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Airship Roma disaster...



Item # 648406

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February 22, 1922

THE NEW YORK TIMES, February 22, 1922

* Airship Roma disaster
* Norfolk, Virginia crash
* United States Army

The front page has a nice banner headline: "GIANT ARMY DIRIGIBLE WRECKED, 34 DEAD, 11 ARE SAVED; VICTIMS PERISH WHEN ROMA BURSTS INTO FLAMES AFTER FALL; COLLAPSE OF RUDDER CAUSES TRAGEDY ON SHORT TRIAL FLIGHT" with subheads and photo. (see) Always nice to have notable events in history reported in this World famous publication.
Other news, sports and advertisements of the day. Complete with all 32 pages, a little irregular along the spine with other light margin wear, generally in good condition.

wikipedia notes: The United States purchased the Roma from the Italian government for $250,000 in 1921. It was previously designated T34. It was the largest semi rigid airship in the world. It crashed in Norfolk, Virginia during test flights on February 21, 1922. The crash was believed to be caused by failure of the Roma's box rudder system, which allowed it to maneuver over tight areas. The ship contacted high voltage lines, and burst into flames. 34 people were killed, 8 were injured, and 3 escaped unharmed. The event marked the greatest disaster in American aeronautics to that time. The ship was piloted by Captain Dale Mabry. This was the last hydrogen filled airship used by the US; all future ships were filled with helium

Category: The 20th Century