When was the last Zeppelin built

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Q.� So how did they start

A.� The Zeppelin - a dirigible airship with an internal frame made from Duralumin alloy - was invented by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. The first one, called LZ1, made its maiden flight from a floating hangar on Lake Constance, near Friedrichshafen in Southern Germany, on 2 July, 1900.

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Q.� What does dirigible mean

A.� 'Capable of being directed'. In other words, this was a balloon that could be steered.

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Q.� In peace and war

A.� Yes, the Zeppelin was undoubtedly a luxurious way to travel. The passenger unit - gondola - underneath could be decked out like a cruise ship. The Zeppelin, however, became more infamous for its use in the First World War.

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Q.� As a bomber

A.� Indeed. Understandably, the Zeppelin company's website tends to mention the more, um, positive aspects of their airship's past. But there is no doubt it caused terror in Britain.

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Q.� With bombing raids

A.� Yes - all over the country. Wednesbury, in Staffordshire, was often a target.

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Q.� Why

A.� On 31 January, 1916, nine airships left their bases at Friedrichshafen and Lowenthal, to bomb the important port of Liverpool. It was an audacious mission - and one that would strike alarm throughout the British Empire. The south of England and London had already been bombed, but a raid so far across the country would prove the Germans' air superiority.

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Q.� And did it

A.� Fate stepped in - or rather English fog did. The L21 Zeppelin's captain got lost. He took his bearings from what he thought was Manchester. But this city was Derby and, taking his directions from there, he thought he'd found Liverpool. But it was Wednesbury. And 14 of its townspeople died because of the navigation error.

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Kapit�nleutnant Max Dietrich's first bombs killed Joseph Smith, his daughter Nellie and son Thomas. Other victims included a family of five, and later, over nearby Walsall, shrapnel maimed the town's mayoress, who later died of her injuries. Three hours later, Wednesbury was bombed again - by the L19 Zeppelin, which had made the same error. Only minor damage was caused, though.

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Q.� And was not effort made to shoot down the raiders

A.� No. The raid was a great embarrassment to the Government. Nine Zeppelins had been able to fly over England, without interference. Several aircraft took off without success. The L19, however, suffered an awful end. It was a new ship and had been experiencing engine trouble. On the way back, it crashed into the North Sea. A British trawler spotted the floating wreck, but refused to take the crew aboard, fearing they might overpower his men.

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Q.� He just left them to their fate

A.� No - he went in search of a Royal Navy vessel, but by the time he reached port, the Zeppelin had sunk without survivors. The airmen, however, left several messages in bottles. One read: 'A light head wind on the return journey delayed our return and, in the mist, carried us over Holland where I was received with heavy rifle-fire. The ship became heavy and simultaneously three engines failed.'

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Q.� And after the war

A.� Zeppelins became more popular, but destruction of the Hindenburg (LZ129) on 6 May, 1937, and the Second World War marked their demise. The last of the Zeppelins, the Graf Zeppelin II (LZ130), was subsequently restricted to military use was dismantled in 1940.

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Q.� And now

A.� The NT07 is attracting a lot of interest. Perhaps the airship idea will take off again.

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Steve Cunningham

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