The Zeppelin threat against Britain was perceived to be considerable during the Great War – hence the Tondern Raid detailed in the previous feature article. Andy Saunders takes a look at a photographic archive of fascinating images relating to the downing of Zeppelin L.33 over Essex in 1916.
General view of the wreck, looking towards the stern.’ (ALL IMAGES BRITAIN AT WAR ARCHIVE/KEY COLLECTION)
On the night of 23 September 1916, Zeppelin L.33 was busy dropping incendiary bombs over Upminster and Bromley-by-Bow when it was hit by an antiaircraft shell at an altitude of 12,000ft. Its gas bags were ruptured by shell splinters and it started to lose height. By following the railway line, the crew navigated towards Chelmsford where they were further engaged by Lt. A de B Brandon, of 39 Sqn, but his machine gun fire had no apparent effect. Zeppelin L.33 was already losing height and the crew jettisoned everything they could; items were found strewn across the fields over the next few days and including a machine gun, two cases of machine gun ammunition, and maps. By 1:15am, however, the airship had reached the coast, but the crew realised that in its damaged condition L.33 could not make it back across th…
