put into the air but were unable to climb high enough to engage the bombers.
Captain James McCudden
James McCudden
James Thomas Byford McCudden VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar, MM was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
was part of the engaging force of 92 aircraft in the London raid but due to the performance of his machine had no success in intercepting the force.
A further Gotha raid of 22 aircraft was made on 7 July 1917, resulting in 54 deaths and 190 injuries. Many of these casualties were caused by falling anti-aircraft shells
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
.One hundred sorties were flown against the formation, resulting in one Gotha shot down and three damaged. Two fighters were shot down by the Gothas.
Between May and August 1917, Kagohl 3 carried out eight daylight raids over England, including three raids on London.
Further night raids
Beginning in September 1917, improved British air defenses forced Kagohl 3 to abandon daylight raids. While night raids provided a measure of protection from interceptorInterceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
s and anti-aircraft fire, they greatly complicated navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
and landing. Many damaged aircraft limped back to their airfields, only to be lost in landing accidents.
In December 1917, Kagohl 3 was renamed Bogohl 3 . Unlike other Bogohls, which consisted of three Bostas (Bombenstaffel), Bogohl 3 retained its original strength of six staffeln.
Heavy losses forced Bogohl 3 to stand down from combat operations in February 1918. On the night of 19 May 1918, the Gothas returned to England for the last and largest raid of the war. Bogohl 3 sent 38 Gothas against London but suffered heavy losses. Six Gothas were shot down by interceptors and anti-aircraft fire and a seventh aircraft was lost in a landing accident. After this raid, Gothas were restricted to tactical strikes along the Western Front.
Gothas carried out 22 raids on England, dropping 186830 lb (84,744.7 kg) of bombs for the loss of 61 aircraft.