"SCHEME WILL EXTEND TO MORE THAN 30,000 FEET"

NEW AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM TO PROTECT GREAT BRITAIN

London (JFK+50) On March 4, 1924, the Associated Press reports "an important scheme of air defense for Great Britain is being prepared by the air ministry* and the war office under direction of Col. Edward B. Ashmore**."

The 'scheme' involves a sky defense extending to more than 30,000 feet.  I includes also the "formation of immense artificial cloud screen to baffle raiding aircraft."

*Air Ministry was a department of government of the United Kingdom which managed the affairs of the Royal Air Force 1918-1964.

**Lt. Col. Edward B. Ashmore, C.M.G. M.V.O., Royal Artillery, from a Wing Commander, Royal Flying Corps.

SOURCE

"Air Above England Will Be 'Mined' To 30,000 Feet Against Aerial Raiders," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., March 4, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

"Wednesday, 2 February 1916," Supplement to the London Gazette, February 1, 1916, www.thegazette.co.uk

 

 

Royal Coat of Arms of United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland

                                               by Valethske (2023)

"AIR MINISTRY SAYS FLIGHT COMPLETELY SATISFACTORY"

FIRST FLIGHT FOR US NAVY DIRIGIBLE ZR-2

London, England (JFK+50) Dateline: June 24, 1921, The British-built American Navy dirigible ZR-2 (R-38 under British control) "took to the air for the first time last night."

According to the New York Tribune, the test flight lasted 6.5 hours with 48 passengers on board.  The Air Ministry "pronounced" the flight "completely satisfactory."

An American crew will fly the ZR-2 to the United States during the summer.  Commander L. H. Maxfield*, heading the crew, was one of the passengers on the test flight.

*Louis Henry Maxfield was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, studied at Boston Tech & died in the crash of the ZR-2 near Hull, England on August 24, 1921.  44 of the 49 man crew perished.

SOURCES

"Louis H. Maxfield, CDR, USN, " www.usnamemorialhall.org/

"Navy Dirigible Carries 48 on Her First Flight," The New York Tribune, June 25, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

   

 

R-38 Rescue

August 24 1921

USN Historical Center Photo