As with other glider types entering the war, the Go. 242 was inherently unpowered and relied on a "host" aircraft for towing. The two aircraft were tied by a tow line with the glider following. Go.242s were traditional pulled by Heinkel He 111 medium bombers or Junkers Ju 52 trimotors for their hauling capabilities and, once in service, Go.242s saw action over some of the major theaters of the conflict including North Africa and the Mediterranean.
Following the original two "A-models" of the line, there emerged the Go.242 B-1 form with its jettisonable undercarriage. The B-2 model had an improved undercarriage while the B-3 was the B-1 with a twin-rear-door arrangement. The B-4 mark designated a "combination" breed made up of the B-1 form and functionality with the undercarriage of the B-2 and the twin doors of the B-3. Incoming glider pilots trained on the dedicated B-5 version with its dual control scheme. A lesser-known version of the Go.242 became the C-1 which was intended for marine assaults and given a flying boat-like hull for water landings though it appears that there were never utilized in their intended role.
Despite it glider transport classification, the Go.242 was optionally armed for self-defense. This included up to 4 x 7.92mm MG 15 series machine guns. Beyond this, however, the Go.242 was not outfitted for carrying ordnance.
Performance specifications of the Go.242 - essentially limited by the host aircraft/towed arrangement - included a maximum speed of 185 miles per hour. The aircraft exhibited a running length of 51.9 feet, a wingspan of 80.4 feet and a height of 14.5 feet. Empty weight was 7,050lbs with a maximum take-off weight nearing 15,650lbs. Some overloaded Go.242s were even tested with jettisonable rocket pods at one point in their history.
Of note in the Go.242 legacy was the Gotha Go.244 mark which became an engined/powered version of the unpowered Go.242. At least 133 existing Go.242 aircraft were converted to the newer, powered Go.244 form.
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