“Zeppelin Terror Attack”

Thursday 13th November 2014

Lecture Starts at 6.00 pm

By Dr Hugh Hunt, Cambridge University

Location: Lecture Theatre ‘0’, Cambridge University Engineering Department, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1PZ.

Lecture Synopsis
“Zeppelin Terror Attack” (Channel Four) revisits the little-known story of the First World War’s Blitz, when the Zeppelin waged an 18-month terror campaign on the people of London. Dr Hugh Hunt and his colleagues attempt to find out why it was so difficult for British guns to bring down Zeppelins: a surprising problem given that the airships were filled with flammable hydrogen gas. The material that held the gas in a Zeppelin was made of cow gut, and there follows a series of grisly experiments to find out how the Germans managed to turn narrow tubes of cow intestines into enormous balloons. “Zeppelin Terror Attack” is an explosive mix of investigative engineering and vivid action from the past.

The film will be shown, followed by a Q&A session with the cast and crew.

Lecture to be followed by Buffet Supper at 7.45 pm (admission by advance ticket).