Caudron G.4

05/15/2020. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The Caudron G.4 was the last of the tractor type with outrigger tails and the immediate ancestor of the Caudron R.4 night-bomber which was used until the end of the war. The G.4 was built in 1915-1916 and as a twin-engine version of the earlier G.2 and G.3 was consequently a much bigger aircraft. A crew of two was carried in the central nacelle and either two 80 hp Le Rhône rotary engines were fitted at either side. The wing, landing gear and tail-boom construction remained the same on the G.4 as on the preceding types, but the twin fins and rudders were replaced by four fins and rudders. The span was increased and with more powerful Le Rhône engines it attained a higher top speed. Armament was a single "mitrailleuse" machine gun on special mounting in the front cockpit.

The G.4s were used extensively for bombing raids over the German lines during 1916 and the first half of 1917, after which period they were handed over to training squadrons in a similar manner to the single-engine Caudrons. It was a slow and vulnerable type and stood little chance of escaping if attacked by German scouts. One of the chief drawbacks of the G.4 was the limited field of fire owing to the twin engines, short nose and complicated system of tail strut bracing. Nevertheless, by flying in close formations and concentrating fire on attacking aircraft they achieved to shoot down a few German scouts.

The 1,421 produced G.4s were mainly operated by the French AS, while the RNAS received 55, after mid-1917 a few were handed-over to squadrons of the American Expeditionary Forces for bombing training. Small numbers were operated by services of other countries: Belgium, Colombia, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Russia, and Venezuela.

Manufacturers: Caudron Frères at Rue (Somme), France, and sub-contractor British Caudron at Cricklewood, London, UK.
Type: Two-seat reconnaissance and day-bombing aircraft.
Power plant: Two 80 hp Le Rhóne rotary engines (cowled); maximum output (each) 84 hp at 1,200 rpm at sea level. British-built aircraft had two 100 hp Anzani engines (uncowled).
Wings: Wooden main spars and ribs, wire-braced internally and externally; fabric covering. Warp system of control.
Nacelle: Wooden structure, plywood and fabric covering. Wire-braced wooden tail-boom.
Tail unit: Wooden framework, fabric covering. Two warp elevators and four rudders.
Landing gear: Wooden structure, wire-braced.