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Airship Number L12 (LZ43)

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 NumberL12 (LZ43)
ManufacturerZeppelin Company
Military BranchNavy
Assigned Base(s)Nordholz, Hage
Beginning Service DateJuly 23, 1915
Last Service DateApril 25, 1917
Postal MarkingPM “Luftshiffhafen Tondern”  There are no known “KOMMANDO” PM or Seals, for L-12
Dispatch TypePersonal
Value$$$

Notes

2 Fligths on Western Front.  Damaged during Geschwderrangriff on London.  Stranded in Sea near Ostend.  Scrapped.  

Another prominent Airship Leader was Oblt. Z. S Werner Petersen.  He Commanded the L-7, L-12, L-16, and L-32.  In many raids over England, he dropped a total 20,950 Kg. (46,000 lbs.) of bombs.  He perished in the shootdown of L-32, by Lt. F. Sowrey, on 24 September 1916, over London. This cover posted by the L-12 Commander Petersen, Norden Civil date is 14.7.15 and his signature as sender. Back is the Luftschiff Marine Detachment (LMD) marking for Norden and Petersen’s personal seal.  His correspondence is well known.  His penmanship, and his famous combat experience make this a very desirable show cover.

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