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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # NH 42164: USS Akron under construction, November 1930

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT -- 1922-1962 DESIGNATION SYSTEM --

USS Akron (ZRS-4), Airship 1931-1933 --
Construction, Christening & Miscellaneous Views

USS Akron was built by the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation in a specially-constructed airship hangar at Akron, Ohio. Contracted for on 6 October 1928, her first frame ring was erected on 24 March 1930. She was christened in ceremonies held inside the Goodyear-Zeppelin hangar on 8 August 1931 and, after delivery to the Navy, was placed in commission at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey, on 27 October 1931.

Characteristics of USS Akron:

  • Dimensions: Length, over-all, 785 feet; Diameter of Hull, 132 feet 9 inches; Designed operational gas volume, 6,500,000 cubic feet of helium.
  • Weights: Structure, 242,356 pounds; Total lift, 403,000 pounds
  • Powerplants: Eight 560 horsepower Maybach 12-cylinder V-type water-cooled engines, mounted inside the hull and driving their propellers via extension shafts.
  • Performance: Maximum Speed (designed), 75.6 knots; Maximum Range, 5940 nautical miles at 55 knots speed.
  • Flight Crew: 10 Officers and 50 Enlisted Men, plus a Heavier-Than-Air group of 4 Officers and 15 Airplane Mechanics.
  • Airplane Complement: Up to four Curtiss F9C-2 "Sparrowhawk" fighters, launched and recovered via a mechanical trapeze extended below the airship's hangar compartment.

    This page features all the views we have of USS Akron's construction, plus miscellaneous images related to her.

    For more views of USS Akron, see:

  • USS Akron (ZRS-4), Airship 1931-1933.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 43121

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    Erecting the airship's first main frame ring, during her construction in the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation hangar at Akron, Ohio, 24 March 1930.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42164

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    Under construction in the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation "air dock" hangar at Akron, Ohio, 5 November 1930.
    At this point, the airship's framework has been completed far enough to hold seven bags of lifting helium.

    Photograph received from the Navy Recruiting Bureau, 1932.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 149KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42165

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    The airship's control car in place below her framework, during construction in the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation "air dock" hangar at Akron, Ohio, circa early 1931.

    Photograph received from the Navy Recruiting Bureau, 1932.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 156KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42167

    Christening of USS Akron (ZRS-4), 8 August 1931


    Notables on the speakers' stand during Akron's christening ceremonies, held in the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation "air dock" hangar at Akron, Ohio. Paul W. Litchfield, President of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation is seated just to left of the microphones.
    Seated to the right of the microphones are (left to right):
    Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics;
    First Lady of the United States Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Akron's Sponsor; and
    David S. Ingalls, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Aviation.

    Photograph received from the Navy Recruiting Bureau, 1932.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42163

    Christening of USS Akron (ZRS-4), 8 August 1931


    Paul W. Litchfield, President of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation, speaking at Akron's christening ceremonies, held in the Goodyear-Zeppelin "air dock" at Akron, Ohio.
    Seated to the right of the speaker are Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, and First Lady of the United States Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Akron's Sponsor.

    Photograph received from the Navy Recruiting Bureau, 1932.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42159

    Christening of USS Akron (ZRS-4), 8 August 1931


    Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, delivers his address at Akron's christening ceremonies, held in the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation airship hangar at Akron, Ohio.
    The airship's control car is in the background.

    Photograph received from the Navy Recruiting Bureau, 1932.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42166

    Christening of USS Akron (ZRS-4), 8 August 1931


    David S. Ingalls, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Aviation, speaking during Akron's christening ceremonies, held in the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation "air dock" hangar at Akron, Ohio.

    Photograph received from the Navy Recruiting Bureau, 1932.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 46110

    Christening of USS Akron (ZRS-4), 8 August 1931


    Lieutenant Commander Charles E. Rosendahl, Akron's Prospective Commanding Officer, leaving the airship's control car during christening ceremonies held in the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation "air dock" hangar at Akron, Ohio.

    Photograph received from the Navy Recruiting Bureau, 1932.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42168

    Christening of USS Akron (ZRS-4), 8 August 1931


    Some of the 150,000 people who attended christening ceremonies, held in the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation "air dock" hangar at Akron, Ohio. A choir is singing in the right center.
    Note the exhibits in the right background, including a large Goodyear tire hung overhead.

    Photograph received from the Navy Recruiting Bureau, 1932.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 80769

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    Cutaway and interior structural drawings, circa 1931.

    Courtesy of Richard K. Smith, author of the book "The Airships Akron & Macon", 1974.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 244KB; 1200 x 1000 pixels

     

    For more views of USS Akron, see:

  • USS Akron (ZRS-4), Airship 1931-1933.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 5 July 2002