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I have speculated that "Zeppellin" killing was gradually demoted from a VC exploit to a DSO deed to an MC/DSC/DFC accomplishment as the act itself increased in frequency (and why not ? *Zeppellins did not get any more deadly as the war progressed, whereas the technology to destroy them did - gradual downgrading of the award merely recognized this fact). *However, my musing were speculations based on observations - I had not (and still have not) seen a documented instance of a First World War aerial VC nomination that was downgraded to something lesser.
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I recall looking up a bit on Zeppelins when you first expounded your theory over coffee a couple of years ago in Melbourne, Hugh. The first Zeppelin raid over the United Kingdom occurred on 19 January 1915 when 2 dropped bombs from 3,000 feet. They were capable of speeds of around 70 mph. The first attack on London occurred on 31 May 1915. After August 1916 Zeppelins over London were operating at 13,000 feet. The first brought down by British aircraft occurred on 12 September 1916. Thereafter the Zeppelin factory turned out a series called Height Climbers, designed to operate above 20,000 feet but still capable only of speeds of around 70 mph. From late 1916, the speed of British aircraft available to attack Zeppelins would have been considerably more than 70 mph although the ability to be a steady gun platform at 20,000 may not have been present until later.
In 1918, Zeppelin produced a series of extremely long range Zeppelins. The intention was that in August 1918, L-70, L-65 and L 53 were to fly across the Atlantic, bomb New York and return without stopping. All three were lost in bombing raids over London in August 1918, before the New York mission was to have been undertaken.
Howlong would such a flight have taken and what would have been achieved by it ? Do you or anybody else know anything about the New York adventure ?
Vin