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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-441983: USS Macon operating with F9C-2 aircraft, 7 July 1933

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

USS Macon (ZRS-5), Airship 1933-1935

USS Macon, sister of the 6,500,000 cubic foot rigid airship Akron (ZRS-4), was built at Akron, Ohio. She first flew in April 1933, only a few weeks after Akron's tragic loss. Following a series of test flights, one of which took her from Ohio to Wisconsin and back, she was commissioned in June. Macon was based at Lakehurst, New Jersey, during mid-1933 and made several development and training flights during this time. In October she flew by way of her name city of Macon, Georgia, and Texas to Moffett Field, California, where a new airship hangar awaited her.

During the rest of 1933 Macon and her embarked airplanes began what would be an extensive program of participation in exercises off the Pacific Coast, testing her abilities for fleet scouting and other missions. In April 1934 she flew east, again via Texas, to Opa-locka, Florida. Weather damage received in this trip was repaired in time for her to participate in Fleet Problem XV in the Caribbean during May, after which she returned to Moffett Field. Macon made a long-distance flight over the Pacific Ocean in mid-July to intercept the cruiser Houston (CA-30), which was carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt from Panama to Hawaii. During this mission her F9C "Sparrowhawk" aircraft were operated with their wheeled landing gear removed, a performance-enhancing practice that was thereafter normal when these small fighting planes were embarked on the airship.

Further fleet exercises followed over the remaining months of 1934 and the first part of 1935. These demonstrated Macon's ability, in association with her airplanes, to conduct strategic searching over the vast distances to be expected in a Pacific war. However, they also showed her vulnerability, especially in the presence of opposing airplanes, when she was used for tactical scouting close to the fleet. During the early evening of 12 February 1935, while returning to Moffett Field from an operation over the ocean, USS Macon encountered a storm off Point Sur, California. A violent gust tore off her upper fin, causing damage that soon brought her down into the sea. Though all but two of her crew were rescued, the dirigible sank in deep water, effectively ending the Navy's controversial, and trouble-plagued, program of rigid airship operations.

This page features all the views we have of USS Macon (ZRS-5) in flight, and features links to all our other pictures related to this airship.

For further views of USS Macon, see:

  • USS Macon (ZRS-5) -- Landing, Takeoff and Ground Views;
  • USS Macon (ZRS-5) -- On Board, Construction, and Miscellaneous Views; and
  • USS Macon (ZRS-5) -- Views of Her Heavier-Than-Air Group.


    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-441983

    USS Macon (ZRS-5)


    Conducts initial operations with her Curtiss F9C-2 "Sparrowhawk" aircraft, over New Egypt, New Jersey, 7 July 1933.
    The two planes, visible below the airship, were piloted by Lieutenant D. Ward Harrigan and Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Frederick N. Kivette.

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

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 43901

    USS Macon (ZRS-5)


    Flying over New York Harbor, circa Summer 1933. The southern end of Manhattan Island is visible in the lower left center.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 65302

    USS Macon (ZRS-5)


    Flying over San Diego harbor, California, on 9 February 1934.
    Photographed from USS Dobbin (AD-3).

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 65305

    USS Macon (ZRS-5)


    In flight over San Diego harbor, California, 9 February 1934.
    Photographed from USS Dobbin (AD-3).

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 65304

    USS Macon (ZRS-5)


    Over San Diego harbor, California, 9 February 1934, with an airplane flying nearby.
    Photographed from USS Dobbin (AD-3).

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 43KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 65306

    USS Macon (ZRS-5)


    Flying over San Diego harbor, California, 9 February 1934.
    Photographed from USS Dobbin (AD-3).

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 65303

    USS Macon (ZRS-5)


    Over San Diego harbor, California, 1934.
    Photographed from USS Dobbin (AD-3), through the rigging of two destroyers that were tied up alongside. Note lookout "crows' nests" on the destroyers' foremasts.
    This photograph is dated 9 February 1934, but was probably taken after March 1934, as one set of water recovery condensers has been removed from above Macon's engines.

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 65596

    USS Macon (ZRS-5)


    Photographed from USS Dobbin (AD-3) while flying over San Diego harbor, California, 1934.
    This photograph is dated 9 February 1934, but was probably taken after March 1934, as one set of water recovery condensers has been removed from above Macon's engines.

    Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     

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

    For further views of USS Macon, see:

  • USS Macon (ZRS-5) -- Landing, Takeoff and Ground Views;
  • USS Macon (ZRS-5) -- On Board, Construction, and Miscellaneous Views; and
  • USS Macon (ZRS-5) -- Views of Her Heavier-Than-Air Group.


    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 2 October 2002