Zeppelin LZ 64

The Imperial German Navy Zeppelin LZ 64, given the tactical number L 22, was a Q-class / L20-class World War I zeppelin of the Imperial German Navy.

Operational history
LZ 64 carried out thirty reconnaissance missions, including 8 attacks on Britain, dropping 9215 kg of bombs.

Last mission
Lieutenant Robert Leckie (a Canadian) of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), was sent on a mission on 14 May 1917, as pilot of Curtiss Model H-12 Large America 8666, under the command of Flight Lieutenant Christopher John Galpin. The aircraft left Great Yarmouth on patrol at 03.30 a.m. in poor weather, with heavy rain and low cloud. The weather cleared as they approached Texel, and at 4:45 a.m. they spotted Brandaris, (the lighthouse on Terschelling), and a few minutes later LZ 64 about 10 – away. The Curtiss increased speed and gained height, with Leckie at the controls as Galpin manned the twin Lewis guns mounted in the bow.

The Curtiss managed to approach to within 0.5 mi before she was spotted, and the Zeppelin attempted to evade, but by then it was too late. The aircraft dived down alongside and Galpin fired an entire drum of incendiary bullets at a range of about 50 yds. Zeppelin L 64 rapidly caught fire, and crashed into the sea. The Curtiss returned to Great Yarmouth by 7:50 a.m., and they found only two bullet holes, in the left upper wing and the hull amidships, where the Germans had returned fire. Leckie was also credited in the downing of LZ 112.