Another Air Tragedy

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 5 April 1933, Page 5

Another Air Tragedy

AIRSHIP AKRON CRASHES INTO SEA HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE FEARED

FOUR RESCUED OUT OF 77 ON BOARD

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

NEW YORK, 4th April. The dirigible Akron, with 77 people aboard, is down in the sea oil Barnegat, New Jersey. The damage and casualties are not yet determined. The German tanker Phoebus reported early on Tuesday that the United States dirigible Akron is afloat off the New Jersey coast with 77 men aboard. “We have picked up some of the crew but can’t get all.” Tlie Akron fell into the sea shortly before 1.30 o’clock on Tuesday morning with, it is believed Admiral William Moffett, nineteen officers and 57 enlisted men, on a test flight from Lakehurst, New Jersey. The steamer Phoebus reported rescuing the chief officer and three men, She later reported that she was searching for survivors. The weather conditions at sea are reported to he unfavourable, with low visibility. WASHINGTON, 4th April.

The Navy Department early on Tuesday mustered all its resources to rush to the aid of the Akron, down at sea.

Lakeliurst naval station officers informed the Navy Department that the chances of the Akron’s survival were slight. Though the air is choked with wireless, details of the Akron disaster were not available two hours after the first word had been received.

Tlie Akron was equipped with every modern means of communication, but sent no message as far as is learned after reporting all well at 8 p.m. The weather prevented the despatch of airplanes until daybreak. The dirigible crashed 20 miles east of Barnegat. The casualties are still undetermined. WRECKAGE DRIFTING SEAWARD \ DIMINISHING HOPE OF RESCUE NEW YORK, 4tli April. The time of the crash was fixed at 12.30 o’clock in the morning during a violent thunderstorm. Four hours later the Phoebus reported that after rescuing four she had lost sight of the dirigible, the wreckage drifting seaward into the storm and darkness at about twelve miles hourly, blown by a 45 miles offshore wind. For a time flares from the dirigible were visible at Branegat lighthouse. Later she apparently drifted out of range. The known survivors are Lieutenant-Com-mander Herbert Victor Wiley, the airship’s executive officer, a metal smith, Erwin, a boatswain’s mate, and chief Radioman Copeland. The condition of Copeland is considered serious. The Navy Department is withholding official information. Tlie craft is probably a total loss, while hopes of rescuing any of the 73 remaining is steadily diminishing. The Phoebus reports that when she approached the scene of the Akron crash, she found mattresses and wreckage floating in the water. After rescuing three men she saw others sink before they could be reached. The Phoebus radioed the Navy Department at 4 a.m. that the Akron crashed at 12.30 a.m. in a widespread thunderstorm, and that wreckage and many men were on the water when last seen. FLAMES SHOOTING SKYWARD

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING?

NEW YORK, 4th April.

At 3.30 a.m., observers at Shipbottom, near Barnegat, reported to coastguardsmen that they saw flames shooting skyward at sea. It is unknown whether they were flares by boats searching for the Akron, or by a tanker standing by the dirigible. It was exactly 1.30 a.m. when the Cape May state picked up the Akron’s s.o.s. signals. Headquarters here said that the private opinion of officials at Lakeliurst is that the Akron was struck by lightning.

Commander Cunningham, in charge of the third naval district, in reply to a question as to whether he thought there had been heavy loss of life, answered: “Very heavy, I fear; very heavy.” Coastguard boats are expected to reach the Akron at 5 a.m. An hour after the Akron was forced down wireless messages were received from the German oil tanker Phoebus that she was standing by. She said: “Saved four men, including Lieutenant Wiley. All are suffering from submersion and shock. We cannot save all.” The Phoebus gave her position as ten to fifteen miles off the Barnegat light, about 45 miles from New York harbour. The weather was blustery, with rain squalls. Tlie dirigible, which is attached to tlie Navy, is 785 feet long, has a gas capacity of over 0,000,000 cubic feet, and cost 8,000,000 dollars. A general alarm was broadcast, and all naval vessels in the vicinity are proceeding under forced draft.

STORY OF CRASH

SHIP IN CENTRE OF STORM RUDDER CONTROL CARRIED AWAY DEMOLISHED ON IMPACT (Received sth April, 9.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, 4th April. A message received here said the body of Lieutenant-Commander Harold MacLellan was picked up by the Coastguard. A message signed Wiley was given out by the Coastguard. It said in part: “Surrounded by lightning _ at light, (presumably Barnegat light) Atmosphere not very turbulent. Ran east course until about 11 p.m. Crossed to west at midnight. Sighted light oil ground and changed course to 130

degrees. Ship began to descend rapidly from flying altitude; dropped ballast; became entirely surrounded by lightning. About 12.30 ship began to descend rapidly from flying altitude of 1000 feet; dropped ballast forward; regained altitude. Three minutes later seemed to be in centre of storm. Ship began to shift about violently. Called all hands. Ship commenced to descend, stern inclined downward dropped ballast. Rudder control carried away Descent continued to water. Ship demolished upon, impact. In lightning flash saw many men swimming. Wreckage drifted rapidly away. Discipline m control car perfect.” DEATH AFTER RESCUE CHIEF WIRELESS OPERATOR (Received sth April, 10.40 a.m.) NEW YORK, 4th April. The United Stales naval dirigible Akron, queen of the world’s airships, dropped into the sea off New Jersey coast shortly after 1.30 this morning as a violent thunderstorm churned the skyways. Aboard her as she faltered and plummeted into the storm-swept sea were 76 men, including Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics. Four men were reported rescued, but one of these later died. Every available agency is being pushed to aid tlie fallen air queen. Seaplanes, landplaues, and Coastguard boatssped toward the scene. The tanker Phoebus, flying the flag of the Danzig Free State, and bound from New York for Tampico, was within a few miles of the Akron when the wireless spluttered an s.o.s. through the staticchoked skies at 1.30. There was no further word from the aircraft, which apparently descended rapidly, either fall ing. or crippled to the point of a forced descent. Captain Dalldorf, of the Phoebus, flashed word to shore as he turned his slow moving, tankship from her course. Copeland, chief wireless operator of the Akron, died shortly after being rescued.

WORSE STORMS RIDDEN OUT NO TRACE OF AIRSHIP (Received sth April, 10.45 a.m.) NEW YORK, 4th April. The Akron, which was on a test flight which was to have taken her along the New England coast, was to have returned to-morrow. She returned a fortnight ago from an extended cruise to Panama, and had ridden out many worse storms. A message from Lieutenant-Com-mander Wiley said that the Akron ran into an electrical storm at 12.30 a.m., while it was blowing strong and raining hard. The message did not make clear just what happened. A message intercepted said that the Phoebus and the coastguard cutters Mojave and McDougal were standing by searching the floating wreckage for possible survivors. None except the four originally picked up had been found. The message indicated that the rescue ships did not find the dirigible when they arrived at the scene, as there were only small pieces of wreckage floating about.

Earlier reports from the Phoebus said that a 45-mile wind was driving the hulk of the dirigible offshore at an estimated rate of 12 miles an hour, baking rescue doubly difficult. It is believed that the Akron has gone to the bottom. The Akron left Lakeliurst at 7.30 p.m. yesterday, commanded by F. C. McCord.

The cutter McDougal reported at 10.45 a.m. that she picked up fragments of wreckage consisting of light tubular pipes covered with kapok.

REPORT TO PRESIDENT AIRSHIP PROBABLY STRUCK BY LIGHTNING (Received sth April, 10.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 4th April. The Navy Department reported to President Roosevelt that tlie Akron was caught in a storm, was probably hit by lightning, and caught fire and crashed. The Secretary of the Navy, Mr Swanson, said there was nothing to indicate that the missing members of tho per sonnel and passengers would be found. Lieutenant Wilfren Bushnell, one of the officers of the Akron, is co-holder of the world’s balloon record for distance, made with Lieutenant T. G. W. Settle in 1929. MISHAP TO SEARCHER (Received sth April, 10.45 a.m.) BEACHI-lAVEN (N.J.), 4th April. A navy Blimp, J 3. returning from a search for Akron survivors, dropped into the surf off the boardwalk to-day. Five of the crew of seven were rescued. “NO MORE BkTAIRSHIPS” (Received sth April, 9.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 4th April. Mr Vinson, Chairman of the House Naval Committee, said: “There won’t be any more big airships built. We have built three and lost two.” BRITAIN SHOCKED MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 4th April. The Akron had a gas capacity of 6,500,000 cubic feet compared with the 5,000,000 of. the British R IOO, and 2,500,000 of the American, Los Angeles. Admiral Moffett was an American delegate to the London Naval Conference. The British people are deeply shocked by tho event. The utmost sympathy is felt for America in her national disaster, and many messages have been sent. COMMENTBY ECKENER FAITH IN AIRSHIPS UNSHAKEN (Received sth April, 9.40 a.m.) BERLIN, 4th April. Though shocked by the Akron disaster, Dr. Eckcner declared that whatever happened could not shake his complete faith in airships. Until the causes of the Akron crash were established he could not say-whether it would necessitate a change in his plans.