Zeppelin killers

Knusel · 17 February 2014, 01:23 AM

Dear fellows,

this is my compilation of airship desctructions by aircraft (see attachment).

Enjoy !

Michael

Stow Curator · 17 February 2014, 04:14 AM

Michael,

L48. The name of our pilot involved was Louden Pierce Watkins.

Best wishes

Ivor.

Knusel · 17 February 2014, 09:24 AM

Printing mistake. But yours is wrong as well: is has to be Loudon Watkins

Any ideas for the given names of Pattinson and Munday ?

Michael

Stow Curator · 17 February 2014, 10:00 AM

Sorry, none.

Best wishes

Ivor.

errolmartyn · 17 February 2014, 11:51 AM

Michael,

Brandon was New Zealander Alfred de Bathe Brandon. Although he attacked both L15 and L33, it was not these that led to their 'destruction' but the damage to their gas cells caused by anti-aircraft fire.

Errol

Knusel · 17 February 2014, 01:25 PM

Dear Errol,

yes, that's what is considered to have happend.
Do you have any ideas for the Frenchies, or Pattinson&Munday ?

Michael

Knusel · 15 March 2014, 12:38 AM

Dear gentlemen,

I'm still very intrested in the given names of Monsieur Galliot, T.C.Pattinson and H.R. Stubbington as well as in the aircraft involved the the destruction of LZ 79, L 49 and L 50.

I wish you a good weekend,

Michael

Graeme · 15 March 2014, 02:39 AM

Michael

I think Pattinson will be Thomas Cooper Pattinson who flew out of Killingholme and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (London Gazette of 3 June 1918, no citation).

Stubbington is Henry Robert Stubbington, who also flew out of Killingholme and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal; London Gazette of 21 September 1918 -

206515 Serjt. Mech. (E) Henry Robert Stubbington (Southsea).

Deserves the highest praise for his coolness and skill in repairing the oil pipe of his seaplane in a very heavy sea. The damage occurred in an attack on a Zeppelin, and his good service in repairing the pipe prevented the machine falling into the hands of hostile destroyers which were in pursuit.

Graeme

Knusel · 15 March 2014, 05:30 AM

Dear Graeme,

very cool, thank you !
Oh, I forgot: there must have been a 4h crew member on board on the Zeppelin destruction flight (apart from Pattinson, Munday and Stubbington). An unknown radio man, can you introduce him to me also, please ?

Cheers,

Michael

Graeme · 15 March 2014, 08:05 AM

Michael

I'm afraid not; from page 193 of "German Air Raids on Britain 1914-1918" by Joseph Morris:

"On the morning of the 10th May, 1918, it was ascertained that a Zeppelin was working off Heligoland Bight. Soon after one o'clock in the afternoon a Large America seaplane, with Captain T.C. Pattinson and Captain A.H. Munday as Pilots, left Killingholme, (North Lincolnshire) to hunt her down. After a three and a half hours’ flight the Zeppelin was sighted a mile away heading for Heligoland. The boat’s crew immediately stood by the machine-guns, while Pattinson climbed to 6,000 feet and overtook the airship. The Zeppelin had however, seen the boat. Increasing her height the airship endeavoured to get directly over to drop bombs on her aggressor. Rapid fire was opened by the boat at 500 yards’ range, and although all the bullets appeared to hit, the airship continued to climb and, when directly over the boat, dropped five or six bombs which fell harmlessly into the sea. The race for height continued and when the boat reached 11,000 feet, fire was opened on the target some 1,500 feet higher up. The port airscrew of the Zeppelin was seen to stop and a considerable quantity of smoke to emerge from the ship which was making for Holstein in crablike fashion and sinking rapidly. The boat was now sixty miles off Heligoland and, as the port engine commenced to give trouble the pilot was compelled to turn for home. The Zeppelin L.62, went down in flames, but the closing act of the drama was not witnessed by those who had brought about her destruction as they were busy looking to their own safety. The flying boat had been compelled to land at sea on account of a faulty oil pipe. On perceiving this, German destroyers, which had fired at the boat during her encounter with the Zeppelin, at once made for the apparently shipwrecked aviators. But they were frustrated. Despite a very heavy sea Sergeant H.R. Stubbington, the engineer, climbed on top of the offending engine, repaired the oil pipe, and within fifteen minutes the boat was in the air on a safe homeward journey."

Graeme