L 30 Zeppelin and WWI biplanes, illustration. Zeppelins are rigid airships developed in Germany from the end of the 19th century. They used hydrogen to generate lift. This zeppelin first flew on 28 May 1916, during the First World War, when both airships and aircraft were used as bombers. Known as LZ 62, and later named L 30, it was the first R Class Zeppelin to be constructed. It took part in nine bombing raids (including one over the UK in September 1916) and made 31 patrol flights. It is shown here being attacked by British fighter planes. It was decommissioned in November 1917, and broken up in 1920. A total of 17 R Class Zeppelins were built. They had a length of 196 metres, and a crew of 21.