Flt Sub Lt ‘Rex’ Warneford left Furnes at 1:00 am on 7th June 1915 on Morane No. 3253 under orders to look for Zeppelins and attack the Berchem St Agathe Airship Shed with six 20 lb bombs. On arriving at Dixmude at 1:05 am, he observed a Zeppelin apparently over Ostend and proceeded in chase of the same. He arrived at close quarters a few miles past Bruges at 1:50 am and the Airship opened heavy maxim fire, so he retreated to gain height and the Airship turned and followed him.
At 2:15 am it stopped firing and 2:25 am he came behind, but well above the Zeppelin; height was then 11,000 feet, and he switched off his engine to descend on top of the Zeppelin. When close above him at 7,000 feet altitude he dropped his bombs, and, whilst releasing the last, there was an explosion which lifted his machine and turned it over. The aeroplane was out of control for a short period, went into a nose dive, but control was regained. He then saw the Zeppelin was on the ground in flames. The joint on Warneford’s petrol pipe and pump from the back tank had been broken and at about 2:40 am he was forced to 
land in enemy territory to repair his pump. He made preparations to set the machine on fire, but was not observed, so was able to effect a repair of the aircraft and after considerable difficulty in starting his engine single handed (swinging the propeller himself) he was able to take off and head in a South Westerly direction.
He tried several times to find his whereabouts but was unable to do so, so he eventually landed and discovered he was at Cape Gris Nez, where he was given petrol by French soldiers. When the weather cleared he was able to proceed and arrived back at his aerodrome about 10:30 am. For this action he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Two weeks later on a routine flight his aircraft broke up and he was killed before he received his award
Adapted from Flight Sub-Lieutenant Warneford’s own report of the action, addressed to Wing Commander Longmore, 7 June 1915.
Victoria Cross — The London Gazette, 11 June 1915, issue 29189, page 5635
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to Flight Sub-Lieutenant Reginald Alexander John Warneford, Royal Naval Air Service, for the conspicuous act of bravery specified below:—
For most conspicuous bravery on the 7th June, 1915, when he attacked and, single-handed, completely destroyed a Zeppelin in mid-air. This brilliant achievement was accomplished after chasing the Zeppelin from the coast of Flanders to Ghent, where he succeeded in dropping his bombs on to it from a height of only one or two hundred feet. One of these bombs caused a terrific explosion which set the Zeppelin on fire from end to end, but at the same time overturned his Aeroplane and stopped the engine. In spite of this he succeeded in landing safely in hostile country, and after 15 minutes started his engine and returned to his base without damage.
