Gotha P 58

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There are a handful of brief mentions of the Gotha P 58 elsewhere on this forum but it didn't have its own dedicated thread - so here we go.

Back in 2008, forum member Tophe said:
According to my archives, the Gotha P39 is a project of 1942, the Gotha P58 and P60 came before mid-1945.
(https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/gotha-go-p-55-flying-bomb.4869/post-38603)

In 2014, forum member Cy-27 said:
Gotha P.58 - 1944 - Glider tanker project, not proceeded with.
(https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...brik-gotha-gwf-designations.23403/post-237503)

On July 6, 2020, forum member Mu17 said:
We also know that P57 was an aerotowed bomb and P58 an aerotowed glider fighter ( awaiting confirmation on P58),
(https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/gotha-go-345-p-52-and-p-53-projects.2733/post-401722)

The mostly-reliable touchstone for German projects, January 1946 British intelligence report German Aircraft: New and Projected Types says the following about the P 58 (see scanned page below):
GOTHA P 58 "GLIDER TANKER"
A reference has been discovered to a "glider tanker" project by Gotha, designated P 58.

67.jpg


Now I've just discovered a second reference to the P 58 - a single sheet Gotha report dated December 1944 (see below). It appears to be headed 'Versuchsantrag' but I can't really read the line which says what the P 58 is because of a flaw in the original microfilm - a white line which runs over it. I submit the document for your consideration. What do you think the P 58 was?

Gotha P 58.jpg

Incidentally, the drawing mentioned in the report is appended, but I don't know if it really helps much (see below). I should emphasise that the weird markings you see are on the original drawing!

Gotha P 58 2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Probably not very useful. Hohen is the only thing that sticks out.
ehhh.png
 
"Höhenflossenlagerung"
regards
Oliver

Presumably "Höhenflossenlagerung" (storage of the horizontal stabilizer?) is therefore the specific aspect of the P 58 being discussed in the report, rather than a description of what the P 58 actually is.
Does the rest of the report offer any clues to anyone?
 
I also read "Höhenflossenlagerung". "Höhenflosse" it means a tailplane or a horizontal stabiliser.
The reason is a verification of forces that have to initiate into the hull. Then the talk about the required safety factor. And then it is recommended to perform the test immediately. At the bottom it mentions that there are two drawings as an attachment.

However, nothing is said about the actual function or use.

regards
Volkmar
 

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