Gotha Go 244

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German transport airplane during World War II

title: "Gotha Go 244" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1940s-german-military-transport-aircraft", "gotha-aircraft", "high-wing-aircraft", "twin-piston-engined-tractor-aircraft"] description: "German transport airplane during World War II" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotha_Go_244" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary German transport airplane during World War II ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]

FieldValue
nameGo 244
imageFile:German Gotha Go 244 in flight, in 1942-1945 (CH 15695).jpg
image_size300
typeMilitary transport monoplane
national_originGermany
manufacturerGotha
first_flight1940s
produced174
developed_fromGotha Go 242
::

| name= Go 244 | image=File:German Gotha Go 244 in flight, in 1942-1945 (CH 15695).jpg | image_size= 300 | caption= | type= Military transport monoplane | national_origin= Germany | manufacturer= Gotha | designer= | first_flight= 1940s | introduction= | retired= | status= | produced= 174 | primary_user= | number_built= | developed_from= Gotha Go 242 | variants= | developed_into=

The Gotha Go 244 was a transport aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Gotha. It was operated by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. It was the powered version of the Gotha Go 242 military glider transport.

While studies into a powered model of the Go 242 had commenced relatively early in the glider's development, one of the major factors in what would become the Go 244 was the German's capturing of a large quantity of Gnome-Rhône 14M radial engines following the fall of France in June 1940. Three prototypes were created by modifying Go 242s; these were fitted with engines such as the BMW 132 and the Shvetsov M-25 A. Despite the unimpressive performance of the Gnome engines, Luftwaffe officials were keen to make use of existing inventory, thus the majority of production standard Go 244s were powered by this engine.

The first Go 244s were delivered to operational units based in Crete, Greece in March 1942; the type would also see action in both North Africa and the Eastern Front. Far fewer Go 244s were constructed in comparison to the Go 242, which officials ultimately decided to focus their production capacity upon instead. Some figures, such as Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch, criticised the aircraft as being defective, lacking sufficient range, and operationally limited. A mixture of Junkers Ju 52 or Messerschmitt Me 323 transport aircraft supplemented and eventually replaced the Go 244 in Luftwaffe service.

Development

Development of the Go 244 has its origins in the widely used Gotha Go 242 military glider, specifically the Go 242B model. Studies for powered versions of the Go 242 had commenced relatively early in the design of the glider; one early proposal involved a modification that would have facilitated the temporary attachment of a single Argus As 10C engine to the nose of the glider, which would have allowed for its recovery back to base after use. This concept was ultimately rejected, the alternative proposal of a permanently powered twin-engined version of the aircraft was taken forward. A key factor in the emergence of the Go 244 had been the fall of France in June 1940. Amongst other effects, Germany gained access to France's aviation industry and its supply chain, which meant that the Luftwaffe suddenly had access to a sizable number of captured Gnome-Rhône 14M radial engines that several officials were keen to make use of.

Three Go 242s were modified as prototypes of the powered Go 244, fitted with surplus radial engines. The first prototype, the Go 244 V1 was powered by two 660 hp BMW 132, while the second prototype had 700 hp Gnome-Rhône 14Ms — and the third 750 hp Shvetsov M-25 A engines, with this model of Shvetsov OKB engine design being essentially a Soviet-built Wright Cyclone American-based nine-cylinder radial. Although only the third Gnome-equipped prototype offered adequate engine out performance, the ample stocks of these engines led to it being selected as the basis for the production conversion — usually fitted in counter-rotating pairs in production — although a few more aircraft were fitted with the BMW and Shvetsov engines.

In August 1941, the Luftwaffe took delivery of the first Go 244A aircraft for testing. It was the Go 244B that was the principal production model; it featured a wheeled tricycle undercarriage and accommodated fuel and oil within the tail booms.

An initial run of 133 aircraft were produced through the conversion of Go 242Bs. A further 41 Go 244s were constructed using new airframes. Officials decided against producing further Go 244s for the assembly lines to revert to Go 242 glider production. One senior Luftwaffe official that had openly criticised the Go 244 was Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch, who claimed it to be faulty, lacking sufficient range, and of limited value.

Several proposals and plans were mooted for the further development of the Go 244. One area of interest was the creation of single-engined variants; these would have been powered by either a nose-mounted Argus As 10C or Junkers Jumo 211. During 1944, the company's design team directed their attention towards the Gotha Go 345 transport glider instead.

Operational history

During March 1942, the first examples of the Go 244 were delivered to operational units stationed in Crete, Greece. Several aircraft were assigned to transport Geschwader in North Africa, their use in this theatre was limited to only a few months after the Go 244 proved to be vulnerable to Allied fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft fire. The type also saw action against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. It was used a troop transport and to carry freight. In Luftwaffe service, the Go 244 was replaced by Junkers Ju 52 or Messerschmitt Me 323 aircraft.

Variants

  • Go 244 A-1 - prototype, using the BMW 132 radial engine
  • Go 244 B - powered by Gnome-Rhône 14M-06/07 series engines and equipped with variable-pitch propellers
  • Go 244 B-1 - production version, with fixed landing gear, based on Go 242 A-1 glider
  • Go 244 B-2 - B-1 with improved landing gear including a larger semi-retractable nose wheel, based on Go 242 A-2 glider
  • Go 244 B-3 - paratroop-carrying version of B-1 with double rear doors
  • Go 244 B-4 - paratroop-carrying version of B-2 with doors of B-3 and landing gear of B-2
  • Go 244 B-5 - training version with dual controls
  • Go 244 C - analog to Go 244 B but with 04/-05 series engines and equipped with fixed-pitch propellers

Specifications (Go 244 B-1)

thumb|Gnome-Rhone 14M-05 engine |ref= Gotha's Twin-Boom Troopers |prime units?= met General characteristics

|crew= 1 or 2 pilots |capacity= up to 23 troops or freight |length m= 15.8 |span m= 24.5 |height m= 4.7 |wing area sqm= 64.4 |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= 5,100 |gross weight kg= 7,800 |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= Powerplant

|eng1 number= 1 |eng1 name= Gnome-Rhône 14M-06 |eng1 type= 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial piston engine (rh rotation) |eng1 hp= 700

|eng2 number= 1 |eng2 name= Gnome-Rhône 14M-07 |eng2 type= 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial piston engine (lh rotation) |eng2 hp= 700

|prop blade number= 3 |prop name= variable-pitch propellers (lh & rh rotation) |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note= Performance

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh= 290 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= at 3000 m |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= 600 |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= 740 |endurance= |ceiling m= 7,500 |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= 1000 m in three minutes |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass=

|more performance= Armament

|guns= 3 × 7.92 mm MG 15 or MG 81 machine guns

References

Citations

Bibliography

References

  1. Chant 1999, p. 147.
  2. Lepage 2009, pp. 354–355.
  3. ''Air International'' December 1989, p. 291.
  4. Lepage 2009, p. 355.
  5. ''Air International'' December 1989, pp. 291–292.
  6. Smith and Kay 1972, p. 219.
  7. Griehl 2012, p. 315.
  8. ''Air International'' December 1989, p. 292.
  9. Ford 2013, {{page needed. (January 2025.)
  10. Rottman 2014, {{page needed. (January 2025.)
  11. ''Air International'' December 1989, p. 309.
  12. Metzmacher 2021, {{page needed. (January 2025)
  13. Bishop and Ford 2002, p. 408.
  14. ''Air International'' December 1989, pp. 288.

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1940s-german-military-transport-aircraftgotha-aircrafthigh-wing-aircrafttwin-piston-engined-tractor-aircraft