Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-06
ZEPPELIN VICTIM
OF BRITISH A|RMAN
Member of Royal Flying Corps
Brings Down Big Ger
man Raider.
BODIES TO BE BURIED TO-DAY
Lieutenant Robinson Is Awarded
Victoria Cross by King
George.

Io NpoN. September 5-King
George today awarded the Victoria
Cross 10 Lieutenant William Lccfc
Robinson. Of the Royal Flying Corps.
ior bringing down a Zeppelin which
attempted to raid London on Saturday
night The announcement made by th..
ohicial press bureau was the first hint
that the air invader was the victiis
ot British flyer instead Of Gunfirc
Ihc press bureau states that the Vic
torla Cross was awarded to Lieutenant
Kobinson Tor most conspicuous
bravery"
Lieutenant Robinson is twcnty-onc
years old on Saturday night lie was
scouting in an ordinary way. having
he"n In the air two hours alone in an
aeropiane. When soarchliEhts re-
realcd the presence of Zeppelin he
followed it for more than twenty miles
Lieutenant Robinson made his attack
at close range. The Zeppelin threw
out great clouds of smoke and tried to
eludc him, but he stuck to its trail
ana, diving beneath the giant gas bag
began firing with his, machine gun
His shots hit the petrol tanks. which
exploded, firing The gas bag
HAD ENGAGED ANOTHER
or INVADING AIRSHIPS
Robinson quickly descended. mar
rowly avoiding a serious accident on
the way. aud telcphoncd his report to
headquarters. Then he hurried in an
automobile TO the scene of the wreck
Prior to his successful attack on
the Zeppelin, Robinson had engaged
another OF the invading airships
Early on Sunday morning, when
crowds began TO gather around the
wreck OF the Zeppelin. Robinson was
one of the spectators. lie was stand
ing with his back toward the debris,
chatting with brother officers when the
searching party which was examining <
the wreckagc discovered an Iron Cross.
Pass the word 10 Robinson" said the
officer in command. and that was the
first any one outside OF the circles knew
the young lieutenant was the conoucror
OF tho Zeppelin. The Iron Cross found
in The debris was turned over to him
He also will receive abou, $1,000 offered
in rewards by various societies for the
frs, officer TO bring down Zeppelin
on English soil.
The inquest to-day resulted i'm 4
finding that the Zeppelin was brought
tenant Robinson. At the inquest an
officer of the flying corps testified that
there was no way OF identifying the
half burned bodies OF the Zeppclins
crew. the air sailors not having worn
the customary metal Identification
disks There were few charrcd per-
sonal effects. including coat and 4
watch. Most of the metal buttons on
the coats had been melted by the in
tense heat
SiNTEEN BODIES FOUND
" WRECK or ZEPPELIN
y police officer testified to having
seen three burning bodies near the
propeller OF the wrecked airship. They
still were burning when the airship
his legs burned off and another his
arms as FAR as the elbows. In all. six
teen bodies were recovered. The
telegraph announces that they will he
given military funeral on Wcdncs-
day
Lieutenant Robinson took his pilots
certificate on his twentieth birthday.
ON June : Suhlieutenaut A. j. Warn
ford of the Canadian corps. destroyed
a Zeppelin at a height OF 5000 feet, be-
tween Client and Brussels. He was
awarded the Victoria Cross. y few
DAYS later. while flying near Paris with
Henry Beach Needham. an American
magazine writer. he fell to earth. and
both were killed.