The Airship VC

The Victoria Cross was awarded to William  Leefe Robinson of the Royal Flying Corps  for shooting down the first airship over London on the night of 2/3 September 1916 , a feat that paved the way for the eventual defeat of the Zeppelin as a strategic aerial bomber. With the co-operation of many who knew him and extensive research into personal archives and official records, the author has painted a fascinating portrait of the modest young airman who became,quite literally,an overnight sensation.William's early family life, his schooling, his entry into the Army and then the RFC, is meticulously chronicled; here, too,is  the most accurate and detailed account of that momentous night when William shot down SL11 over Cuffley,Hertfordshire; the aftermath,the hero-worship; his  subsequent posting to France;his capture following a disastrous dogfight with Richthofen's Flying Circus;the many escape attempts and his tragic early death shortly after the Armistice. It's a compelling story and the lively text is supported by over 100 rare photos making this one of the most authoritative accounts of a VC -winning airman in WWI   ever written.

Signed by Ray Rimell