Editing USS Akron (section)

==History of service==
[[File:USS Akron in flight, nov 1931.jpg|thumb|right|The maiden voyage of ''Akron'' on 2 November 1931, showing her four starboard propellers; The engines' water-reclaiming devices appear as white strips above each propeller. The emergency rear control cabin is visible in the lower fin.]]

===Maiden voyage===
On 2 November 1931, ''Akron'' departed on her first cruise down the eastern seaboard to [[Washington, DC]]. On 3 November, she took to the air with 207 persons on board. This demonstration was to prove that in an emergency, airships could provide limited but high-speed airlift of troops to outlying possessions. Over the weeks that followed, some 300 hours aloft were logged in a series of flights, including a 46-hour endurance flight to [[Mobile, Alabama]], and back. The return leg of the trip was made via the valleys of the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] and [[Ohio River]]s.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|47–49}}

===Participation in a search exercise (January 1932)===
[[File:USS Akron Chesapeake Bay February 1932.ogv|thumb|Film of ''Akron'' operating over [[Chesapeake Bay]] in early 1932, including footage of the ship mooring to the airship tender {{USS|Patoka|AO-9|6}}]]

On the morning of 9 January 1932, ''Akron'' departed from Lakehurst to work with the [[Scouting Fleet]] on a search exercise. Proceeding to the coast of [[North Carolina]], ''Akron'' headed out over the Atlantic, where she was assigned to find a group of [[destroyer]]s bound for [[Guantánamo Bay, Cuba]]. Once these were located, the airship was to shadow them and report their movements. Leaving the coast of North Carolina around 07:21 on 10 January, the airship proceeded south, but bad weather prevented sighting the destroyers (contact with them was missed at 12:40 EST, although their crews had sighted ''Akron'') and eventually shaped a course toward the [[Bahama]]s by late afternoon. Heading northwesterly into the night, ''Akron'' then changed course shortly before midnight and proceeded to the southeast. Ultimately, at 09:08 on 11 January, the airship succeeded in spotting the [[light cruiser]] {{USS|Raleigh|CL-7|6}} and 12 destroyers, positively identifying them on the eastern horizon two minutes later. Sighting a second group of destroyers shortly thereafter, ''Akron'' was released from the evaluation about 10:00, having achieved a "qualified success" in the initial test with the Scouting Fleet, but the performance could have been better with radio detection-finding equipment, and scout planes.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|49–51}}

As U.S. naval aviation historian Richard K. Smith wrote in his definitive study, ''The Airships Akron & Macon: Flying Aircraft Carriers of the United States Navy'', with "consideration given to the weather, duration of flight, a track of more than {{convert|3000|mi|abbr=on}} flown, her material deficiencies, and the rudimentary character of aerial navigation at that date, the ''Akron''{{'s}} performance was remarkable. There was not a military airplane in the world in 1932 which could have given the same performance, operating from the same base."<ref>Smith (1965). p. 51</ref>

===First accident (February 1932)===
''Akron'' was to have taken part in [[Fleet Problem XIII]], but an accident at Lakehurst on 22 February 1932 prevented her participation. While the airship was being taken from her hangar, the tail came loose from her moorings, was caught by the wind, and struck the ground.<ref>{{citation|title=Sudden Gale Akron at Lakehurst NJ 1932/02/22 |date=1932 |url=https://archive.org/details/1932-02-22_Sudden_Gale_Akron_at_Lakehurst_NJ |publisher=[[Universal Newsreel|Universal Newspaper Newsreel]] |access-date=20 February 2009}}</ref> The heaviest damage was confined to the lower fin area, which required repair. Also, ground-handling fittings had been torn from the main frame, necessitating further repairs. ''Akron'' was not certified as airworthy again until later in the spring. Her next operation took place on 28 April, when she made a nine-hour flight with Rear Admiral Moffett and Secretary of the Navy Adams aboard.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|53–55}}

As a result of this accident, a turntable with a walking beam on tracks powered by electric mine locomotives was developed to secure the tail and turn the ship even in high winds, so she could be pulled into the massive hangar at Lakehurst.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QSgDAAAAMBAJ&q=Popular+Science+1931+plane&pg=PA33|title=Popular Science|first=Bonnier|last=Corporation|date=1 April 1932|publisher=Bonnier Corporation}}</ref>

===Testing of the "spy basket"===
Soon after returning to Lakehurst to disembark her distinguished passengers, ''Akron'' took off again to conduct a test of the "[[spy basket]]"—something like a small airplane fuselage suspended beneath the airship that would enable an observer to serve as the ship's "eyes" below the clouds while the ship herself remained out of sight above them. The first time the basket was tried (with sandbags aboard instead of a man), it oscillated so violently that it put the whole ship in danger. The basket proved "frighteningly unstable", swooping from one side of the airship to the other before the startled gaze of ''Akron''{{'}}s officers and men, and reaching as high as the ship's equator.<ref name="Smith 1965. p 55"/> Though it was later improved by adding a ventral stabilizing fin, the spybasket was never used again.<ref>Smith (1965). pp. 133–135</ref>

===Experimental use as a "flying aircraft carrier"===
[[File:F9C in USS Akron hangar1932.jpg|thumb|right|[[Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk|F9C Sparrowhawk]] in ''Akron''{{'}}s hangar: This aircraft was one of four lost with {{USS|Macon|ZRS-5|6}} on 12 February 1935.]]

''Akron'' and ''Macon'' (which was still under construction) were regarded as potential [[Airborne aircraft carrier|"flying aircraft carrier]]s", carrying [[parasite fighter]]s for reconnaissance. On 3 May 1932, ''Akron'' cruised over the coast of [[New Jersey]] with Rear Admiral [[George C. Day]], and the [[Board of Inspection and Survey]], on board, and for the first time tested the "trapeze" installation for in-flight handling of aircraft. The [[naval aviator|aviator]]s who carried out those historic "landings"—first with a Consolidated [[Fleet Model 1|N2Y]] [[Trainer aircraft|trainer]] and then with the prototype [[Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk|Curtiss XF9C-1 Sparrowhawk]]—were Lieutenant D. Ward Harrigan and Lieutenant Howard L. Young. The following day, ''Akron'' carried out another demonstration flight, this time with members of the [[House Committee on Naval Affairs]] on board; this time, Lieutenants Harrigan and Young gave the lawmakers a demonstration of ''Akron''{{'}}s aircraft hook-on ability.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|55–56}}

==="Coast-to-coast" flight and second accident (May 1932)===
[[File:ZRS-4 USS Akron Cover 1932.jpg|thumb|left|Cover carried on the May 1932 "Coast to Coast" flight and later autographed by the only three survivors of the April 1933 crash of USS ''Akron'']]

Following the conclusion of those trial flights, ''Akron'' departed from Lakehurst, New Jersey, on 8 May 1932, for the American West Coast. The airship proceeded down the eastern seaboard to [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and then across the southern Gulf Coast states, continuing over Texas and [[Arizona]]. En route to [[Sunnyvale, California]], ''Akron'' reached [[Camp Kearny]] in San Diego on the morning of 11 May and attempted to moor. Since neither trained ground handlers nor specialized [[mooring mast|mooring]] equipment were present, the landing at Camp Kearny was fraught with danger. By the time the crew started the evaluation, the helium gas had been warmed by sunlight, increasing lift. Lightened by {{convert|40|ST|t|abbr=on}}, the amount of fuel spent during the transcontinental trip, ''Akron'' was now uncontrollably light.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|56–57}}
[[File:Akron incident 11 may32.jpg|thumb|right|Still pictures from 11 May 1932 incident: The two pictures on the left and the picture at far right are of Seaman Cowart; the picture second from right shows Henton and Edsall before their fatal fall.]]

The mooring cable was cut to avert a catastrophic nose-stand by the errant airship, which floated upwards. Most of the mooring crew—predominantly "boot" seamen from the [[Naval Training Center San Diego|Naval Training Station San Diego]]—released their lines, although four did not. One let go at about {{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}} and suffered a broken arm, while the three others were carried further aloft. Of these, Aviation Carpenter's Mate 3rd Class Robert H. Edsall and Apprentice Seaman Nigel M. Henton soon plunged to their deaths while Apprentice Seaman C. M. "Bud" Cowart held on to his line and then secured himself to it<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jeffwise.net/2013/01/19/mind-traps-the-fatal-mistake-of-hanging-on-too-long-update/ |title=Mind Traps: The fatal mistake of hanging on too long – Update |website=Jeff Wise |date=19 January 2013 |access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> before being hoisted on board the airship an hour later.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/ac-usn22/z-types/zrs4-k.htm |title=USN Aircraft-USS Akron (ZRS-4) – Events |publisher=History.navy.mil |access-date=24 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205004711/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/ac-usn22/z-types/zrs4-k.htm |archive-date=5 February 2012 }}</ref> ''Akron'' moored at Camp Kearny later that day before proceeding to [[Sunnyvale, California]]. Footage from the accident appears in the film ''Encounters with Disaster'', released in 1979 and produced by [[Sunn Classic Pictures|Sun Classic Pictures]].

===West Coast flights===
Over the weeks that followed, ''Akron'' "showed the flag" on the [[West Coast of the United States]], ranging as far north as the [[Canada–United States border|Canada–US border]] before returning south in time to exercise once more with the Scouting Fleet. Serving as part of the "Green Force", the ''Akron'' attempted to locate the "White Force". Although opposed by [[Vought O2U Corsair]] [[floatplane]]s from "enemy" [[warship]]s, the airship located the opposing forces in just 22 hours, a fact not lost upon some of the participants in the exercise in subsequent critiques.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|58–59}}

[[File:USS Akron (ZRS-4) in flight over Manhattan, circa 1931-1933.jpg|thumb|left|''Akron'' over [[Lower Manhattan]]]]

In need of repairs, ''Akron'' departed from Sunnyvale on 11 June 1932 bound for Lakehurst, on a return trip that was sprinkled with difficulties, mostly because of unfavorable weather, and having to fly at [[pressure height]] while crossing the mountains. ''Akron'' arrived on 15 June after a "long and sometimes harrowing" aerial voyage.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|61–62}}

''Akron'' next underwent a period of voyage repairs before taking part in July in a search for ''Curlew'', a yacht that had failed to reach port at the end of a race to the island of [[Bermuda]]. The yacht was later discovered safe off [[Nantucket]].<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,753394,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027064331/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,753394,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=27 October 2010 | magazine=Time | title=Sport: Cruise of the Curlew | date=18 July 1932 | access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref> She then resumed operations capturing aircraft on the "trapeze" equipment. Admiral Moffett again boarded ''Akron'' on 20 July, but the next day left the airship in one of her N2Y-1s, which took him back to Lakehurst after a severe storm had delayed the airship's own return to base.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|65–66}}

===Further tests as "flying aircraft carrier"===
''Akron'' entered a new phase of her career that summer of 1932, engaging in intense experimentation with the revolutionary "trapeze" and a full complement of F9C-2s. A key element of the entrance into that new phase was a new commanding officer, Commander Alger Dresel.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|63–65}}

===Third accident (August 1932)===
Another accident hampered training on 22 August, when ''Akron''{{'}}s tail fin became fouled by a beam in Lakehurst's massive Hangar No 1 after a premature order to commence towing the ship out of the mooring circle. Nevertheless, rapid repairs enabled eight more flights over the Atlantic during the last three months of 1932. These operations involved intensive work with the trapeze and the F9C-2s, as well as the drilling of lookouts and gun crews.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|66–67}}

Among the tasks undertaken were the maintenance of two aircraft patrolling and scouting on ''Akron''{{'}}s flanks. During a seven-hour period on 18 November 1932, the airship and a trio of planes searched a sector 100&nbsp;mi wide.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|67}}

===Return to the fleet===
[[File:Akron test pilots.jpg|thumb|right|Pilot officers of USS ''Akron'' Air Group, 1933 (l to r): Lt(JG) Robert W. Lawson, Lt Harold B. Miller, Lt [[Frederick M. Trapnell]], Lt Howard L. Young, Lt(JG) Frederick N. Kivette]]

After local operations out of Lakehurst for the remainder of 1932, ''Akron'' was ready to resume operations with the fleet. On the afternoon of 3 January 1933, Commander [[Frank C. McCord]] relieved Commander Dresel as commanding officer, the latter becoming the first commanding officer of ''Akron''{{'}}s sister ship ''Macon'', whose construction was almost complete. Within hours, ''Akron'' headed south down the eastern seaboard toward Florida, where after refueling at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base, [[Opa-locka, Florida]], near Miami, the next day proceeded to Guantánamo Bay for an inspection of base sites. At this time, the N2Y-1s were used to provide aerial "taxi" service to ferry members of the inspection party back and forth.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|73}}

Soon thereafter, ''Akron'' returned to Lakehurst for local operations, which were interrupted by a two-week overhaul and poor weather. In March, she carried out intensive training with an aviation unit of F9C-2s, honing hook-on skills. During the course of these operations, an overfly of Washington, DC, was made 4 March 1933, the day [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt|Franklin D. Roosevelt]] first took the oath of office as President of the United States.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|74}}

On 11 March, ''Akron'' departed Lakehurst bound for [[Panama]], stopping briefly ''en route'' at Opa-locka before proceeding on to [[Balboa, Panama|Balboa]], where an inspection party looked over a potential air base site. While returning northward, the airship paused at Opa-locka again for local operations exercising gun crews, with the N2Y-1s serving as targets, before getting underway for Lakehurst on 22 March.<ref name=rs/>{{rp|74–75}}