Friedrichshafen G.III

The Friedrichshafen G.III was a German twin‑engine heavy bomber introduced in 1917 during the First World War. Built by the Lake Constance firm Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen, it evolved from the earlier G.II model and became one of the most widely used German night bombers until the war’s end. The aircraft featured a wooden box‑girder fuselage with a rectangular cross‑section, a crew of three to four, and a 12‑meter wingspan covered with fabric‑stretched plywood. Power came from two Mercedes D.IVa six‑cylinder inline engines delivering 260 hp each, mounted in nacelles on the lower wing. Its bomb load could reach 500 kilograms, carried in an internal bay and external racks, while defensive armament typically included two flexible 7.92 mm machine guns positioned in dorsal and ventral stations.

Operationally the G.III served on the Western, Eastern and Italian fronts, conducting night raids against supply depots, railway stations and troop concentrations. The type’s reliable engines, sturdy construction and relatively long range of about 600 km made it a valuable asset for the Luftstreitkräfte. After the armistice, several examples were captured by the Allies and used for evaluation, influencing post‑war bomber designs and cementing the Friedrichshafen G.III’s place in early strategic aviation history.

Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen

Friedrichshafen G.III

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Design & Classification