AEG G.IV

The AEG G.IV was a German twin‑engine bomber introduced in 1916 and operated by the Luftstreitkräfte throughout World War I. Developed by the electrical‑engineering firm AEG as a successor to the G.III, the G.IV featured a strengthened airframe, upgraded 220 hp Benz Bz.IVa engines and a redesigned bomb‑bay that could carry up to 400 kg of ordnance. A distinctive element was its glazed nose and side windows, which improved crew visibility for navigation and artillery spotting. The aircraft’s rear gunner operated a flexible 7.92 mm machine gun on a dorsal ring mount, while a second gun could be fitted on the ventral gondola for defensive fire. Approximately 1,500 G.IVs were produced, many serving on the Western Front for strategic bombing, night raids and tactical support of ground troops. Its reliability and relatively high payload made it a workhorse of the German bomber fleet, influencing later twin‑engine designs such as the AEG G.V. The G.IV’s operational record demonstrated the growing importance of strategic airpower, marking a transition from reconnaissance‑only aircraft to dedicated bombers in early aviation history. After the war, several G.IVs were retained by civilian operators for mail transport, illustrating the aircraft’s adaptability and contributing to the early development of commercial aviation.

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