AEG G.I and successor aircraft

The AEG G.I was the first bomber of the company AEG, which should replace the outdated Zeppelins and should take over the task of tactical bombardments. But only the AEG G.IV bomber could fulfill the expectations.

 

Development and construction:

Shortly after the beginning of World War I, it became apparent that the Zeppelins used by the Germans could no longer take on the task of tactical bombardment. These were simply too slow, cumbersome and easy targets for the enemy air defense and aircraft. Even frequent accidents led to a high loss of Zeppelin, which led to the end of 1914, the German army command to the aircraft manufacturers, the order to develop a moderately heavy bomber, which could carry a bomb load of 250 to 300 kg and faster than Zeppelins was.

At the beginning of 1915, the company AEG was able to present the prototype of the fighter I (K.I), which was a two-piece, taut biplane in wood construction. Only later was this aircraft designated as G.I. The crew consisted of a pilot and an observer who sat in a pulpit in front of the pilot and also operated the machine gun. The aircraft was equipped with two water-cooled inline engines Mercedes D I each with 105 hp. However, these engines were completely inadequate for this bomber, so that only a few aircraft were built by the AEG G.I and these were used almost exclusively for testing.

 

In the AEG G.II, the span was first increased and at the rear of the fuselage another pulpit installed, where a third crew member took place and also used a machine gun to protect the aircraft against attacks from behind. Equipped was the G.II with the slightly stronger Benz Bz III engines with 150 hp each. Even with this prototype, the performance of the engines was too low to commission a series production.

 

The G.III developed and presented only a few later had two Mercedes
D IV engines with 220 hp each. Although these engines were not yet sufficient for such a bomber, but were of this type around 120 aircraft built and used at the front.

 

End of 1916, the AEG G.IV was presented, which differed externally only by a modified aileron of the G.III, technically, however, was much more mature and its equipment significantly contributed to improving the operational capability. Thus, two Mercedes D IVa engines with 260 hp were installed, which provided a significant increase in performance. Furthermore, the crew was able to change places when needed because of the passageways in the fuselage, had heatable aviator clothing and had the newly developed Zeiss bomb targeting device on board, which was much more accurate and could also be used at night. Thus the G.III counted among the first, full-fledged bombers of the German air force and was with 217 built airplanes one of the most produced German bombers of the war.

 

 

 

Use in the First World War:

When the first G.I bombers were introduced, they were designed to fight ground targets as well as enemy aircraft. After a test flight of the well-known Manfred von Richthofen, however, said this, that such aircraft against enemy aircraft would be completely useless. So the order was spent only for tactical bombardments.

Neither the AEG G.I nor the G.II had deployments at the front because these aircraft were totally inappropriate. From the G.III were only up to 20 aircraft at the front, as these were also not yet mature enough.

Although the AEG G.IV could not keep up with the bombers of the Gotha or Friedrichshafen types also used, for individual tactical bombardments and in support of the infantry they proved to be very well suited. Among other things, Saloniki, Bucharest, Verona, Venice, Padua and Paris were bombarded by these aircraft.

At the end of the war, around 50 aircraft of the AEG G.III and G.IV were still in use on all fronts. The only surviving copy of an AEG G.IV is now exhibited at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.

 

 

 

Technical specifications:

Designation:	AEG G.I
Country:	German Empire
Typ:	Bomber
Length:	8,65 meters
Span:	16 meters
Height:	3,46 meters
Mass:	1160kg empty
Crew:	Max. 2
Engine:	two water-cooled inline engines Mercedes D I each with 105 hp
Maximum speed:	125 km/h
Reach:	450 kilometers
Armament:	1 x 7,9 mm machine gun (500 cartridges each) and up to 200 kg bombs

 

 

 

 

Designation:	AEG G.II
Country:	German Empire
Typ:	Bomber
Length:	11 meters
Span:	20 meters
Height:	3,46 meters
Mass:	1160kg empty
Crew:	Max. 3
Engine:	two water-cooled in-line engines Benz Bz III with 150 hp each
Maximum speed:	125 km/h
Reach:	700 kilometers
Armament:	2 x 7,9 mm Parabellum machine guns 14 (500 cartridges each) and up to 200 kg bombs

 

 

 

 

 

Designation:	AEG G.III
Country:	German Empire
Typ:	Bomber
Length:	9,2 meters
Span:	18,44 meters
Height:	3,46 meters
Mass:	2000kg empty
Crew:	Max. 3
Engine:	two water-cooled inline engines Mercedes D IV with each 220 hp
Maximum speed:	150 km/h
Reach:	700 kilometers
Armament:	2 x 7,9 mm Parabellum machine guns 14 (500 cartridges each) and up to 300 kg bombs

 

 

 

 

 

Designation:	AEG G.IV
Country:	German Empire
Typ:	Bomber
Length:	9,85 meters
Span:	18,44 meters
Height:	3,89 meters
Mass:	2400kg empty
Crew:	Max. 3
Engine:	two water-cooled inline engines Mercedes D IVa with each 260 hp
Maximum speed:	165 km/h
Reach:	700 kilometers
Armament:	2 x 7,9 mm Parabellum machine guns 14 (500 cartridges each) and up to 400 kg bombs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can find the right literature here:

 

Fokker Dr I Aces of World War 1 (Aircraft of the Aces)

Undoubtedly the most famous fighter type to see service on either side during World War 1, the Fokker Dr I was a revelation when it entered service on the western front in 1917. Manfred von Richthofen’s JG 1 ‘circus’ was the first Jasta to completely re-equip with the new fighter, and in the skilled hands of its numerous aces the Dr I proved a formidable opponent. The Dr I remained in service on the Western Front until replaced by the superior Fokker D VII in May 1918. Just weeks prior to that, however, Germany’s leading ace, the great ‘Red Baron’, had been killed at the controls of a Dr I.

Click here!

 

 

Friedrichshafen Aircraft of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes (Great War Aviation) (Volume 21)

This book describes and illustrates the development of Friedrichshafen aircraft of WWI with text, 540 photos, 18 in color, 37 color profiles, production quantities and serial numbers of aircraft, and aircraft dimensions and performance specifications. In addition, there are 26 official SVK drawings and 11 aircraft are illustrated in scale drawings to 1/48 (4) or 1/72 (7) scales. The book has 312 pages and is of interest to aviation historians, enthusiasts, and modelers alike.

Click here!

 

 

German and Austro-Hungarian Aircraft Manufacturers 1908-1918

Much has been written about the British aircraft of the First World War, but little has surfaced about the aircraft of the Axis powers, Germany and Austria. Here, Terry C. Treadwell tells the story of the aircraft from companies such as Fokker, builder of the famous triplane, as fl own by Baron von Richthofen's Flying Circus, AEG, Albatros, Junkers and Hansa. From reconnaissance aircraft to state-of-the-art bombers that could reach London, this is the definitive guide to aircraft of the Axis powers during the First World War. The aircraft are explained in detail and a history of each company is provided, making this an excellent source book for aircraft enthusiasts, model makers and those interested in the air war over the trenches of France and Belgium, as well as further afield in the Italian campaign.

Click here!

 

 

The Zeppelin in Combat: A History of the German Naval Airship Division

The standard reference now revised and expanded. Dr. Robinson has opened up his vast photo archives to enhance this new edition of his classic work. Much of the new photographic material is published here for the first time.

Click here!

 

 

 

 

 

This post is also available in: Deutsch (German) Français (French) Italiano (Italian) 简体中文 (Chinese (Simplified)) Русский (Russian) Español (Spanish) العربية (Arabic)