He headed
straight for the Zeppelin shed, launched two bombs and swung into
the higher reaches of the air without a moment's hesitation. His
aim was deadly, since both bombs found their mark, and the
Zeppelin docked within was blown up. The intrepid airman
experienced several narrow escapes, for his aeroplane was struck
twenty times, and one or two of the control wires were cut by
passing bullets.
The raid carried out by Commanders Briggs and Babington in
company with Lieutenant Sippe upon the Zeppelin workshops at
Friedrichshafen was even more daring. Leaving the Allies' lines
they ascended to an altitude of 4,500 feet, and at this height
held to the pre-arranged course until they encountered a mist,
which while protecting them from the alert eyes of the enemy
below, was responsible for the separation of the raiders, so that
each was forced to act independently and to trust to the compass
to bring him out of the ordeal successfully. Lieutenant Sippe
sighted Lake Constance, and taking advantage of the mist lying
low upon the water, descended to such an extent that he found
himself only a few feet above the roofs of the houses.
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