Ferdinand von Zepplin - US Civil War Service

[stevedrew]

I read a reference once that Ferdinand von Zepplin served for the Confederacy during the US Civil War. Perhaps as a consultant. Is this true? Is this where he learned of the usefullness of balloons for observation? Did the embryo of the zepplin begin in the US Civil war? Can any German historians help me out?

Steve Drew

Dear Steve,

You are very close ! Zeppelin did serve with Federal Balloon Company as an observer during the Civil War.

There exists a photograph of him with a federal battery.

When he started his Zeppelin construction he was a retired cavalry officer.

But as you guessed his basic idea for the rigid airship came from this period, when it was still used for 'espionage'.

The basic idea was to put a number of balloons next to eachother in a sigarshaped rigid airship.
These balloons became gasfilled chambers, etc...

There is a rather good video for sale on the subject : Zeppelin of Eagle Rock entertainment, 1998 nr ERE006 of about 55 minutes.

Regards,

Johan

sorry to disapoint you
- but there are two sides on every war -
as far as I understood he was with the Union -
compare :


best regards Erich

[Paul Forster]

Zeppelin took his first flight at Ft.Snelling,near St.Paul Minnesota ,about a 15 minute drive from where I live.

do you know when this happened?

[Rod_Filan]

Zeppelin participated in the Civil War, working as a military observer for the union army from April thru December 1863. Together with two Russians and two Indians he undertook an expedition to the springs of the Mississippi and took the opportunity to ascend in the balloon of Professor Steiner, August 19, 1863 near St. Paul, Minnesota.

VBR
Ro§bud

[Paul Forster]

I don't know if anyone knows it or not,but yesterday(July 2) was the 100th anniversary of the first zeppelin flight.