Need help....were lugers assigned to zepplins?

Edward Tung · 12-02-2007, 05:11 AM

Do you guys know of any documented lugers that were assigned to zepplins? If so, are they traceable based upon any markings? I know many ww1 lugers(navy, police, etc) were marked on the back straps which is how you could determine where the pistol came from. Thanks

Lugerdoc · 12-03-2007, 10:38 AM

There were some "L." (plus other letters) grip strap marked PO8s that are attributed to Observation Balloon Detachment, that may have been used by a Zepplin crews. But since they were loaded with Hydrogen gas, I wouldn't want to be aboard, when a gun was fired. TH

Edward Tung · 12-03-2007, 05:05 PM

I found a gentleman that claims to be in possession of a luger that came off of the Hindenburg. I was under the impression that the Hindenburg was a civilian airship which made me doubt the story even more. I'm trying to get more info on the pistol and see if perhaps he is interested in selling. Thanks

Edward

WG dog · 12-03-2007, 05:41 PM

A Luger pistol was reported found in the Hindenburg wreckage fwiw.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster

Just thought it might be of interest.

Edward Tung · 12-03-2007, 05:46 PM

I did find that as well. I'm just a bit skeptical that this one is that luger. It would be nice if the crews were assigned pistols that were marked but I doubt that will be the case.

GerColctor · 12-03-2007, 08:33 PM

Carring a pistol on a Zeppin was not as dangerous as people might think.

Zepplins that flew bombing raids over England were protected by numerous machine gun ports to fend off fighters. There ports were located all around the Zepplin to protect the ship from planes approching from any direction. The interior of these aircrafts were honeycombed with catwalks that allowed the crew to move about the interior. They were also carring quite a few bombs.

The Zeppin's best defense in the beginning of the War was the fact they could fly at higher altitudes then fighters, but English technology improved the plane's engines so they could reach these big targets. Still, attacking a ship this well armed was very dangerous. They used a different, less volatile gas then the Hindenburg.

Most of the Zeppins were lost to storms over the North Atlantic/English Channel. This was the same cause that ended America's lighter then air fleet program in the 1920s, after a number of disasters.
Joe

Johnny C. Kitchens · 12-26-2007, 10:01 PM

I believe there are only two gases that work for lighter than air craft. Hydrogen and Helium. The Germans were forced to use Hydrogen, as most of the Helium in the world comes from right here in good old Texas, and the United States wasnt about to let the Germans have any. Roosevelt couldnt even get Congress to let the Germans have any after the Hindenburg disaster. Phosphorous bullets were developed to shoot down the Zeppelins during World War 1, by igniting the Hydrogen in them...

Mauser720 · 12-27-2007, 12:41 AM

Well, there is another factor regarding whether to use Hydrogen or Helium, and it has military implications: The lifting capacity of a cubic unit of Hydrogen is exactly twice that of Helium.

Guntoter · 12-28-2007, 07:01 PM

Many, if not most of the Zeppelins were Naval ships. The Army also had some, but the Naval ones were predominant. Therefore, if Lugers were used on the Naval ships, and they were Naval issue and unit marked, it should be a Naval unit mark and none have been attributed to the Zeppelins that I know of. On Army ships, I have no idea what the unit mark would be, if any. I would doubt that the numbers issued would have been that great, if any were issued. Officers would probably have bought there own pistols and would most likely have been 7.65. Who knows what the crew would get, especially since weight was critical on an airship.

12-02-2007, 05:11 AM	#1
Edward Tung User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Jose Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Need help....were lugers assigned to zepplins? Do you guys know of any documented lugers that were assigned to zepplins? If so, are they traceable based upon any markings? I know many ww1 lugers(navy, police, etc) were marked on the back straps which is how you could determine where the pistol came from. Thanks

12-03-2007, 10:38 AM	#2
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	There were some "L." (plus other letters) grip strap marked PO8s that are attributed to Observation Balloon Detachment, that may have been used by a Zepplin crews. But since they were loaded with Hydrogen gas, I wouldn't want to be aboard, when a gun was fired. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

12-03-2007, 05:05 PM	#3
Edward Tung User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Jose Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hindenburg luger I found a gentleman that claims to be in possession of a luger that came off of the Hindenburg. I was under the impression that the Hindenburg was a civilian airship which made me doubt the story even more. I'm trying to get more info on the pistol and see if perhaps he is interested in selling. Thanks Edward

12-03-2007, 08:33 PM	#6
GerColctor User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: CT & FL Posts: 315 Thanks: 2 Thanked 48 Times in 31 Posts	Carring a pistol on a Zeppin was not as dangerous as people might think. Zepplins that flew bombing raids over England were protected by numerous machine gun ports to fend off fighters. There ports were located all around the Zepplin to protect the ship from planes approching from any direction. The interior of these aircrafts were honeycombed with catwalks that allowed the crew to move about the interior. They were also carring quite a few bombs. The Zeppin's best defense in the beginning of the War was the fact they could fly at higher altitudes then fighters, but English technology improved the plane's engines so they could reach these big targets. Still, attacking a ship this well armed was very dangerous. They used a different, less volatile gas then the Hindenburg. Most of the Zeppins were lost to storms over the North Atlantic/English Channel. This was the same cause that ended America's lighter then air fleet program in the 1920s, after a number of disasters. Joe __________________ It is better to have lived a day as a tiger, then a thousand years as a lamb.

12-26-2007, 10:01 PM	#7
Johnny C. Kitchens User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 518 Thanks: 0 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	I believe there are only two gases that work for lighter than air craft. Hydrogen and Helium. The Germans were forced to use Hydrogen, as most of the Helium in the world comes from right here in good old Texas, and the United States wasnt about to let the Germans have any. Roosevelt couldnt even get Congress to let the Germans have any after the Hindenburg disaster. Phosphorous bullets were developed to shoot down the Zeppelins during World War 1, by igniting the Hydrogen in them... __________________ Johnny C. Kitchens

12-03-2007, 05:41 PM	#4
WG dog Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 142 Thanks: 1,282 Thanked 37 Times in 24 Posts	A Luger pistol was reported found in the Hindenburg wreckage fwiw. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster Just thought it might be of interest.

12-03-2007, 05:46 PM	#5
Edward Tung User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Jose Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I did find that as well. I'm just a bit skeptical that this one is that luger. It would be nice if the crews were assigned pistols that were marked but I doubt that will be the case.

12-27-2007, 12:41 AM	#8
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	Well, there is another factor regarding whether to use Hydrogen or Helium, and it has military implications: The lifting capacity of a cubic unit of Hydrogen is exactly twice that of Helium. __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

12-28-2007, 07:01 PM	#9
Guntoter User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Many, if not most of the Zeppelins were Naval ships. The Army also had some, but the Naval ones were predominant. Therefore, if Lugers were used on the Naval ships, and they were Naval issue and unit marked, it should be a Naval unit mark and none have been attributed to the Zeppelins that I know of. On Army ships, I have no idea what the unit mark would be, if any. I would doubt that the numbers issued would have been that great, if any were issued. Officers would probably have bought there own pistols and would most likely have been 7.65. Who knows what the crew would get, especially since weight was critical on an airship. __________________ Trust me, I'm with the Government.