GIANT DIRIGIBLE BURSTS INTO FLAMES AT END OF TEST FLIGHT
Hull, England (JFK+50) On August 24, 1921, R-38/ZR-2*, a gigantic dirigible, burst into flames in the air above the town of Hull collapsing in water. The tragedy occurred "at the end of a thirty hour test flight" at 5:45 p.m.
Of the forty-nine man crew, only six were rescued. Four of those "descended by parachute." Seventeen Americans, including Commander Louis H. Maxfield**, perished along with British General E.M. Maitland.
*ZR-2 was originally R-38, a British built airship which was to be turned over to the United States Navy as ZR-2. At the time of its 1st flight, R-38 was the world's largest airship.
**Louis H. Maxfield (1883-1921) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota & became a Commander in the United States Navy. His gravestone at Arlington does not indicate he was a victim of the R-38/ZR-2 tragedy.
SOURCES
"42 KILLED WHEN GIANT U.S. AIRSHIP EXPLODES; 16 AMERICANS PERISH IN BURNING OF ZR-2," The New York Tribune, August 25, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"U.S. Navy Zeppelin Officers buried at Arlington National Cemetery," by Cheryl Ganz, www.naval-airships.org/
