WWI Allied Bombers
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 Designed in 1916 by Geoffrey de Havilland, the D.H.4 was the only British design manufactured by the Americans. It was easily identified by its rectangular fuselage and deep frontal radiator. Versatile, heavily armed and equipped with a powerful twelve cylinder engine, this biplane daylight bomber was fast. Sometimes called the "Flaming Coffin," its huge fuel tank was dangerously positioned between the pilot and observer, hindering communication. Produced in vast numbers, 6295, of which 4846 were built in the United States, many D.H.4s were modified for civilian air service after the war. |
Airco D.H.4 Country: Great Britain Manufacturer: Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Entered Service: March 1917 Number Built: 6295 Engine(s): Rolls-Royce Eagle VII, 12 cylinder, 375 hp Liberty 12, 12 cylinder, 395 to 421 hp (USA) Wing Span: 42 ft 4½ in 12.92 m Length: 30 ft 8 in 9.35 m Height: 11 ft 3.35 m Gross Weight: 3,472 lb 1,575 kg Speed: 143 mph 230 km/h sea level Ceiling: 23,500 ft 7,163 m Endurance: 6 hr 45 min Crew: 2 Armament: 2-4 machine guns 460 lb 208.7 kg of bombs |
 Used throughout the war, the innovative Breguet Br.14 was a highly successful biplane used by the French, Belgian and American air services. Designed by Louis Breguet in 1916, it was one of the first aircraft constructed with duralumin in the airframe. Rugged and versatile, it was mass produced in several variations, including a seaplane model. Before the end of the war, the Br.14 saw service as a reconnaissance aircraft, a day/night bomber and an air ambulance. This was one of the best bombers the French used. It was produced up until 1926. |
Breguet Br.14B2 Country: France Type: Bomber (B2) and Reconnaissance (A2) Entered Service: Summer of 1917 Number Built: About 5,500 during World War I Engine: Renault 12 Fox, 12 cylinder, 300 hp Wing Span: 47 ft 1¼ in 14.36 m Length: 29 ft 8.87 m Height: 10 ft 10 in 3.3 m Gross Weight: 3,892 lb 1,765 kg Speed: 110 mph 177 km/h at 6,560 ft 2,000 m Ceiling: 19,030 ft 5,800 m Endurance: 2¾ hours Crew: 2 Armament: 2-3 machine guns 661 lb 300 kg of bombs |
 The Caproni three-engined bomber appeared in 1914, powered by three Gnome rotary engines. The production version, equipped with three 100 hp fixed in-line Fiat A 10 engines entered service in the summer of 1915, and it was the most effective bomber of any air force, except for the Russian Sikorsky.Ilya Mourometz. |
Caproni Ca.3 Country: Italy Manufacturer:Caproni Type: Bomber Entered service: summer of 1915 Engines: 3 Isotta Fraschini V.4B 180 hp Length: 11.05 m Height: 3.85 m Empty Weight: 2,650 kg Loaded Weight: 3,650 kg Maximum Speed: 37 km/hr. Wing Span: 22.74 m Ceiling: 4,100 m Endurance: 4 h 45 min Crew: 3 Armament: 3-6 machineguns |
 Caproni Ca.4 Series was patterned along the lines of the Caproni Ca.3 series of biplane bombers, the larger triplanes of the Ca.4 series were designed to be more effective in combat. Sometimes armed with up to eight machine guns, these cumbersome bombers were capable of accurately delivering large payloads of bombs to distant enemy targets. Although mainly used at night, they took part in daylight raids towards the end of the war. Of thirty-two Ca.42s manufactured in 1918, six of them were used by the Royal Naval Air Service. |
Caproni Ca.42 Country: Italy Manufacturer:Caproni Type: Heavy Bomber First Introduced: 1918 Number Built: 32 Engines: 3 Isotta-Fraschini, V-6, 270 hp Wing Span: 98 ft 1 in 29.9 m Length: 42 ft 11¾ in 13.1 m Height: 20 ft 8 in 6.3 m Gross Weight: 14,793 lb 6,710 kg Speed: 78 mph 126 kmh Ceiling: 9,842 ft 3000 m Endurance: 7 hours Crew: 4 Armament: 4 to 8 machine guns 3,197 lb 1,450 kg of bombs |
 Following several production delays, the Caudron G.4 entered service with the French Aviation militarie in 1915 and was soon in use by the British, Russian and Italian air services. In 1916 and early 1917, the G.4 was extensively used by the Royal Flying Corps to bomb the German seaplane and Zeppelin bases in Belgium. Despite its lack of defensive armament, the twin-engine biplane quickly established a reputation as a reliable performer with a good rate of climb. |
Caudron G.4 Country: France Manufacturer: Caudron Frères Type: Reconnaissance/Bomber Entered Service: 1915 Engine(s): 2 Le Rhône rotaries, 9 cylinder, 80 hp 2 Anzani radials, 10 cylinder, 100 hp Wing Span: 56 ft 5 in 17.2 m Length: 23 ft 6 in 7.16 m Height: 8 ft 5 in 2.6 m Gross Weight: 2,932 lb 1,330 kg Speed: 82 mph 132 km/h at 6,560 ft 2,000 m Ceiling: 14,110 ft 4,300 m Endurance: 3½ hours Crew: 2 Armament: 1 machine gun 249 lb 113 kg of bombs |
 The Caudron R.11 was first used as a bomber and then used as an escort at the end of the war. This was the last bomber the French built during the war. |
Caudron R.11 Date: 1918 Nationality: France Engine: Two 220 hp Hispano-Suiza in-line V's Wingspan: 58ft 9in Weight: 4775 lbs. Cruising Speed: 114 mph Range: 3 hours Ceiling: 19,520 ft Crew: 2 Armament: 265 lb of bombs, 5 machine guns |
 Sikorsky's ILia Mourometz was the world's first four-engine bomber. Construction started in August, 1913 and first flight was in January, 1914. The cockpit had space for several persons. Openings on both sides of the fuselage permitted mechanics to climb out on the wings to service the engines during flight. A hatch on the left side provided an exit to the front bridge. Behind the cockpit was a large passenger cabin. In the rear was a stairway to the upper bridge and a washroom. Further back was a private cabin including a berth, small table and cabinet. During World War I over 75 ILia Mourometz were deployed in a special squadron at the front for bombing and reconnaissance missions. |
Sikorsky Ilya Mourometz V Date: 1915 Nationality: Russia Engine: four 150 hp Sunbeam V-8's Wingspan: 97ft 9in Weight: 10,117 lbs. Cruising Speed: 75 mph Range: 5 hours Ceiling: 9,840 ft Armament: 1,150 lb of bombs, up to 7 machine guns |
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Original material copyright © 7/8/99 W. Ira Boucher. All Rights Reserved. |
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