Zeppelin L31 Superstructure Part : Pearson family, Little Heath Essex, England

Triangular shaped section of duraluminium (an aluminium alloy) Zeppelin framework made up of over a dozen pieces of metal. The two sides of the section meet at point, covered with a cap piece. The cap piece has two grommets, to which pieces of the external envelope would have been attached. The bottom of the section is held by two L shaped and one V shaped supporting struts.

The Zeppelin L31 was shot down on 1 October 1916 by Second Lieutenant Wulstan Tempest, 39 Squadron Royal Flying Corps. The battle and crash were witnessed by thousands of Britons. Among them were members of the Pearson family, who lived in the village of Little Heath.

Ada Pearson and her children saw the events unfold from their home. Her husband, John Pearson, a district policeman, was away on duty. The L31 crashed at Potters Bar and the crew were all killed, either by jumping from the flaming Zeppelin or burning to death. They were originally buried at Potters Bar, but their remains were moved to Cannock Chase in Staffordshire in the 1960s.

Pieces of airships, especially Zeppelins, were a very popular souvenir in England. People came from far and wide to view the crash sites and purchase, or scavenge for pieces of the wreckages. John Pearson was one of the men sent to guard the Zeppelin wreck and to protect it from souvenir hunters. However, two of his sons managed to souvenir this piece when they brought him his lunch. The piece is thought to be part of the nose cone of the L31.