Imperial German Navy World War I Control Wheel of Zeppelin/Airship “L61” from the Estate of its Commanding Officer Kapitänleutnant Heinz Bödecker

Among the surviving artifacts of the First World War, objects from the German naval airship service occupy a uniquely evocative place. The steering wheel from Zeppelin L61 presented here is one such piece of museum-quality significance – a tangible witness to the era when colossal airships served as strategic weapons over the battlefields and cities of Europe. Originating from the estate of its final commander, Kapitänleutnant Heinz Bödecker, this object weaves together engineering craftsmanship with personal military history.

L61 and the “Height Climbers”

The airship bearing the tactical designation L61 and factory number LZ 106 was manufactured by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin at Friedrichshafen and made its maiden flight on 12 December 1917. It belonged to the so-called Type V class, a series built in 1917–18 specifically designed for high-altitude operations to conduct attack missions over England. A total of ten Type V Zeppelins were constructed: L53, L55, L56, L58, L60, L61, L62, L63, L64, and L65, corresponding to Zeppelin factory numbers LZ 100, 101, 103, 105, 108, 106, 107, 110, 109, and 111 respectively. Within the German Navy, they formed the L53 Class; to the British, they were known simply as the “Height Climbers.”

The strategic impetus behind this class was urgent and deadly serious. Throughout 1917, the German naval airship division was on a mission to retake the initiative from the British, whose improved anti-aircraft defenses and incendiary ammunition fitted to fighter aircraft were taking a very heavy toll on the airship raiders. By the end of 1916, the Germans understood that they needed to operate above 16,000 feet and as high as 20,000 feet to stay clear of these defenses. The Type V was the technological answer to this challenge. L61 boasted a gas volume of 56,000 cubic meters, giving it the lifting capacity required for sustained high-altitude operations.

Operational History

During its service life, L61 carried out 9 reconnaissance missions and 2 attack raids against England, during which a total of 4,500 kg of bombs were dropped. Among the targets attacked were the blast furnaces at Wigan near Liverpool. The airship was stationed at Ahlhorn, one of Germany’s principal naval airship bases in the northwest of the country.

The first commander of L61 was Kapitänleutnant Ehrlich, who held the post from December 1917 to May 1918. A group photograph from September 1917 shows Navy Zeppelin captains, including Ehrlich, who at that time commanded L 35. From May 1918, Kapitänleutnant Heinz Bödecker assumed command of L61 and retained it until November 1918 – through the final months of the war.

The Steering Wheel – Physical Description

The steering wheel itself is a striking testament to Zeppelin manufacturing standards. Constructed from solid cast aluminum, it features six spokes with wooden grips at the ends. The metal retains an old black paint finish, approximately 50 percent of which is still preserved. The overall diameter is approximately 61.5 cm.

Of particular significance are the markings on the hub. The front bears the inscription “♔M L61 16184” – the crowned “M” denoting the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy), followed by the tactical designation of the airship and a serial number. The reverse side carries the manufacturer’s mark: “Fr. W. Bauer.”

Provenance and Postwar History

The provenance of this steering wheel is remarkably well documented. After the end of the war, L61 was decommissioned. It was common practice in the German naval airship service to present the steering wheel to the former commander as a memento when an airship was decommissioned or scrapped. Accordingly, the steering wheel passed into the possession of Kapitänleutnant Heinz Bödecker already in 1918, and it has remained in his estate to the present day.

The airship itself was decommissioned after the war and was slated for transfer to Italy as war reparation.

A Note on Numbering

Collectors and researchers should be aware of a potential source of confusion inherent in the dual numbering system used for German military Zeppelins. The airship discussed here carried the tactical designation L61 and the factory number LZ 106. These are not the same aircraft as LZ 61, which carried the entirely different tactical designation L 21 – a P-class Zeppelin that was lost in 1916. The markings on this steering wheel clearly read “L61,” confirming it belongs to LZ 106, not LZ 61.

Significance for Collectors

This steering wheel transcends the category of mere technical component. It is a direct witness to the strategic air war of the First World War and the desperate German effort to regain technological superiority through innovation – in this case, the high-altitude Type V Zeppelins designed to outclimb British defenses. The clear attribution to a specific airship via the hub markings, the documented operational history of L61, and the confirmed provenance through the commander’s estate make this an object of outstanding historical and museum-grade importance. Original components from identified Zeppelins with secure provenance are exceedingly rare on the collector’s market.