| LZ 78 (L 34) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Imperial German Army Zeppelin LZ 78 (L 34) over Hartlepool | |
| Role | R-class reconnaissance-bomber rigid airship |
| National origin | German Empire |
| Manufacturer | Luftschiffbau Zeppelin |
| Designer | Ludwig Dürr |
| First flight | 22 September 1916 |
| Retired | Shot down on 27 November 1916 |
| Primary user | Imperial German Army |
| Number built | 1 |
The Imperial German Army Zeppelin LZ 78 (L-34) was a R-class World War I zeppelin.
The airship took part in three reconnaissance missions and two attacks on England dropping 3,890 kg (8,580 lb) of bombs. It also took part in the Zeppelin raid involving three other Imperial German Airships: the LZ 72 (L 31), L 32 and Zeppelin LZ 76 (L 33) on the evening of 23 September 1916. Of the four Airships, LZ 78 was the only Zeppelin that returned to base after the raid. Together all four Zepellins succeeded in dropping 3,200 kilograms (7,100 lb) of bombs on London and surrounding counties.
On 27 November 1916, Zeppelin LZ 78 was intercepted and destroyed by British fighter pilot Second Lieutenant Ian Pyott in Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c (Serial no. 2738) off Hartlepool. [1] His bullets ignited the hydrogen, "like a massive fiery torch which lit up the night for miles around, she plunged into the sea." [2] The commander of the Airship was Kapitanleutnant Max Dietrich the uncle of famous actress Marlene Dietrich. [3]
Data from Zeppelin : rigid airships, 1893–1940 [4]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Airships made about 51 bombing raids on Britain during the war. These killed 557 and injured another 1,358 people. More than 5,000 bombs were dropped (largely on towns and cities) across Britain, causing £1.5 million (equivalent to £108,200,000in 2021) in damage. 84 airships took part, of which 30 were shot down or lost in accidents. [5]
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Notes
References
The Imperial German Army Zeppelin LZ 47 was a P-class World War I zeppelin. Destroyed by enemy fire on 21 February 1916 in the Battle of Verdun, killing the crew of 15.
The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 48 was a P-class World War I zeppelin.
The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 53 was a P-class World War I zeppelin.
Zeppelin LZ 38 was Zeppelin P Class airship of the German Imperial Army. It was the first to bomb London, United Kingdom.
The Imperial German Army Zeppelin LZ 43 was a P-class World War I zeppelin. While taking part in a bombing raid of the United Kingdom the Airship was hit by AA fire and it crashed outside of Ostend, Belgium on 10 August 1915. While being towed into the harbour, it burst into fire.
The LZ 85, tactical number L 45, also known as Zeppelin of Laragne by the French public, was a World War I R-Class zeppelin of the German Navy that carried out a total of 27 flights, including 3 raids on England and 12 reconnaissance missions.
LZ 72 was an R Class super-zeppelin belonging to the Imperial German Navy. It was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Mathy, an experienced commander, and took part in several raids over London during World War I. It also participated in a reconnaissance role during the Sunderland raid of 19 August 1916. Its last flight was launched late at night on 1 October 1916. Several miles north of London, it was caught in searchlights and anti-aircraft fire. During this engagement, 2nd Lt. Wulstan J. Tempest was on patrol and spotted the zeppelin. He proceeded to engage the airship with incendiary rounds, causing the ship to burst into flames and crash in a field near Potter's Bar. The entire crew died, and were originally buried there but were transported to Cannock Chase in the 1960s. After this disastrous crash, the Imperial German Navy began reducing the number of zeppelin raids.
The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 31 was an M-class World War I Zeppelin.
The Zeppelin LZ 23 was the 2nd improved L-class Zeppelin, and the eleventh airship of the Imperial German Army, first flown on 21 February 1914 and shot-down by anti-aircraft fire on 23 August 1914.
The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 112, given the tactical number L 70, was an x-class / L70-class World War I zeppelin of the Imperial German Navy.
The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 64, given the tactical number L 22, was a Q-class / L20-class World War I zeppelin of the Imperial German Navy.
The Imperial German Army Zeppelin LZ 39 was an O-class World War I Zeppelin.
The Imperial German Army Zeppelin LZ 76 (L-m33) was a R-class World War I zeppelin.
Zeppelin LZ 89 was an R-class zeppelin of the Imperial German Navy. After a short career during the World War I it ran out of fuel during a mission and was deliberately crashed.
Zeppelin LZ 95 was a U-class zeppelin of the Imperial German Military.
LZ 74 was an R Class super-zeppelin belonging to the Imperial German Navy.
The Imperial German Army Zeppelin LZ 80 (L-35) was a R-class World War I zeppelin.
The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 86 (L-39) was a R-class World War I zeppelin.
The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 24 was a M-class World War I zeppelin.
The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 29 was an M-class World War I Zeppelin.
