BECCLES author Mark Mower has just published his latest book, telling the dramatic story of the flight and crash in Suffolk of a German Zeppelin.Zeppelin Over Suffolk tells the remarkable story of the destruction of a German airship over East Anglia in 1917.

BECCLES author Mark Mower has just published his latest book, telling the dramatic story of the flight and crash in Suffolk of a German Zeppelin.

Zeppelin Over Suffolk tells the remarkable story of the destruction of a German airship over East Anglia in 1917. The drama is set against the backdrop of Germany's aerial bombing campaign on Britain in the first world war using a terrifying new aerial weapon.

The course of the raid on that summer night is reconstructed in vivid detail, from the moment the Zeppelin took off from northern Germany to its slow journey across the North Sea and bombing run along the east coast, the pursuit by British fighters high over Suffolk, and the airship's final moments as it fell to earth in flames near Theberton in the early morning of June 17, 1917.

Mark also records the aftermath of this extraordinary event: the crash site, the sightseers, the airmen who survived, the significance of the episode in the history of aerial bombing and in local folklore. Included are portraits of the key individuals involved: Count von Zeppelin, who created the German airships, Peter Strasser, the architect and champion of the airship bombing campaign, Franz Eichler, the ill-fated commander of the L48, and the British airman who brought the airship down.

Mark will be giving a talk about his book at Beccles Library on Thursday (2-3pm) and will be doing book signings at Bookthrift (Saturday, November 1, 10am-noon) and The Gazette Bookshop (Saturday, November 8 10am-noon). There is a formal launch at the Leiston Long Shop Museum on Sunday, October 19.