William Leefe Robinson VC and the First Blitz

Published on 12 January 2022
Submitted by David Marks

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.

William Leefe Robinson VC and the First Blitz
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