Airships Gallery

Threat of Zeppelin gas-bag or terror - which? 1915

Cartoon showing Kaiser's head on the front of a Zeppelin airship, during World War One. German Zeppelins first successful raid was on the night of 1920 January 1915, in which two Zeppelins, L.3 and L.4, were directed towards the Humber, but diverted by strong winds, dropped twenty-four 50kg high explosive bombs and ineffective 3kg incendiaries on Great Yarmouth, Sheringham, King's Lynn and the surrounding villages. In all, four people were killed and 16 were injured.
January 1915

© Mary Evans Picture Library

Alberto Santos-Dumont

Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873 - 1932), Brazilian aviation pioneer, one of the very few people to have contributed significantly to the development of both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air aircraft. Photograph showing Santos-Dumont seated on the bicycle saddle of his latest balloon. Date: September 1900

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

R101 as the air minister's office, 1929

R101 as the air minister's office: the second flight of Britain's giant airship. Meteorological offices at Cardington; air minister Lord Thomson about to ascend the mooring mast of the R101 by the lift; luggage-loading at the mooring mast head; view of R101 at the mooring mast after dark; a meteorological observer at Cardington releasing a small pilot balloon; telephoning to the control cabin of R101 while beside a wind-measuring instrument. Date: 1929

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans