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Two earlier model zeppelins. The L12 (top), commissioned in June 1915 had a ceiling of only 3000 metres. It was damaged by gunfire over England and was forced down in the sea off Ostend two months later. The L30 (bottom), commissioned in May 1916 had a ceiling of 5400 metres. It survived the war after carrying out a total of 37 operational sorties
The First Battle of Britain
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The fact that zeppelins bombed London in the First World War is fairly well known. The extent and duration of these raids are perhaps not so well known. That London and other cities in England were also attacked by heavy bombers is hardly known at all. In fact, these raids were quite devastating and reached ‘blitz’ proportions. The zeppelin raids and bomber raids led to a most impressive defence network in Great Britain, and a great struggle for air supremacy in the skies above. These events led directly to the creation of the Royal Air Force as a separate and independent service. Also, many of the basic principles and tactics of air defence evolved in those far-off days and were again applied with equal success in the later and far more famous Battle of Britain which we now celebrate each year on the 5th of September.
The Airships
First Air Attacks
The first bomb to ever fall on British soil was dropped on Dover on 24th December 1914. It was a single bomb, weighing a mere 1 O kg, and came from a lone German aircraft. There were no casualties, and damage was estimated at forty pounds. Another aircraft had been the first to actually enter British air space three days earlier, but it turned away after dropping two small bombs harmlessly in Dover Harbour. On both occasions, surprise was complete, and the raiders returned to their bases unharmed.
This type of ‘hit-and-run’ raid by one or two aircraft on the coastal towns was to continue throughout the war. They did little harm, and produced few casualties. In fact, the first casualties from these raids did not occur until 13th September 1915 when two people were killed and six injured in a raid on Margate. Also, it was not until 19th March 1916 that any of these coastal raiders were even shot down. Guns and aircraft were certainly deployed against them, but they were considered to be mainly nuisance raids. The main threat was expected to come from raids by airships, and after a late start, it certainly did.
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