The L-class blimps were training airships operated by the United States Navy during World War II. In the mid-1930s, the Goodyear Aircraft Company built a family of small non-rigid airships that the company used for advertising the Goodyear name. In 1937 the United States Navy awarded a contract for two different airships, K-class blimp designated K-2 and a smaller blimp based upon Goodyear's smaller commercial model airship used for advertising and passenger carrying. The smaller blimp was designated by the Navy as L-1. It was delivered in April 1938 and operated from the Navy's lighter-than-air facility at Lakehurst, New Jersey. In the meantime, the Navy ordered two more L-Class blimps, the L-2 and L-3, on September 25, 1940. These were delivered in 1941. L-2 was lost in a nighttime mid-air collision with the G-1 on June 8, 1942.
When the United States entered World War II, the Navy took over the operation of Goodyear's five commercial blimps. These were the Resolute, Enterprise, Reliance, Rainbow, and Ranger. These airships were given the designations L-4 through L-8 even though their characteristics and performance varied among them. The next four L-Class airships were built in the assembly and repair shops at NAS Moffett Field. These blimps, L-9 through L-12 were completed by April 1943. The last lot of L-Class airships were ordered from Goodyear under a contract of February 24, 1943. This was a lot of ten airships designated L-13 through L-22. All the blimps were delivered by the end of 1943.
As training airships these blimps operated mainly from the two major lighter-than-air bases, Lakehurst and Moffett Field. While too small for any extensive operational use, they were used on some coastal patrols. In this role, L-8, of Blimp Squadron ZP-32 was involved in a mysterious incident wherein the airship came drifting in from the Pacific Ocean over southern San Francisco at Daly City on August 16, 1942, without either of the crewmen – Lt. E. D. Cody and Ensign C. Adams – on board.[1] No trace of either man was ever found.[2]
Following the end of World War II a number of the L-class blimps were sold back to Goodyear. The company repaired L-8 and renamed it America.[2]
^"Navy L-8 Blimp Disappears off San Francisco Coast - 1942". www.sfmuseum.org. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
^ abGary Kamiya, "Ghost blimp's enduring mystery: How did crew vanish before Bay Area crash?", San Francisco Chronicle, September 29, 2018.
^Crouch, Tom (5 February 2012). "Blimp!". National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
^Paone, Thomas (10 April 2020). "The World War II Veteran Hidden in Plain Sight". National Air and Space Museum. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
^. National Naval Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 1 August 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
Sourcesedit
Abbott, Patrick (November–December 1999). "L-8's Legacy: The Mary Celeste of the Skies". Air Enthusiast (84): 50–52. ISSN 0143-5450.
Althoff, William F. (1990). Sky Ships. New York: Orion Books. ISBN0-517-56904-3.
Engelmann, Larry (July 1978) Close Encounter of Flight 101American Legion Magazine
Shock, James R. (2001). U.S. Navy Airships 1915–1962. Edgewater, Florida: Atlantis Productions. ISBN0-9639743-8-6.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to L-class blimps.
class, blimp, were, training, airships, operated, united, states, navy, during, world, 1930s, goodyear, aircraft, company, built, family, small, rigid, airships, that, company, used, advertising, goodyear, name, 1937, united, states, navy, awarded, contract, d. The L class blimps were training airships operated by the United States Navy during World War II In the mid 1930s the Goodyear Aircraft Company built a family of small non rigid airships that the company used for advertising the Goodyear name In 1937 the United States Navy awarded a contract for two different airships K class blimp designated K 2 and a smaller blimp based upon Goodyear s smaller commercial model airship used for advertising and passenger carrying The smaller blimp was designated by the Navy as L 1 It was delivered in April 1938 and operated from the Navy s lighter than air facility at Lakehurst New Jersey In the meantime the Navy ordered two more L Class blimps the L 2 and L 3 on September 25 1940 These were delivered in 1941 L 2 was lost in a nighttime mid air collision with the G 1 on June 8 1942 L classL 8 delivering B 25 modification parts to the aircraft carrier USS Hornet before the Doolittle Raid 1942Role Training airshipManufacturer Goodyear Zeppelin and Corporation and Goodyear Aircraft CorporationPrimary user US NavyNumber built 22When the United States entered World War II the Navy took over the operation of Goodyear s five commercial blimps These were the Resolute Enterprise Reliance Rainbow and Ranger These airships were given the designations L 4 through L 8 even though their characteristics and performance varied among them The next four L Class airships were built in the assembly and repair shops at NAS Moffett Field These blimps L 9 through L 12 were completed by April 1943 The last lot of L Class airships were ordered from Goodyear under a contract of February 24 1943 This was a lot of ten airships designated L 13 through L 22 All the blimps were delivered by the end of 1943 As training airships these blimps operated mainly from the two major lighter than air bases Lakehurst and Moffett Field While too small for any extensive operational use they were used on some coastal patrols In this role L 8 of Blimp Squadron ZP 32 was involved in a mysterious incident wherein the airship came drifting in from the Pacific Ocean over southern San Francisco at Daly City on August 16 1942 without either of the crewmen Lt E D Cody and Ensign C Adams on board 1 No trace of either man was ever found 2 Following the end of World War II a number of the L class blimps were sold back to Goodyear The company repaired L 8 and renamed it America 2 Operators edit nbsp United StatesUnited States NavySurviving aircraft editL 5 Control car on static display at the Udvar Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly Virginia 3 4 L 8 Control car on static display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida 5 Specifications L 4 editData from citation needed General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 147 ft 6 in 44 97 m Diameter 39 ft 10 in 12 14 m Height 34 ft 0 in 16 46 m Volume 123 000 cu ft 3 482 m3 Useful lift 2 540 lb 1 152 kg Powerplant 2 Warner R 500 2 radials 145 hp 108 kW eachPerformance Maximum speed 61 mph 96 km h 53 kn Cruise speed 46 mph 74 km h 40 kn Range 2 205 mi 3 537 km 1 916 nmi Endurance 12 hoursSee also editList of people who disappeared US Navy airships during World War IIReferences edit Navy L 8 Blimp Disappears off San Francisco Coast 1942 www sfmuseum org Retrieved 2019 08 23 a b Gary Kamiya Ghost blimp s enduring mystery How did crew vanish before Bay Area crash San Francisco Chronicle September 29 2018 Crouch Tom 5 February 2012 Blimp National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institution Retrieved 23 April 2021 Paone Thomas 10 April 2020 The World War II Veteran Hidden in Plain Sight National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institution Retrieved 23 April 2021 L 8 Ghost Ship National Naval Aviation Museum Archived from the original on 1 August 2018 Retrieved 23 April 2021 Sources editAbbott Patrick November December 1999 L 8 s Legacy The Mary Celeste of the Skies Air Enthusiast 84 50 52 ISSN 0143 5450 Althoff William F 1990 Sky Ships New York Orion Books ISBN 0 517 56904 3 Engelmann Larry July 1978 Close Encounter of Flight 101 American Legion Magazine Shock James R 2001 U S Navy Airships 1915 1962 Edgewater Florida Atlantis Productions ISBN 0 9639743 8 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to L class blimps An account of the L 8 mysteryRelated lists List of airships of the United States Navy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title L class blimp amp oldid 1170780760, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
