In 1919, with the First World War behind it, the U.S. Navy
began a rigid airship program, ordering the construction of two
dirigibles, plus a very large hangar at Lakehurst, New Jersey.
One of the new rigids was built in England as the British R-38,
using what was presumed to be a tested and reasonably mature technology.
Upon delivery, she was to become the American ZR-2. The
other, ZR-1
(later USS Shenandoah), was assembled at Lakehurst,
and her construction was delayed awaiting the completion of the
new hangar. Thus R-38 was the first of the new ships to
be completed, making her first trial flight in June 1921, nearly
a year before ZR-1's first frame was erected.
Already wearing U.S. markings, R-38 made three more
flights during the next two months, both for testing purposes
and for the training of her American crew. Delivery was to take
place soon thereafter, with the airship being flown across the
Atlantic to begin operations from Lakehurst. Her fourth flight
began on 23 August 1921, amid growing questions about her performance
and structural strength. After an overnight flight out to sea,
the next day R-38 undertook full power and maneuvering
trials. These proved too much for her. She broke up in the air,
some of her hydrogen lifting gas exploded, and the wreckage fell
into the Humber River near Hull, England. Of the forty-nine men
on board, there were only five survivors, including one American.
Sixteen U.S. Navy officers and men were killed, essentially wiping
out the Service's small cadre of experienced rigid airship personnel.
Photo #: NH 42050
British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2)
Leaves its hangar during trials in England, circa June-August
1921.
Note the faint marking "ZR-2" on the hull, near the
control car.
This is a fine-screen halftone reproduction.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
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Photo #: NH 1216
British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2)
Makes its first trial flight, at Cardington, England, 23 June
1921.
Note that the airship already wears U.S. markings.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 580 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 41997
British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2)
Six U.S. Navy Petty Officers "sail to speed up work on the
R-38. ... The R-38 is nearing completion in England
and is to be flown to her hangar at Lakehurst, N.J." (quoted
from the original caption). They are on board the passenger liner
Princess Matoika (formerly USS Princess Matoika)
for the trip to England.
These men are identified in the original caption as:
left to right, front: J.W. Cullinan, M. Lay and I.L. Thomas.
left to right, standing: N. Julnis (sic. ?), A.B. Galation
and H. Christensen.
Chief Boatswain's Mate M. Lay and Chief Machinist's Mate W.A.
Julius were among those who lost their lives when the R-38
crashed on 24 August 1921.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
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Photo #: NH 41998
British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2)
"To fly the R-38 here. Leaving on the Princess
Matoika to bring home via the air the R-38 now being
built over there for the United States.". (quoted from the
original caption). They are on board the passenger liner Princess
Matoika (formerly USS Princess Matoika) for the trip
to England, where the airship was under construction.
These men are identified in the original caption as:
left to right, kneeling: S.H. Knight, F.M. Gorey and A.C.
Carlson.
left to right, standing: W.G. Steele, F.L. Stevens, W.A.
Russell and R.N. Coons.
Chief Machinist's Mates W.J. Steele and R.M. Coons were among
those who lost their lives when the R-38 crashed on 24
August 1921.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
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Photo #: NH 72408
Crash of British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2),
24 August 1921
The airship's wreckage in the Humber River at Hull, Yorkshire,
England, after it had broken up in the air, exploded and crashed.
The tail is at the left.
Courtesy of Carl S. Walters, 1970.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
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Photo #: NH 69230
Crash of British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2),
24 August 1921
Rescue party cutting into the fabric hull covering, near the
tail, in an effort to save airmen trapped in the wreckage, "scarcely
one-half hour" after the airship broke up, exploded and
crashed into the Humber River at Hull, England.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
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Photo #: NH 72409
Crash of British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2),
24 August 1921
Closeup view of some of the airship's wreckage, including a leg
and foot of one of the 44 victims of the tragedy, soon after
it broke up in the air, exploded and crashed into the Humber
River off Victoria Pier, Hull, England.
Courtesy of Carl S. Walters, 1970.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 98KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 72410
Crash of British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2),
24 August 1921
Memorial at Hull, Yorkshire, England, erected in honor of those
lost when the airship broke up in the air, exploded and crashed
into the Humber River off Hull. Of the 49 men on board, including
17 Americans, 44 lost their lives.
Courtesy of Carl S. Walters, 1970.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 72411
Crash of British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2),
24 August 1921
Descriptive plaque, part of a memorial erected at Hull, Yorkshire,
England, in honor of those lost when the airship broke up in
the air, exploded and crashed into the Humber River off Hull.
Of the 49 men on board, including 17 Americans, 44 lost their
lives.
Courtesy of Carl S. Walters, 1970.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 166KB; 580 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 72412
Crash of British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2),
24 August 1921
Plaque listing U.S. Navy personnel killed when the airship broke
up in the air, exploded and crashed into the Humber River off
Hull, Yorkshire, England. The plaque is part of a memorial erected
at Hull in honor of the dead. Of the 49 men on board, including
17 Americans, 44 lost their lives. This plaque contains the names
of 16 officers and men of the U.S. Navy.
Courtesy of Carl S. Walters, 1970.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 595 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 72413
Crash of British airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2),
24 August 1921
Plaque listing British personnel killed when the airship broke
up in the air, exploded and crashed into the Humber River off
Hull, Yorkshire, England. The plaque is part of a memorial erected
at Hull in honor of the dead. Of the 49 men on board, including
17 Americans, 44 lost their lives. This plaque contains the names
of 28 officers and men of the Royal Air Force, staff members
of the National Physical Laboratory and of the Royal Airship
Works.
Courtesy of Carl S. Walters, 1970.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
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