Home >
1922 airship Roma disaster...
1922 airship Roma disaster...
Item # 692091
February 22, 1922
THE DAY, New London, Connecticut, February 22, 1922
* Airship Roma disaster
* Norfolk, Virginia crash
* United States Army
The top of the front page has a four column headline: "34 OFFICERS AND MEN KILLED IN CRASH OF GREAT DIRIGIBLE ROMA" with subheads. (see)
Complete with 12 pages, light toning at the margins, some small binding holes along the spine/1st column, generally nice.
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