1-276-449 - Art Media/Heritage Images

Zeppelin destroyed by an English aviator, 1915. On 7 June 1915 Flight Sub-Lieutenant Reginald Warneford, flying a Morane-Saulnier Type L, attacked and completely destroyed the German airship LZ37 in mid air over Ghent, Belgium. He pursued the Zeppelin inland from the coast at Ostend and brought it down by dropping bombs onto it, despite encountering machine gun fire from the airship. The explosion of the Zeppelin caused the engine of Warneford's aircraft to stop, forcing him to land behind enemy lines. After repairing the damage he was able to take off again and fly back to his base. Warneford received the Victoria Cross for his actions.