Flight Commander Arthur Bigsworth had already experimented with night flying, using two 4 V lamps attached to his aircraft and no doubt called on this experience on 17 May 1915, when he managed to climb his Avro 504 above LZ 39 over Ostend and drop four 20 lb (9 kg) bombs on its envelope, causing considerable damage.

[2] The attack and damage to the Zeppelin was reported on in the American press the same day it happened, 17 May 1915.

[1] On 17 December 1915, captained by Dr. Lempertz, LZ 39 was hit by shrapnel during an attack on Rovno.

All rear gas cells were punctured and the front engine car was hit and later fell off.

After the forced landing the ship collapsed because the material for repair and the supply of gas needed to refill the cells were not available.