LZ 61 (Zeppelin 'L 21')

Silhouette of LZ 61
History
German Empire
Name:	LZ 61
Operator:	Imperial German Navy
Builder:	Luftschiffbau Zeppelin
Maiden voyage:	January 10, 1916
Identification:	L 21
Fate:	Shot down, November 28, 1916
General characteristics
Type:	Airship
Length:	163.5 m
Beam:	18.7 m ø
Installed power:	Four 240 hp Maybach HSLu engines
Speed:	97 km/h
Capacity:	31,900 m³ Gas Volume

The LZ 61 was a World War I German Navy airship, allocated the tactical numbering 'L 21'. It carried out a total of ten raids on England, and 17 reconnaissance missions.

The LZ 61 took part in a total of ten raids on England during 1916. These included:

On November 27, 1916, the LZ 61 began its last raid on England in the company of nine other Zeppelins. Crossing the coast north of Atwick, the LZ 61 initially attacked Leeds, but was repelled by anti-aircraft fire.

After bombing Shafton, Dodworth, Kidsgrove, Goldenhill, Tunstall, Chesterton, Fenton and Trentham, it made out into the North Sea near Great Yarmouth. It was intercepted by three RNAS pilots: Flight Sub–Lieutenant Edward Laston Pulling, Flight–Lieutenant Egbert Cadbury, and Flight Sub–Lieutenant Gerard William Reginald Fane, flying B.E. 2C aircraft. After exchanging fire with the three aircraft, the LZ 61 burst into flames and crashed into the sea about eight miles (13 km) east of Lowestoft. There were no survivors.

For unknown reasons, when the SL 11 became the first German airship to be shot down over England, it was described officially and in the press as the Zeppelin L 21 (the LZ 61's tactical number). This misidentification persisted for decades, even though it is clear that the authorities were always aware of its correct identity.

It has been suggested by Ray Rimell that the reason for this confusion was a calculation by the authorities that the downing of a hated and feared Zeppelin 'baby killer', would play better with the public than the destruction of an almost unknown Schütte-Lanz type.