During the First World War, Britain came under attack from the air, putting civilians in the firing line for the very first time. At the start of the war, Britain was ill-prepared to deal with the threat from enemy airships and aircraft. Traditionally, its home defence focused on defending the coastline rather than its airspace and with most of the Royal Flying Corps operating overseas, few aircraft remained to defend Britain.

The first aerial threat came from German Zeppelins in 1915. At 11,000 feet, Zeppelins could turn off their engines, drifting silently to carry out surprise attacks. Successive damaging Zeppelin attacks in both 1915 and 1916 caused public outcry and government embarrassment.
To counter the threat, streetlights were dimmed, and guns, searchlights and observers were mobilised. Some RFC and Royal Naval Air Service squadrons were recalled, and defence switched from anti-aircraft guns to aeroplanes. Incendiary ammunition for aircraft was developed for bringing down the airships.

LIST OF MAPS IN THIS VOLUME

1. Typical Aeroplane Raids, 1914-1916
Airship Raids
2. 19-20 January 1915
3. 14 April 1915
15 June 1915
4. 15-16 April 1915
5. 29-30 April 1915
10 May 1915
6. 7 May 1915
26 May 1915
31 May- 1 June 1915
7. 4-5 June 1915
8. 4-5 June 1915
6-7 June 1915
9. 9-10 August 1915
10. 9-10 August
11. 12-13 August 1915
12. 17-18 August 1915
13. 7-8 September 1915
14. 8-9 September 1915
15. 8-9 September 1915
16. 11-12 September 1915
12-13 September 1915
17. 13-14 September 1915
18. 13-14 October 1915
19. 31 January- 1 February 1916
20. 5-6 March 1916
21. 31 March-1 April 1916
22. 1-2 April 1916
23. 2-3 April 1916
24. 2-3 April 1916
25. 3-4 April 1916
26. 5-6 April 1916
27. 24-25 April 1916
28. 25-26 April 1916
29. 26 April 1916
30. 2-2 May 1916
31. 2-3 May 1916
32. 28-29 July 1916
33. 31 July- 1 August 1916
34. 2-3 August 1916
35. 8-9 August 1916
36. 23-24 August 1916
37. 24-25 August 1916
38. 2-3 September 1916
39. 23-24 September 1916
40. 25-26 September 1916
41. 1-2 October 1916
42. 27-28 November 1916