[ROBINSON (William Leefe, 1895-1918, V.C., Airman)]

Unsigned Portrait Postcard Photograph, by the Daily Mirror, showing him half length, full face with a wonderful smile, in Royal Flying Corps uniform, printed title below "the intrepid airman who, on 3rd Sept. 1916, attacked an enemy Zeppelin (L.21) in mid-air, bringing it down to the earth in flames", published by J. Beagles & Co., London, 5½" x 3½", no place, no date, circa trifling crease across blank bottom right corner

Leefe Robinson's V.C., the first won on or above British soil, was gazetted two days later. He won it at night, close to the upper limit of his aeroplane's height, with little oil and petrol left, damaged by fire from the Zeppelin (later identified as a Schütte-Lanz SL 11 rather than an L.21), at very close quarters, and in danger of the Zeppelin exploding when it finally caught fire. Robinson's bravery showed that the Zeppelins could be beaten (this one was part of a mass attack by 16 on London).
Robinson died shortly after the war during the 'flu pandemic, made worse by solitary confinement as a prisoner of war in Germany.

Item Date:  1916

Stock No:  54889      £150

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