Sky Ships by William Althoff

Author:William Althoff
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781612519012
Publisher: Naval Institute Press
Published: 2016-01-19T16:00:00+00:00

L-2, 1 February 1941. The “10,000 Plane Program” legislation of June 1940 contained authorization for forty-eight nonrigid airships; the first contract was signed in October with Goodyear Aircraft—the only prime contractor. Delivery of L-2, a newspaper observed, “marks completion of the first step in the largest single lighter-than-air construction order in the history of the Navy.” Gross lift is static lift (buoyancy of the helium) plus dynamic lift—the airfoil effect of the aircraft itself. The L-type was ideal for practicing rolling or heavy takeoffs on the wheel—standard procedure given combat payloads. Lt. Cdr. L. E. Schellberg, USN (Ret.)

The airship had achieved a belated but official status in America’s nascent war plans. In an atmosphere of renewed purpose, paperwork and preparations now absorbed Lakehurst. The bustle of activity between the station and Washington grew in intensity. Meanwhile, daily training and other flights continued.

A six-ship squadron was now being planned for Lakehurst, and an enlarged training program was under study. In addition, Lakehurst was slated to be the main overhaul station for all airships assigned to the Atlantic coast. In August, the Third Naval District’s “Defense of North Atlantic Coastal Frontier” contained the first specific plan of operations incorporating airships into the defense plans for the Atlantic seaboard.

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