| LZ 37 | |
|---|---|
 Artist's impression of the destruction of German ZeppelinLZ 37 by Sub-Lieutenant Reginald Warneford on 7 June 1915. | |
| General information | |
| Type | M-Class Zeppelin |
| National origin |  German Empire |
| Manufacturer | Luftschiffbau Zeppelin atFriedrichshafen |
| Owners | Imperial German Navy |
| Number built | 77 |
| Construction number | LZ 37 |
| Flights | 14 |
| History | |
| First flight | 4 March 1915 |
| In service | 4 March 1915 – 7 June 1915 |
| Fate | Shot down, 7 June 1915 |
TheairshipLZ 37 was aWorld War IZeppelin of the GermanKaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy). It was the first Zeppelin to be brought down during the war by an enemy plane, on the night of 6 to 7 June 1915, nearSint-Amandsberg, Belgium.[1]
In 1915 Zeppelins were first used by Germany forstrategic bombing.[2]
LZ 37 was part of a raid with ZeppelinsLZ 38 andLZ 39. While returning, she was intercepted in the air byReginald Warneford in hisMorane Parasol during its first raid on Calais, on 7 June 1915.[3][4] Warneford dropped six 20-pound (9 kg)Hales bombs on the zeppelin, which caught fire and crashed into the convent school ofSint-Amandsberg, next toGhent, Belgium (51°3′43.2″N3°44′54.7″E / 51.062000°N 3.748528°E /51.062000; 3.748528), killing two nuns. The commander ofLZ 37, OberleutnantOtto van der Haegen [de], and seven members of the crew were killed. One crew member, Steuermann Alfred Mühler, survived with only superficial burns and bruises when he was precipitated from the forward gondola, landing in a bed.[5] It was the first victory of a heavier-than-air aircraft over a lighter-than-air dirigible.[1] Warneford was awarded theVictoria Cross for his achievement.
LZ 37 was based inGontrode [fr;nl], Belgium (airport location:50°58′54.6″N3°47′17.1″E / 50.981833°N 3.788083°E /50.981833; 3.788083), where also other heavy bombersGotha G IV were based.[6][7]
Data from"The Zeppelin Airships - Part Two: Zeppelins of the Great War 1914–1918". Puget sound airship society. Retrieved28 January 2011.
General characteristics
Performance
Armament