Postcard image of London under an airship raid. In the distance, a fire burns near Tower Bridge, another to the east, south of the Thames. The Schütte-Lanz was a competitor to the Zeppelin, and used a wooden rather than metal frame. After an original painting, 'Schütte-Lanz' over London by Jo. Ruep.

Reverse:

Luftfahrerdank o.m.b.h. Charlottenburg 2. "Schütte-Lanz" über London

Nach einem Original-Gemälde von Jos. Ruep.



Thanks to Airmen o.m.b.h. Charlottenburg 2.

"Schütte-Lanz" over London

After an original painting by Jo. Ruep.

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Tuesday, December 18, 1917

"London had never been attacked by the light of so small a moon. With the onset of winter the Germans had another means of finding the city at night. A light snowfall had fallen on England. Against a white background, the darkly etched course of the Thames was clearly visible from the air. . . .

The press, complying with the ban on 'lurid' air raid stories, gave scant attention to the damage. The destruction was actually the worst since the devastating Zeppelin raid of September 1915. Thirteen fires raged in London, one being visible over fifty miles away to the returning German crews. Despite the property losses, there were only twelve dead and sixty-six wounded. The barrage fire injured nineteen others, two fatally."

Quotation Context

Thirteen Gotha bombers and one Staka Giant set out to attack London the night of December 18, 1917 with the Staka and seven of the Gothas reaching the city. A British pilot, Captain Gilbert Murlis-Green, hit an engine of one Gotha which ended in the English Channel. Seven of the Gothas were damaged on landing in Belgium, two of them destroyed.

Source

The Sky on Fire by Raymond H. Fredette by Raymond H. Fredette, pp. 176, 177, copyright © 1966, 1976, 1991 by Raymond H. Fredette, publisher: Smithsonian Institution Press, publication date: 1991

Tags

1917-12-18, 1917, December, Gotha G.V, Gotha G.V bomber, London, Thames, Thames River