William Leefe Robinson VC and the First Blitz | David Marks

Over the years, we have filmed quite a lot of speakers at the branch. These have been available to view on the WFA's YouTube channel, and can also be found as 'articles' on the WFA website. However these videos have not been separately grouped for those visiting the Yorkshire branch 'landing page' on the website.

By starting a process of loading these onto the branch page, this makes a number of talks that stretch back to about 2019 'visible'.

In this presentation, David Marks talks about 'William Leefe Robinson VC and the First Blitz' - which was given to the branch in October 2021.

William Leefe Robinson was a modest young man who became an overnight sensation for shooting down the first airship over London on the night of 2/3 September 1916. While the bombs fell from the 'zepps', Lt Robinson took off in his biplane and tailed the airship - strafing it with his machine guns. After two passes, he concentrated his fire in one spot - the hole he made turned ignited and turned the airship into a fireball.

His feat paved the way for the eventual defeat of the Zeppelin as a strategic bombing weapon. The talk tells the story of the 'First Blitz' and the life and times of a gallant pilot who is still remembered today.