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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # 80-G-462246: USS Akron in flight on 2 November 1931

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

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

USS Akron, first of a class of two 6,500,000 cubic foot rigid airships, was built at Akron, Ohio. Commissioned in late October 1931, she spent virtually all of her short career on technical and operational development tasks, exploring the potential of the rigid airship as an Naval weapons system. During the remainder of 1931 and the early part of 1932, Akron made flights around the eastern United States and over the western Atlantic, including one trial of her capabilities as a scouting unit of the fleet. Damaged in a ground-handling accident at Lakehurst in late February 1932, she was again ready for flight two months later and began tests of her ability to operate an embarked unit of airplanes. These would greatly extend her reconnaissance reach and enhance her defenses against hostile air attack.

During May and June 1932, Akron was based on the West Coast, performing a successful search mission over the Pacific as part of a fleet exercise. However, a fatal accident early in this deployment, in which two Sailors lost their lives, provided further proof that handling large airships at their ground bases was an inherently risky proposition. Another accident, while leaving the hangar at Lakehurst in August, reinforced this conclusion.

Akron flew extensively during last half of 1932, further refining her airplane support and search capabilities. In January and March 1933 she twice went south, visiting Florida, Cuba and Panama to explore the base sites in the U.S. fleet's southern operating zone. While beginning a trip to the New England area, Akron encountered a violent storm over the New Jersey coast and, shortly after midnight on 4 April 1933, crashed tail-first into the sea. Only three of the seventy-six men on board survived this tragic accident. During the search for other possible survivors, the Navy non-rigid airship J-3 also crashed, killing two more men.

Soon after Akron's loss, Navy divers examined her wreckage, which was located about a hundred feet below the ocean surface east of Atlantic City, N.J. More recently, in June 2002, the research submarine NR-1 revisited the airship's crash site, where much of her collapsed framework remains visible on the Continental Shelf, nearly seventy years after the great dirigible went down.

This page features all the views we have of USS Akron (ZRS-4) in flight, and features links to all our other pictures related to this airship.

For further views of USS Akron, see:

  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Landing Views;
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Ground Views;
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Close Up and On Board Views;
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Events;
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Views of Her Heavier-Than-Air Group; and
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Construction, Christening & Miscellaneous Views.


    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 #: 80-G-462246

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    In flight on 2 November 1931.
    A Rear Admiral's flag is flying just aft of her control gondola.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 590 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-462238

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    In flight over the Maryland Eastern Shore, 2 November 1931.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 585 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-462247

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    In flight on 2 November 1931.
    A small civilian airplane is visible above and beyond her bow.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 63070

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    In flight in 1931.
    Note the small civilian airplane above the airship's forward end.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 41KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 51493

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    In flight in November 1931.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43900

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    Flying over the southern end of Manhattan Island, New York City, circa 1931-1933.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 149KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 42169

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    Flying over Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with USS Los Angeles (ZR-3) in the distance, circa late 1931 or early 1932.
    The Schuykill River waterworks and the Philadelphia Art Museum are visible in the lower center of the photograph.

    This photograph was received from the U.S. Navy Recruiting Bureau, New York, in 1932.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 125KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44099

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    Flies over Arlington, Virginia, with the Potomac River and Washington, D.C., in the background, circa 1931-1932.
    Note construction work on the Virginia approaches to the Memorial Bridge, with the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool at the bridge's D.C. end. The Munitions and Main Navy Buildings are visible on the north (left) side of the Reflecting Pool.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98039

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    Flying off the Panama Canal Zone, 15 March 1933.
    The airship's N2Y-1 training plane is suspended in her hangar opening.

    Official U.S. Army Air Corps Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98038

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    Flying off the Panama Canal Zone, 15 March 1933.
    Her N2Y-1 training plane is nearby.

    Official U.S. Army Air Corps Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98081

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    In flight, circa 1931-1933

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 41KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 84326

    USS Akron (ZRS-4)


    Flying through clouds, circa 1931-1933.

    U.S. Army Air Corps Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 26KB; 740 x 520 pixels

     

    Note: Photo # NH 73284 features a distant view of either USS Akron (ZRS-4) or her sister airship, USS Macon (ZRS-5), flying over San Diego, California, circa 1932-1935.

    For further views of USS Akron, see:

  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Landing Views;
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Ground Views;
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Close Up and On Board Views;
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Events;
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Views of Her Heavier-Than-Air Group; and
  • USS Akron (ZRS-4) -- Construction, Christening & Miscellaneous Views.


    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
    New pictures added 3 October 2002