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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The 1920s -- 1924
Storm Damage to USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), 16 January 1924
Beginning in mid-November 1923, USS Shenandoah conducted
trials with Naval Air Station Lakehurst's new mooring mast, which
permitted airships to operate for prolonged periods away from
a hangar. This would be vital to the success of a planned demonstration
flight to the Arctic. While attached to the mast, an airship had
to be constantly "flown" and, as events would soon demonstrate,
she could be vulnerable to sudden gusts of wind.
On 16 January 1924 Shenandoah was moored to Lakehurst's
mast for a test of her ability to endure bad weather. As wind
conditions worsened in the early evening it was decided to leave
the mast and ride out the storm in flight. However, before this
could be done the airship was hit by a 78 mile-per-hour blast of
wind, which tore her away from her mooring. Though her bow and
upper fin were seriously damaged, and two cells of helium gas
were ripped open, Shenandoah's on-duty crew were able to
regain control, make emergency repairs and keep their ship aloft.
After a dramatic nine-hour flight, the crippled dirigible returned
to Lakehurst and landed in the early hours of 17 January.
Four months of repair and overhaul work followed, during which
previously-planned modifications were made to strengthen Shenandoah's
structure, remove the engine in her control car, improve her radio
communications and install a water recovery device that would
allow her to manufacture her own water ballast. The masthead design
was also changed to ensure that its attachment point would fail
before forces were powerful enough to damage an airship. However,
problems with tall mooring masts continued, ultimately leading
to the adoption of "stub" masts that reduced the risks
associated with sudden atmospheric changes.
This page features all the views we have related to the
storm damage sustained by USS Shenandoah (ZR-1) on 16 January
1924
For other images related to USS Shenandoah, see:
USS Shenandoah
(ZR-1), Airship 1923-1925.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 92612
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)
Inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New
Jersey, showing damage to her nose received during the storm
of 16 January 1924, when she was torn away from the station's
mooring mast by a strong gust of wind.
Photographed by Clements.
Courtesy of Mrs. Barnes.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 105KB; 690 x 620 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 92613
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)
Crew of the airship on 16 January 1924, when she was torn away
from her mooring mast during a night-time storm.
Photographed by Clements, inside the airship hangar at Naval
Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Courtesy of Mrs. Barnes.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 375 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 82258
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)
Undergoing repairs inside the airship hangar at Naval Air Station
Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1924. She had been damaged when a storm
tore her from the station's mooring mast on 16 January 1924.
This photograph, taken by Clements, shows her forward framework
and arrangement of gas cells, and fuel tanks in her lower hull,
amidships.
Note automobiles parked inside the hangar.
Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 410 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 82260
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)
Receives repairs to her damaged nose structure, inside the airship
hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1924. She
had been damaged when a storm tore her from the station's mooring
mast on 16 January 1924.
This photograph, taken by Clements, shows one of her gas cells,
partially deflated.
Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 415 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 82259
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)
Receives repairs to her upper fin, inside the airship hangar
at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1924. She had been
damaged when a storm tore her from the station's mooring mast
on 16 January 1924.
Photographed by Clements.
Note the fin's tattered fabric covering.
Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 122KB; 690 x 635 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 82261
USS Shenandoah (ZR-1)
View of her port side midships area, taken inside the airship
hangar at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, while she
was undergoing repairs in 1924. Shenandoah had been damaged
when a storm tore her from the station's mooring mast on 16 January
1924.
This photograph, taken by Clements, shows some of her gas cells
with their retaining netting, and three of her engine cars.
Collection of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN, 1973.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 410 pixels |
 |
For other images related to USS Shenandoah, see:
USS Shenandoah
(ZR-1), Airship 1923-1925.
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Page made 2 December 2002