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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Photo # NH 1216:  British airship R-38 makes its first trial flight, 23 June 1921

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- BRITISH AIRCRAFT --

Airship R-38 (1921-1921).
Intended to become the U.S. Navy's airship ZR-2

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.

This page features all the views we have related to the British airship R-38, which was to be the U.S. Navy's ZR-2.


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 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.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 515 pixels

 
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

 
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.

Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 550 pixels

 
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.

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 
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.

Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
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.

Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
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

 
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

 
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

 
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

 
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.

Online Image: 144KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of the airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2). The following list features this image:

The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • Photo #: 80-G-1035918
    Airship R-38 (U.S. Navy ZR-2) leaving its hangar at Cardington, England, for its initial trial flight, 23 June 1921.
    Starboard bow surface view, similar to Photo # NH 42050, but taken from a greater distance, with the airship completely out of the hangar.

    Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


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


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    Page made 10 January 2003
    New images added 8 December 2004