Zeppelin Gunner Kills?

[A.W. Carson]

This question may have been kicked around the forum a while ago, but it was an interesting one. As some know, or might not know, the German airships were equipped with some sort of defensive armament. From what I have read (and it is little) it seems that it consisted of a few machine guns (Parabellums ?). Did any gunner manage to shoot down an attacking aircraft? This question is certainly not restricted to the missions over Britian!

[Rod_Filan]

If I'm not mistaken, Alan MacLeod VC made a forced landing after engaging a Zeppelin gunner over London in 1917.

VBR
Rod

[Phil Hawes]

Not knowing the defence outline of the Zeppelin i can not say what the chances of a Aircraft being shot down by a Zeppelin Gunner. But from a combat pilots mind i would say that you should attack the target from high and abeam, inless gunner were stationed on top of the airship they may of been unable to engage enemy aircraft. However it has to be said that in 1915-16 when the raids on England became frequent the British aircraft sent to engage the raider were not very good, Be2c probably could not climb above the airship fast enough.

[Graeme]

There was a gunner's gondola atop the early airships at least but the problem was that the gunner couldn't just open fire if the airship was operating near its pressure height. At this altitude, the reduced external air pressure allowed the hydrogen gas to expand and if no action was taken the gas cells would be ruptured. So each cell was fitted with a gas relief valve. Naturally, if the airship was venting hydrogen, the CO wouldn't want sparks of any sort, let alone tracer bullets, anywhere near his ship.

As far as raids on the UK, I know of no casualty caused by machine gun fire from an airship, most casualties being a result of engine failures and crashes while landing in the dark.

Graeme