100 years ago today, on the evening of 5/6 August 1918, the final German air raid against GB took place. Five Naval Zeppelins, including their newest and largest, the L70 commissioned just four weeks earlier, took part. But at this stage in the war the tide had well and truly turned against the Zeppelin. Aircraft of the RAF with incendiary ammunition were capable of reaching far greater heights than previously and as a result the L70 was shot down over the North Sea before it even sighted the English coast. All on board were killed, including the Commander of Airships, Peter Strasser who liked to go out at least once a month on a major operation.

Only one airship crossed the coast, but released no bombs. However three RAF aircraft were lost that night and four airmen killed.

Since the first air raid on British soil in December 1914 1442 people had been killed and around 3500 injured, material damage amounted to just under £3 million. Of those killed 557 lost their lives to airship raids and 857 to aeroplanes. In addition 28 airmen were killed defending these shores.

The Germans lost 17 airships and 28 aircraft (including crashes in bad weather). 

Not great results from such a huge outlay, but the raids across Europe laid the foundations for the devastating aerial attacks developed by the Germans in the late 1930s and 40s.