The Raid

9 airships came in over the east coast and heading to the Midlands, although it is thought they were meant to be heading to Liverpool and Manchester
L21 – dropped bombs on Tipton, people were killed when houses were hit, a couple were killed at Lower Bradley near Bilston walking along the canal tow path.
The airship then went over to Wednesbury and Walsall where more were killed, most were killed in Walsall when a tram was hit.
L13 – Came over with L21 but split up heading over the Midlands. First bombs were dropped on the Fenton Collery outside of Stoke then on to Burton on Trent were a lot of damage was done and people killed and injured. L20 also bombed Burton and it isn’t clear which airship did what damage. After this went back out over the North Sea in Lincolnshire
L15 – Came in over Norfolk and instead of heading to the Midlands went over the fens dropping bombs in several places & killing 1 person in West Row Fen. The airship then went back up the coast to Skegness and its not clear what they were doing.
The crew were captured a couple of months after the raid and claimed they had bombed Liverpool on this raid.
L16 – dropped a couple of bombs on Swaffham causing no damage then headed home.
L14 – Came in over Holkham then headed to Grantham, was heading off but circled back to the light of the furnaces at Ashby Wolds. Carried onto Derby, dropping bombs in several places along the way. In Derby bombs were dropped on the Midland Railway Works, killing 3 and injuring 2. Further bombs were dropped on a Lamp works, the Rolls Royce Works, a gas company and a lace factory.
The crew claimed they had bombed Liverpool.
L19 – Seems to have wandered around a lot before reaching Burton on Trent, possibly attracted by the fires caused by the bombs dropped by L13. After this went down over Birmingham and the Midlands, dropped bombs on the Ocker Hill Collery in Dudley. Bombs were also dropped on Dudley Castle before dropping bombs on Tipton and Walsall.
After this the airship semes to have got lost and wandered round for some time more before making it over the North Sea. At 7.30am on 2 February the airship was spotted by the trawler King Stephen. According to the Official Report the Skipper refused to take the crew onboard as he was concerned they would over power him and his crew and use the boat to get home. Instead the trawler returned immediately to port and reported the incident. By the time a ship got back out it the airship had sunk taking the crew with it.
L17 – Came in over Sheringham and dropped bombs on Cley. Went round the coast and out over the sea at Great Yarmouth.
L11 – Was seen over the Wash then went up to South Yorkshire. Dropped a couple of bombs at Digby then went onto Scunthorpe where bombs were dropped on the Frodingham Iron and Steel Works and the Redbourne Iron Works and the workers cottages.
L20 – First dropped a bomb on Stamford then turned. Leicester and Nottingham had both enforced blackouts, Loughborough hadn’t and the Official Report believes this is why it was bombed as it stood out. Damage was done to the Empress Crane Works and bombs dropped on the railway but not much damage was done.