The last daylight bombing raid

Raids of Gotha bombers into England started on May 1917 were shock and horror for British which were hoping for better days after stopping Zeppelin raids.
Although the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) had 77 aircraft airborne, most of them were no match for the high-flying new type of Gotha IV bomber.
Raiding coastal towns and soon London forced British to reform their tactics. It led to the creation of a London Air Defense Area, bringing the RFC squadrons, anti-aircraft guns, searchlights, and Observation Corps committed to the defense of the capital and coast under a united command.

In effect bombers which could be escorted only in the beginning of their raid ( partially only over The Channel by hydroplanes ) started suffering losses.

On 22 August 10 Gotha bombers attacked towns in England : Margate, Ramsgate and Dover. Home defense squadrons were alerted and they were able to catch bombers which were coming home. Gothas were attacked by many Sopwich Pup and Camels from few squadrons. No less than three bombers were shot down and some damaged. Gotha no 663 was shot down over the sea when it was attacked by two Pups from Dover, piloted by Flt Cdr H B Kerby and Flt Cdr G E Hervey. Plane went into sea off Margate. Ltns Werner Joshkowetz and Walter Latowski drowned, but gunner Uffz Bruno Schneider was plucked from the sea by sailors from HMS Kestrel. This was the last daylight bombing raid - after this Gothas only came at night.

Models created in blender.