Zeppelin, << ZEHP uh lihn or `tsehp` uh LEEN, >> Ferdinand von (1838-1917), was a famous German pioneer in lighter-than-air vehicles. He designed aircraft that were primarily gas bags, supported internally by a light framework. Engines powered and controlled his aircraft. These aircraft soon were named after him. Germany used zeppelins in air raids against Britain during World War I. These attacks were the first planned air raids against a civilian population (see Airship).
Zeppelin was born on July 8, 1838, in Constance, Baden, and was trained to be an army officer. He visited the United States during the American Civil War and went up in balloons with the Union forces. The balloons convinced him of the value of aircraft. Zeppelin served in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. After his retirement in 1891, he devoted himself to aeronautics. He had spent most of his savings when Kaiser Wilhelm II became interested in his work and offered financial support. He died on March 8, 1917.
