Z XII-class Zeppelin <i><b>LZ 39</b></i> (Army desgnation <i><b>LZ 39</b></i>). This Zeppelin made three raids on the western, later two on the eastern front, dropping a total of 4,184 kg (9,224 lb) of bombs. On 17 December 1915, captained by Dr. Lempertz, LZ 39 was hit several times by shrapnel during an attack on Rovno. All rear gas cells were punctured and the front engine car was hit and later fell off. The crew abandoned the now-overstressed control cabin, dropped ballast and shifted loads to re-balance the ship and used an emergency control station in the rear to limp back to Germany. Upon forced landing the ship collapsed because material for repair and the supply of gas needed to refill the cells were not available. (from <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Zeppelins">List of Zeppelins</a>)
Jan Svoboda
1915-12-17
From inheritance of Jan Svoboda.