L 8
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German Empire Kaiserliche Marine| LZ 33 / L 8 | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Reconnaissance/bomber airship |
| Manufacturer | German Empire Luftschiffbau Zeppelin |
| Status | Lost on 5 March 1915 |
| Primary user | German Empire Kaiserliche Marine |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 22 December 1914 |
| First flight | 14 March 1913 |
L 8 (factory no. LZ 33) by the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine), was a rigid airship built in Germany by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin in the 1910s for military use.[1] The airship was lost during its 22nd mission on 5 March 1915 after is was fired upon by Belgian machine guns and artillery.[1]
LZ 33 (L 8) was constructed at Luftschiffbau Zeppelin's facilities in Friedrichshafen and made its maiden flight on 17 December 1914, during the early months of World War I.[2] It was delivered to the Kaiserliche Marine and stationed at Düsseldorf, primarily used for reconnaissance over the Western Front.[3]
Its first commander, as of 22 December 1914, was Kapitänleutnant Konradin Meyer, succeeded in January 1915 by Kapitänleutnant Helmut Beelitz.[3]
Final mission
On 25 February 1915, LZ 33 was dispatched with LZ 37 and LZ 38—Zeppelins based in Zellik and Evere near Brussels—on a bombing mission presumably aimed at London. However, due to strong headwinds over West Flanders, Beelitz aborted the attack. L 8 landed at the new base in Gontrode, East Flanders, on 27 February 1915.[3]
After a few days, Beelitz was informed the army would be taking over the Gontrode base. He loaded the airship with 70 incendiary bombs and launched on the afternoon of 5 March 1915 for a bombing mission toward Essex.[4]
Struggling with navigation, Beelitz broke through cloud cover near Bruges and again at 9:00 near Ostend.[5] While crossing the front near Nieuwpoort at a low altitude (300 m), L 8 was fired upon by Belgian machine guns and artillery, damaging four hydrogen gas cells.[3]
Beelitz aborted the mission and turned back toward Düsseldorf, but the forward and left-rear engines experienced cooling issues.[5] Around 1:00 AM, LZ 33 made an emergency landing in the village of Wommersom near Tienen, east of Brussels in Flemish Brabant.[1]
The airship's rear rudder and gondola became entangled in trees, and the bow struck a row of poplars, throwing some crew members from the forward gondola.[6]
Casualties and aftermath
Accounts of the incident vary including sources stating that all 21 crew members were killed.[7] However out of the 21 crew members, only one—engineer Friedrich Bense likely died from his injuries.[N 1][6]
The crew anchored the damaged airship, but within hours a storm caused further destruction, and L 8 / LZ 33 was dismantled shortly thereafter.[8]