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.

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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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Show all 7

Other Subjects

P. S. Dee

P. S. Dee

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
F. F. E. Yeo-Thomas

F. F. E. Yeo-Thomas

Wing Commander, GC, secret agent in WW2, codename "The White Rabbit". Born 45 Balcombe Street. Brought up in France. Served in WW1. Served in WW2 initially in the RAF but then in February 1942 he j...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War served, WW2
1 memorial
H. C. W. Porter

H. C. W. Porter

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Flying Officer Thomas Cambell Beswick

Flying Officer Thomas Cambell Beswick

Thomas Cambell Beswick was born on 18 August 1920, the youngest of the three children of Thomas Beswick (1873-1961) and Mary Beswick née Cambell (1877-1932). His elder siblings were: Mary Beswick (...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW2
1 memorial
W. F. Shingleton

W. F. Shingleton

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial

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Wilkinson Sword Company

Wilkinson Sword Company

The company was founded as a manufacturer of guns made in Shotley Bridge, County Durham, by Henry Nock in London when he opened premises in Ludgate Hill. 1804, James Nock was appointed Gun Maker to...

Group, Commerce, Industry

1 memorial
Tower Hamlets Council

Tower Hamlets Council

The name was originally applied to the Tower division of the county of Middlesex. This division was a liberty, i.e. it was an autonomous area under the jurisdiction of the Constable of the Tower of...

Group, Politics & Administration

53 memorials
St Katherine Coleman

St Katherine Coleman

The standard spelling of this Katherine seems to be with a 'K' not a 'C', and an 'e' in the middle, not an 'a'. Existed from at least 1346, rebuilt probably in the 15th century, survived the Great ...

Building, Religion

2 memorials
H. Lincoln

H. Lincoln

Driver killed in the Second Anglo-Boer War.

Person, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial