Zeppelin LZ 74
LZ 74 was an R Class super-zeppelin belonging to the Imperial German Navy.Missions
The airship took part in three attacks on England dropping of bombs.Destroyed
On its final mission LZ 74 was commanded by Kapitan-Leutnant Werner Petersen. The Airship set out with LZ 72, LZ 76 and LZ 78 part of Zeppelin raid on the night of 23 September 1916.
Second Lieutenant Frederick Sowrey, of 39 Home Defence Squadron, in a Royal Aircraft Factory BE.2C, launched from Sutton Farm at 2330 hours to patrol toward Joyce Green. Flying at, he spotted Zeppelin LZ 74 at about 0110 hours. He was able to close in with the Zeppelin until he was close enough to fire three drums of incendiary ammunition into its belly. Round and round hit the Airship before it finally exploded in flame. There were no survivors from the aircrew; most of the bodies recovered were charred and burned. The burning wreckage at Billericay drew enormous crowds. The crew's bodies were buried at Great Burstead, then exhumed in 1966 and reburied at Cannock Chase.Specifications (LZ 74 / Type R zeppelin)
