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King George V's War Museum

A collection displayed at Windsor Castle by George V following the First World War

GERMANY

Machine gun

1915

RCIN 69433

German Naval Airship L15 was hit by anti-aircraft fire on the night of 31 March 1916. This machine gun from the airship was jettisoned over South Hanningfield in Essex shortly afterwards. However, the damage proved too debilitating and with four of its gas cells destroyed, the Zeppelin crashed into the sea near Margate, Kent. The airship was taken in tow but sank off Westgate; all but one of the crew survived.

Parts of airship envelope©

These two pieces of L15's envelope (the outer skin of linen that covered the whole Zeppelin structure) were recovered from the wreck by Staff-Surgeon L Greig, RN of HMS Attentive.


    The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.