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Warneford Downs Zeppelin
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Warneford Downs Zeppelin
Flight Sub-Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford destroys the first Zeppelin, over Ghent, earning the Victoria Cross. He died in a plane crash in Paris just ten days later
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Media ID 613204
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10090056
Crash Days Destroys Died Downs Earning Flames Ghent Lieutenant Warneford Zeppelin
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the moment of historic significance in the skies above Ghent, Belgium, on the fateful night of June 5, 1915. In the heart of the First World War, Flight Sub-Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford (1899-1915) of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) is seen in this image, having just destroyed the first German Zeppelin LZ37, or 'L37,' with his gunfire. Warneford's heroic actions marked a turning point in the war, demonstrating the potential of air power against the seemingly invincible Zeppelin fleet. The L37, a German military airship, was on a bombing mission over the English Channel when Warneford, flying his Sopwith Tabloid biplane, intercepted it. In the ensuing dogfight, Warneford skillfully maneuvered his plane, firing relentlessly at the Zeppelin until it burst into flames and plummeted to the ground. For his bravery and determination, Warneford was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration in the British honors system. Tragically, Warneford's heroism was short-lived. Just ten days after this triumphant victory, on June 15, 1915, he was killed in a plane crash in Paris during a training exercise. This photograph, a poignant reminder of the risks taken by the brave men and women who fought in the skies during the First World War, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Flight Sub-Lieutenant R.A.J. Warneford and his groundbreaking achievement in the annals of aviation history.
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