Vehicle    From 1900 

Zeppelin airships

Categories: Armed Forces, Aviation

Invented by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1900. London was first targeted with airships in May 1915 and initially found defence very difficult. Searchlights and incendiary ammunition helped to defeat the Zeppelins and the last raid was in August 1918. Londonist has a great post about the Zeppelin raids over London, with a map! And Flickering Lamps has a good post on airships over London in war and peace.

But to get a really good idea of how they were used (the bombs, the water ballast, the observer basket) you have to see the 1930 film Hell's Angels. Forget the plot and the acting, just watch the stunning aerial scenes. Howard Hughes produced it so money was no object.

2018: Londonist have a post about the first Zeppelin raid on London, 31 May 1915, with maps showing the damage sites.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Zeppelin airships

Commemorated ati

Camberwell WW1 victims - Chumleigh Gardens

This memorial commemorates all 22 Camberwell citizens killed in WW1. We don't...

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First Zeppelin bomb of WW1, correct - 1

First bomb of World War One, dropped on London by Zeppelin LZ 38 fell on this...

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First Zeppelin bomb of WW1, correct - 2

First bomb of World War One, to be dropped on London by Zeppelin LZ38, fell o...

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First Zeppelin bomb of WW1 - incorrect

This plaque was, according to the Council, a mistake and was removed by Hackney.

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Zeppelin

We are familiar with the "pensioner crosses road" syndrome in local newspaper...

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Other Subjects

Rupert Price Hallowes, VC

Rupert Price Hallowes, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 25-30 September 1915, aged 34, while serving in the Duke of Cambridge’s Own, (Middlesex Regiment). "Displayed the greatest bravery and untiring energy, setting a m...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Squadron HG

Squadron HG

121 Kentish Town Road.

Group, Armed Forces, Commerce

1 memorial
Gunner Lewis William Harman

Gunner Lewis William Harman

Lewis William Harman was born on 2 October 1895 in Lambeth, the fourth of the ten children of William Benson Harman (1870-1914) and Sarah Harman née Davis (1867-1940). On 27 October 1895 he was bap...

Person, Armed Forces, Belgium

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Ralph Reader

Ralph Reader

Squadron Leader Ralph Reader CBE, officer commanding the Royal Air Force Gang Shows 1939 - 1946. Recognised for exceptional services to world Scouting, 1975. Originator of the Scouting Gang Show. ...

Person, Armed Forces, Music / songs, Theatre, TV & Radio

2 memorials
Lieutenant Hamilton Jefferson

Lieutenant Hamilton Jefferson

Hamilton Jefferson was born on 19 August 1897 in Groton, Massachusetts, USA, the fourth of the six children of George David Jefferson (1863-1937) and Rebecca Gorham Jefferson née Kettle (1864-1918)...

Person, Armed Forces, Belgium, USA

War dead, WW1
2 memorials