ARMY DIRIGIBLE DESTROYED BY FIRE IN HANGER
San Antonio, Texas (JFK+50) On October 17, 1922, the United States Army dirigible* C-2 was destroyed by fire in a hanger here in San Antonio. As the airship was being prepared for an exhibition flight, "wind caused a tear in the envelope and hydrogen** gas...caught fire."
Seven men were injured in the mishap which, according to The New York Tribune, will mark "the disappearance of the last lighter-than-air craft supplied with inflammable hydrogen."
The Tribune states that there is now a very good probability that helium** will be used exclusively in future dirigible flights.
*dirigible is a self-propelled lighter-than-air craft. The terms comes from the French word "diriger" which means to steer.
**hydrogen is a gas of diatomic molecules. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic & highly combustible.
***helium is a non-flammable, colorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert monatomic gas.
SOURCE
"Burning of C-2 May Spell End of Hydrogen Craft," The New York Tribune, October 18, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
