The Daylight Gotha Raids Principal Attacks by Kagohl 3 May–June 1917

The Kagohl 3 unit were used on 25 May 1917 and 13 June 1917 to fly Gotha daylight raids. The Gothas were ‘monsters’ with a 70-ft wingspan, powerful Mercedes engines and precision bombing capability. They each carried 13 bombs and flew in formation. The Germans thought that the Gotha would create such fear and damage that it would enable them to win the air battle. They had ceased their Zeppelin air raids for eight months and the British had been lulled into a false sense of security. The daylight May raid consisted of 21 bombers who flew from Belgium and travelled at top speeds of 88 miles per hour (142 kph) and at 16,000 ft (4,876 m). They dropped bombs all over Kent, including the major supply port of Folkestone. The second June raid targeted east London. In total, 257 were killed, 627 were injured and 9.4 tons of bombs were dropped.