French aviators attack German Zeppelin hangar

15 August 1914

Late yesterday, aviators of the French Aéronautique Militaire attacked the German Zeppelin hangar at Frescaty. Lieutenant Antoine Césari and caporal Roger Prudhommeaux from Escadrille MF.16 took off from Verdun in Farman MF.7s at 5.30 PM. Each aircraft carried a modified 155-mm artillery shell. 

Although Césari and Prudhommeaux reached the target and released their weapons, neither shell hit the target hangar. The aviators returned home safely from their fruitless mission.

The sheds presently house two German army Zeppelins: Z II Ersatz (construction number LZ-9) and Z III (LZ-12). Both airships are considered obsolete, and the German army decommissioned them shortly before Germany entered the war. 

Lieutenant Antoine Césari

Caporal Roger Prudhommeaux

Frescaty viewed from the air. The Zeppelin hangar
is visible at the top left of the photograph

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The Farman MF.7

The Farman MF.7, known as the “Longhorn” is the design of Maurice Farman and is based upon a sport aeroplane he constructed in 1910. The pilot shares a nacelle with the engine and propeller mounted pusher-fashion behind him. Rudders and stabilisers are carried on booms extending rearward from the biplane wings, while elevators are carried on booms that extend forward, providing the aeroplane with its nickname. The 70-hp Renault V-8 engine can propel the MF.7 to almost 60 mph.

The type is now obsolescent, having been removed from British front-line service, although it still equips eight French escadrilles.