Dunford, David Ogres in the Sky

Zeppelins over Essex in the First World War

Zeppelins were the largest aircraft ever built, and Germany pioneered their use as weapons of war. In 1915, the German Kaiser ordered air raids on Great Britain, bringing Essex into the attackers' sights. The countys towns were not merely targets in their own right; the region also lay along one of the main flight paths to London. Zeppelins that failed to reach their primary objectivethe capitaloften dropped their bombs on the population of Essex during their return journey; these raids evoked a mixture of fear and fascination among the people. Despite official warnings and the risk of death or injury, crowds would pour into the streets when the bombing began to watch the unfolding drama. High above, Zeppelin crews battled oxygen deprivation and freezing cold. Flying without parachutes, they faced a horrific choice if their airship was shot down and plummeted earthward in flames: jump or burn? Many chose to jump. This book tells the incredible story of the Zeppelin raids on Essex during the First World War, illustrated with compelling contemporary photographs and other historical images.