Zeppelin Raid on Retford September 1916

[PAUL_MEADS]

I am currently researching a Zeppelin bombing raid on Retford, Nottinghamshire, on the night of the 2nd/3rd September 1916. Unfortunately two of my written sources give conflicting advice as to who was commanding the airship (L.13) on that night.

Has anyone got any information as to whether it was commanded by Kapitan Leutnant Mathy or by Kapitan Leutnant Prolss? Or where I might find out from official sources?

Thanks.

[Adrian Roberts]

Thomas Fegan's book The Baby Killers says Prolss on this occassion - but if this is one of your sources this might not be much help!

Mathy had certainly commanded L13 earlier in the war. He died commanding L31 on 1/2 October 1916, less than a month after the Retford raid. However, L31 was already in service by the time of the Retford raid, and since Mathy was Germany's leading airship commander, it seems likely that he would have been given command of L31, one of the newest class of "Super-Zeppelins" as soon as it entered service. So if that is the case he would have handed over L13 to Prolss by then.

[Aspern]

I am currently researching a Zeppelin bombing raid on Retford, Nottinghamshire, on the night of the 2nd/3rd September 1916. Unfortunately two of my written sources give conflicting advice as to who was commanding the airship (L.13) on that night.

Has anyone got any information as to whether it was commanded by Kapitan Leutnant Mathy or by Kapitan Leutnant Prolss? Or where I might find out from official sources?

Thanks.

Hi Paul

I can confirm that L 13 was commanded by Kapitanleutnant Prolss on the night of 2/3 September 1916. Prolss took command of L 13 from Mathy on 19 April 1916. Mathy took command of L 31 on 14 July 1916 and remained in that position until L 31 was shot down over Potters Bar in October 1916.

Regards

Ian

[Bill Tomlinson]

Hi Paul

I read you topic with interest,as a little while ago whilst doing some research into other thing came across a hand written account of an attack on Retford by a Zepplin. I am not sure about or if Retford was attacked on more than one occassion but the story was very interesting but it was more about the effect of the action rather than the subject of your topic, ie the crew