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Destruction of first German airship on British soil, WW1
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Destruction of first German airship on British soil, WW1
Destruction of the first German airship on British soil during the First World War, on 3 September 1916 at Cuffley near Enfield.
1916
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 23100280
© The John Barrett Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Airship Cuffley Destruction Enfield Soil
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image captures the moment of the Destruction of the First German Airship on British Soil during the First World War, on 3 September 1916 at Cuffley near Enfield. The photograph, taken in the 1910s, depicts a crowd of people gathered on the ground, gazing up at the sky in awe and anticipation. In the distance, a massive German airship, the LZ 71 or 'L31' as it was known to the British, is engulfed in flames and smoke. The LZ 71 was the first German airship to be destroyed on British soil during the war. It had taken off from its mooring in the early hours of the morning, intending to carry out a raid on London. However, it was detected by British forces and pursued relentlessly by a fleet of Royal Flying Corps aircraft. The airship was eventually brought down by a combination of gunfire and a well-aimed bomb, which exploded in the engine room. The destruction of the LZ 71 was a significant event in the history of the First World War. It marked the first successful defense of British soil against an air attack and boosted morale among the population. The image of the burning airship also served as a reminder of the realities of war and the threats it posed, both from the skies above and the ground below. The photograph, from The John Barrett Collection at Mary Evans Picture Library, offers a unique glimpse into the past, capturing the excitement and tension of the moment as the crowd on the ground bears witness to the destruction of the German airship. It is a powerful reminder of the events that shaped the course of the First World War and the impact they had on the people of the time.
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