LVG C.II

The LVG C.I was a 1910s German two-seat reconnaissance biplane designed by Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft for the Luftstreitkräfte.

Development
The C.II was developed from the LVG B.I, with the pilot and observer positions reversed, adding a ring-mounted machine gun to the rear. The increase in weight required a larger engine, the Benz Bz.III. Few C.I's were built before the C.II was introduced. It incorporated structural improvements and a more powerful engine.

Operational history
The C.II was the first fixed-wing aircraft to bomb London, when six bombs were dropped near Victoria station on 28 November 1915. (The first air raid on London was by the Zeppelin LZ 38, in the early hours of 1st June 1915.)

Variants

 * LVG C.I - initial design, 120 kW (160 hp) Benz Bz.III engine.
 * LVG C.II - production version.
 * LVG C.III - single experimental aircraft, observer and machine gun moved to front.
 * LVG C.IV - slightly larger, 160 kW (220 hp) Mercedes D.IV engine.

Operators

 * German Empire
 * Luftstreitkrafte
 * Kaiserliche Marine
 * Swiss Air Force
 * Swiss Air Force