NEW ZEPPELIN RELIC ON DISPLAY AT SYWELL AVIATION MUSEUM
A very rare relic of First World War aviation has been placed on loan with Sywell Aviation Museum by Kettering Manor House Museum and Art Gallery.
The German Incendiary Bomb, was dropped by a Zeppelin in an aborted raid over Britain in 1916. Zeppelin L34 crossed the coast near Cromer at 11.30hrs on the 1st October and came under fire from Nordenfelt 6 pounder anti-aircraft guns sited near Corby. All six shots missed but as was often the way, the captain of the airship dropped his bombs in the hope of hitting a worthwhile target near the AA position.
A stick of seventeen high explosive bombs (including one of 300kg) were dropped in a curving line between Kirby Hall and the southern entrance to Corby railway tunnel. The Zeppelin then veered south and dropped thirteen incendiaries in a line east of the road from Rockingham to Gretton. The airship was noted as passing Easton on the Hill at 12.30 and crossed the coast at 1.30am, dropping the rest of its bombs in the sea.
The effect of the raid was minimal. The bombs mainly fell in open ground, two fell in a pond ‘cleaning it out in a most efficient manner’ and the only significant damage was a broken telegraph wire.
Several incendiaries and two HE bombs failed to explode. The latter detonated by Major Montanaro of the Army Ordnance Corps. The incendiaries were made safe and used to raise funds for the County branch of the Red Cross
The example loaned to the Museum is one of the latter. It is in perfect condition and was stored by Kettering Museum for 90+ years and has is now back on public display at Sywell, where it joins a considerable collection of aircraft ordnance ranging from hand dropped bombs to air to air missiles, and including another WW1 bomb from a raid by Zeppelin L45 on Northampton in 1917.
(With thanks to C Wood & M Gibson for the information)
Sywell Aviation Museum is very grateful to Kettering Museum and Art Gallery for its loan to them.
By: ZRX61 - 17th April 2008 at 19:43
It looks like this (in case you were wondering!)
TT
What the hell? That looks exactly like grandparents old coal scuttle!
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 17th April 2008 at 17:14
LOL
:p and we’ve got two of em – pox on ya flechette boy :p :p 😀
TT
By: G-ASEA - 17th April 2008 at 17:05
Looks like its still got its price lable on!:diablo:
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 17th April 2008 at 15:24
It looks like this (in case you were wondering!)
TT
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 17th April 2008 at 12:31
Never knowingly underflechetted are you Dave!
Cheers for the heads up mate – will see if I can persuade the committee!
ATB
Ben
By: G-ASEA - 17th April 2008 at 11:06
TT thats it you have the right one. But i think i only have around three different Anti zepp flechette’s:D
Dave
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 17th April 2008 at 10:57
AHA! Item number 310038664924?
Marvellous – good spot Dave (bet you have ten of ’em 😀 😀 lucky sod!)
Thanks mate, will keep an eye on it
ATB
Ben
By: G-ASEA - 17th April 2008 at 10:55
TT what you want now is a Anti Zeppelin flechette. That will stop the Zepps dropping more bombs. There is one on ebay at the moment.
Dave
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 17th April 2008 at 10:40
You only get a Hermann if I get a Bloodhound, now stoppit… :p
TT
By: philip turland - 17th April 2008 at 09:05
all we need now is a bloodhound missle……….NOT
where is my herman?
By: Creaking Door - 16th April 2008 at 23:45
I remember seeing this incendiary bomb on our local news; very interesting to hear where Zeppelin bombs were dropped, especially if it was local, brings the history to life.
Reminds me of a story I read years ago about a bomb disposal officer (in London I think) during the 1939-1945 war. While investigating unexploded bombs he came across a landlord who had repaired his apartment building. Holes in the roof and all the floors had been repaired, right down to a hole in the brick seller floor. Suspecting a bomb had caused the damage the bomb disposal officer asked when the damage had been caused…..and the landlord said 1917!
When they excavated the hole in the seller they did indeed find a bomb dropped by a Zeppelin. Can’t remember where I read that now but it was a very good book; does anybody know what the title was?
By: Old Fart - 16th April 2008 at 23:15
There is also one on display in Southend along with the fragments of a Zeppelin also a 6ft+ replica Zep on display.
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April 16, 2008 at 2:08 pm