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Airship Number L42 (LZ91)

The airships of the Zeppelin Company were cigar-shaped, with the maximum diameter being reached at one-eighth of the overall length. The diameter stays constant to about the last one-eighth of the ship’s length, where it reduces to the tail.  The ship is a “rigid airship” in that it has an aluminum, or duralumin, skeleton and a keel along the bottom, from which all of the ship’s weight was carried – crew, gondolas, ordnance, ballast, fuel, radio, etc.

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Airship NumberL42 (LZ91)
ManufacturerZeppelin Company
Military BranchNavy
Assigned Base(s)Ahlhorn, Nordholz
Beginning Service DateFebruary 21, 1917
Last Service DateJune 19, 1919
Postal MarkingMP “KOMMANDO L 42” (Rose)
Dispatch TypeOffical
Value$$$$

Notes

This Dropcard, Glûck ab” card, is seldom found in exhibits or auctions.  They were used infrequently, and when used, probably perished in the weather, in fields, or in the general destruction of the two World Wars.

In addition, this was the first of the high-altitude “Height Climbers” intended to fly above the operational altitudes of defending British fighters.  53 flights: 21 reconnaissance, 5 bombing, 12 training.

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