Zeppelin LZ 72

Zeppelin LZ 72, with the Navy designation L 31, was an R-class super-Zeppelin of the Imperial German Navy, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Mathy, an experienced commander. After a first sortie on 28 to 29 July 1916 it took part in several raids on Britain in 1916, including one on the northeast coast on 8 to 9 August that damaged Hull. On 24 to 25 August it was the only one of thirteen naval Zeppelins to reach London, bombing the Isle of Dogs, Deptford and districts of southeast London, killing nine civilians. It reached London again on 23 to 24 September. Its last flight began late on 1 October 1916; north of London it was caught in searchlights and anti-aircraft fire, and Second Lieutenant Wulstan Tempest, patrolling in a B.E.2, attacked it with incendiary rounds. It burst into flames and crashed at Potters Bar, and the entire crew died.